02:58 Report: Russian agents in Vienna ordered murder of helicopter pilot Kuzminov
In Vienna, Russian agents are suspected of assisting in the recruitment and financing of Russian operations, such as the killing of Russian military helicopter pilot Maxim Kusminow. He had defected to Ukraine and was living in Spain when he was found by the hit squad. The "Wall Street Journal" reports this with reference to western security circles. The killers, who shot the man five times and then ran him over with a SUV, were criminals who were paid with cash provided by Russian officials from Vienna, according to the paper. "We are now becoming a burden for our neighbors, as Russia uses us as an operational base," says a high-ranking Austrian intelligence officer to the newspaper. According to Austrian intelligence sources, the number of active Russian diplomats in Austria in the last two years has risen from around 400 to over 500. Approximately half of them are diplomats and managers, while the other half function as spies.
01:58 Russia: Control taken over a town north of Bachmut - Ukraine denies
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian armed forces have taken control of the town of Rosdoliwka in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian military, however, declares that heavy fighting is taking place in the areas around the settlement. Rosdoliwka is located in the Donetsk region, the epicenter of the Russian advance in eastern Ukraine. It is located north of Bachmut and Soledar, two towns that were taken under Russian control last year.
00:58 US Army awards Lockheed Martin contract worth $4.5 billion
In the USA, the US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a multi-year contract worth $4.5 billion for the Patriot air defense system. The Pentagon announces this. The contract includes 870 PAC-3 MSE missiles and the associated hardware. Lockheed manufactures the latest version of the missile defense system, which equips the Patriot, known as PAC-3 MSE. The Patriot system is part of a series of highly developed air defense systems that the West has provided to Ukraine.
23:58 More Olympic starting places for Russians - Judokas rejected
The International Olympic Committee continues to invite Russian and Belarusian athletes to the Summer Games in Paris. As the IOC announces in the evening, 50 athletes from the two countries have been invited so far to compete under a neutral flag at the Olympics. However, not all of these invitations have been accepted, some have already withdrawn. Some judokas were rejected because of their affiliation with army sports clubs. Of the twelve quota places for Russian judokas, only two will be allocated to men and women each - whether the four will accept the invitation is open.
23:59 Ten Ukrainians returned from Russian captivity - ten Ukrainian civilians have returned from Russian captivity, according to information from Kiev. Among the released prisoners is Nariman Djeljal, a leader of the Crimean Tatars, writes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in social media on Friday. He thanks the Vatican for its mediation in the release of the civilians. Djeljal was arrested in 2021, that is, before the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in the annexed Crimea, and later sentenced to 17 years in prison.
23:30 Lithuania's Foreign Minister: Kallas nomination acknowledges stance on RussiaLithuania has welcomed the nomination of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the new EU foreign policy chief. Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis speaks of recognition of the views of the Baltic states and other countries on the NATO eastern flank, which have taken a firm stance against Russia and supported Ukraine until its victory. "She has never hidden her position, she has clearly and openly expressed her views on issues that are important to us," Landsbergis is quoted as saying by the BNS agency in Vilnius about Kallas. Kallas was appointed as the EU representative for external and security policy at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday. The 47-year-old liberal has been Estonia's first female prime minister in its history since 2021 and is known as a champion of a resolute Western stance towards Moscow.
23:00 Baerbock: Support for Ukraine is the best protection for peaceful sleepingAccording to Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's belief, the ongoing support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion forces is also linked to peace and security in Germany. "If Ukraine can no longer defend our peace, our freedom because we no longer support it, then the question is how far Putin's troops will advance then," Baerbock said in a talk by RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), NDR and "Hannoverscher Allgemeine Zeitung". "That's why the support efforts for Ukraine are the best protection for our own peace and our own security." Baerbock referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Of course, one can discuss whether the billions of aid for Ukraine should be used differently, Baerbock said. But in this case, she had to say: "I don't know how long we can continue to sleep peacefully here in Brandenburg, directly on the Polish border." There are "light tests" everywhere along the EU border and the NATO external border. "Every reasonable person in the world, in Europe and in Ukraine" wishes nothing more ardently than peace in Ukraine. That depends on Putin. "He needs to withdraw his troops and finally end this killing." Instead, his answer is "always more violence and terror".
You can read about earlier developments here.
- The Ukraine conflict has significantly impacted politics, with NATO expressing concern over Russia's military operations in the country.
- Following allegations of Russian involvement in the killing of Maxim Kusminow, a former Russian military helicopter pilot who defected to Ukraine and was living in Spain, the US and its allies have increased their military assistance to Ukraine.
- In response to the ongoing conflict, Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has called for stronger international support, including cyberwarfare capabilities to defend against Russian attacks.
- The increase in Russian diplomats in Austria has raised concerns about potential cyberwarfare operations against Ukraine, as well as other Western countries, from within European territory.
- In light of the situation, NATO has emphasized the importance of collective defense and cooperation between member states to counteract Russian aggression and protect against cyberwarfare threats.
