14:46: Biden states no avoiding crisis in Ukraine for U.S. and NATO
The U.S. and NATO will not evade the Ukraine crisis, asserts President Joe Biden. He made this statement during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion in World War II, also known as D-Day, in Normandy. This situation involving Ukraine that's at odds with Russia, has been instigated by a "tyrant" who's out for power, Biden clarified. He reiterated that they wouldn't back down, that's unimaginable if they do, since freedom will be under threat, and it would put all of Europe at risk.
In the meantime, a French citizen was apprehended in Russia, charged for allegedly gathering data on Russian military operations. The criminal investigation unit announced the arrest. According to reports, the individual had visited the country on multiple occasions, interacting with Russian citizens as well.
Russia, on the other hand, plans to increase its military influence in western and central Africa according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. After a four-day tour of the region, he vowed that they would continue to contribute positively to the stability of the Sahel-Sahara zone. This aid would include strengthening the combat effectiveness of national armed forces, training military personnel and law enforcement officers. Not only Chad but also other countries in the region.
Biden's optimism towards democracy was met with criticism. Yesterday, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz questioned Putin's positive sentiments towards the AfD, a right-wing extremist group. "It's already embarrassing that you've received such high praise from the Russian president today," Scholz responded during his government statement to interruptions from the AfD members. Putin, however, defended the Russian-AfD collaboration, stating that they would work with anyone who cooperates with Russia. "We don't see any signs of Nazism in the AfD's actions."
NATO's Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, urged that the supply lapses for military backup to Ukraine should not happen again. Western allies need to ensure that these issues don't resurface. Ukrainian troops need predictability and faith in their NATO allies.
Kiev demands that the U.S. and other Western nations increase their training places for Ukrainian pilots for F-16 fighter jets. They believe there aren't enough spots to house the planes due to arrive later. What they have at the moment are about 30 pilots, ready to be sent to the U.S. for training, but in reality, only twelve spots are available. Denmark and Romania are said to have similar problems.
The Institute for the Study of War reports that Ukraine has stepped up its counteroffensives in the area around Vovchansk, the city near the Russian-Ukrainian border. The Ukrainian armed forces aim to maximize casualties, hinder enemy advancement, and ultimately gain ground. Russian military bloggers claim that Ukrainian forces have intensified their attacks in and around Vovchansk on Wednesday. The head of the city's military administration, Tamaz Gambaraschwili, confirmed that Ukrainian forces had taken back certain areas.
The Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) claims to have destroyed a Russian ship in the Black Sea. Their representative, Andrij Jussow, made this claim on Ukrainian television, revealing that the ship was a tugboat docked near the Russian-occupied Crimea. "Another enemy ship was destroyed in the Black Sea last night. The special operation by the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) was successful, resulting in 'minus one' enemy ship," he affirmed.
10:23: Prominent Ukrainian author Serhij Schadan enlists in the army
Serhij Schadan, a well-known Ukrainian writer and recipient of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, has joined the nation's military forces. He announced his choice on online media, stating, "[I have] joined the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, Chartia. I'm currently undergoing training. I serve the people of Ukraine." Schadan, who is 49 years old, also shared a picture of himself wearing camouflage attire and holding an automatic rifle.
09:57: Scholz defends providing weapons to assist in Ukrainian attacks on Russia
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asserts that Ukraine has the legal right to use the provided weapons to assault Russian positions, even if these are located in Russia. He made these remarks during a government address in the Bundestag, highlighting that Ukraine is authorized to protect itself against aggression directed at its territory, cities, and citizens. He further mentioned, "This also applies to attacks like in the area of Charkiw, which Russia conducts from positions in the directly adjacent Russian border area." Scholz maintained that the risk of using these weapons was considered among Germany and its allies.
09:26: Munz explains Putin's intention to pressure Germany
As a first reaction after the Russian attack on Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin addressed representatives from the international press. Munz, a correspondent from ntv, contextualized the statements: "Putin primarily focuses on Germany."
08:56: Russia allegedly shoots down 13 Ukrainian drones over the Crimean Peninsula
As per Russian claims, 13 Ukrainian drones were downed in the Crimean Peninsula overnight. Moreover, six other objects were targeted near the Belgorod region, and an anti-ship missile was destroyed in the Rostov region. These statements have not been independently verified. Ukraine has also reported shootdowns of Russian attackers' drones the night before (refer to the entry at 06:54).
08:23: Russian losses exceed 515,000 soldiers, claims Ukraine, with 1,300 additional casualties in the past 24 hours
Ukrainian sources estimate the losses of the Russian attackers at 515,000 soldiers. Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian General Staff has reported an increase of 1,300 soldiers killed, along with 22 destroyed tanks, 48 ruined artillery systems, a decommissioned missile defense system, and 40 damaged armored personnel carriers. These figures, which are not academically substantiated, include these additional casualties.
07:55: Drone attack on a Russian refinery in Novoshakhtinsk, no reported injuries
A Russian refinery in Novoshakhtinsk was disrupted by a Ukrainian drone attack, as mentioned by Governor of the Rostov region, Vasily Golubev. The refinery is a key facility in southern Russia, situated approximately 10 kilometers east of Ukraine's border. Targeted by Ukrainian forces regularly, Golubev confirmed that there were no casualties.
07:22: Procuring spare parts for Ukraine a challenging task
KNDS CEO Ralf Ketzler indicates that it's not feasible to anticipate the maintenance needs of the Ukrainian war effort. Noting that the majority of on-site repairs are handled by the military, Ketzler mentioned, "It is not easy to secure spare parts for heavy military equipment. This is also a consideration if the government intends to become better prepared."
06:54: Ukraine successfully shoots down 17 Russian combat drones
Having countered a Russian drone assault, Ukraine reports having shot down 17 Shahed drones in Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Khmelnytskyi regions. Additionally, the district of Dnipro received two Iskander missiles, although it remains unclear if these were downed by the Ukrainian military.
06:25: Putin threatens to install high-tech long-range missiles in retaliation to Western support of long-range weapons for Ukraine
Putin warns to deploy high-tech long-range missiles if the West enables Ukraine to use such weaponry in Russia. He spoke to global journalists in St. Petersburg, detailing that similar Russian missiles could be positioned within the range of countries allowing Ukraine to employ certain missiles on Russian soil. The specific positioning of these missiles was initially kept under wraps.
05:52: Unability of a German defense company to quickly provide Ukraine with additional materials
KNDS CEO Ralf Ketzler explains the challenge of speedily sending more resources to Ukraine, stating, "It was not foreseeable that this would involve years of maintenance." He adds that, in most cases, repairs are performed by the military. Furthermore, procuring spare parts for high-tech military equipment is not a simple task. Ketzler alludes to the importance of considering this issue given potential government statements regarding wanting to accelerate preparations.
The head of a German defense company, KNDS, Ralf Ketzler, admits his company can't promptly send more materials to Ukraine. "The capacity to speedily dispatch something has been depleted," he tells web.de. If they'd known years ago that the conflict with Russia would drag on, they could've provided new resources. However, that wasn't certain then.
3 PM: Putin Wants Russia to Build a Relationship with the TalibanRussian President Vladimir Putin encourages strengthening links between Russia and the Taliban, the ones leading Afghanistan. Referring to a recent meeting with foreign journalists during the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg where a Taliban delegation was present, he says, "We've always had to acknowledge the truth." Moscow has expressed plans to remove the Taliban from the terrorist organizations' list, where they've been since 2003.
1:51 PM: Nawalny's Widow: "Freedom of Speech Will Win Over Propaganda"Julia Nawalnaya, now the widow of ex-Kremlin critic Alexei Nawalny and his foundation, receives the Freedom Prize from Deutsche Welle. Nawalny passed away mysteriously in a Siberian prison on February 16th. While accepting the prize, she affirmed the need to continue her husband's work. "Putin killed my husband Alexei Nawalny, but he didn't silence his ideas," she noted. She also cautioned against Russian disinformation and fake experts spreading propaganda in the EU ahead of the elections. Because of Putin's efforts, "he often succeeds," she said. "We will keep fighting," Nawalnaya declared. In the end, freedom of speech will outmaneuver the "toxic effects of propaganda."
1:24 PM: Fire Outbreak at a Russian Oil Refinery in NovoshakhtinskReports of a fire in an oil refinery in the Russian city of Novoshakhtinsk (situated near the Ukraine border) arise due to a series of explosions preceding it. The governor of the Rostov region reports a possible drone assault, ordering emergency response teams to intervene. The refinery had suffered a Ukrainian drone strike in March.
12:14 PM: USA Predicts Intensified Russian Military Exercises in the CaribbeanU.S. authorities expect Russia to step up naval and air force drills in the Caribbean near U.S. shores. "The United States could witness more Russian naval and air force workouts this summer," explains an anonymous American official. These activities are viewed as part of routine military preparations and aren't a direct threat to the U.S. However, the U.S. Navy will keep an eye on them, as Putin intends to showcase his global power.
10:04 AM: Putin supports interactions between Russian officials and AfDDuring a meeting with global news agency representatives in St. Petersburg, Putin defended any dealings between Russian representatives and AfD members. "We'll collaborate with anyone wishing to partner with Russia," Putin avowed. Regarding the AfD, "We observe no neo-Nazi elements in their actions," added the Kremlin leader. Although there's no established connection with the German opposition party, Moscow will back those advocating normal relations.
12:01 AM: Putin labels W. Europe's Concerns about a Russian Invasion 'Nonsense'In conversations with numerous international journalists, Putin considers fears of Russian aggression towards NATO territories as "nonsense." "Have you all gone insane? Are you the same as this table?" he challenged. He also denies issuing threats about nuclear weapons, stating, "I didn't even suggest the idea of utilizing nuclear weapons." Yet, the journalists insisted he mentioned a "some sort of atomic bomb."
22:53 PM: Putin Promises to Cooperate with Investigations into AFP Journalist's DeathVladimir Putin stated his readiness to support probes into the events surrounding the demise of AFP journalist Arman Soldin. "We'll do anything we can," said Putin at the International Economic Forum. "We're willing to cooperate. But I'm unsure about how this would work concretely, as he died in a war area," he explained. Soldin, 32 and a video journalist, perished by a rocket attack in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bachmut last year while filming Ukrainian soldiers close to the front. The Kremlin had earlier claimed they couldn't collaborate in this case, since Soldin was in Ukrainian-controlled regions.
Moscow plans to send extra military equipment and trainers to Burkina Faso to enhance the West African nation's defense capabilities. This news comes as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov makes his ninth visit to Africa as part of a diplomatic push by the Kremlin to forge new alliances. According to TASS, Lavrov said, "Since our first contacts between our countries shortly after the military coup in 2022, Russia and Burkina Faso have worked very closely together in all areas, including military and military-technical relations." This move aims to acquire a military ally that supports Moscow but doesn't openly condemn its actions.
Putin doesn't anticipate any drastic shift in the US' approach toward Russia following the elections. "We don't expect any significant changes," mentioned Putin during a gathering with foreign journalists in St. Petersburg. While Putin had previously shown preference for a Biden re-election, he now claims indifference toward the election's outcome. He stated that his administration would collaborate with whomever wins the election.
In the past, Putin had expressed his preference for a Biden presidency due to his predictability. "I've worked with him before, and I know how he operates," Putin stated. Furthermore, Putin condemned the legal proceedings against former US President Trump, who's challenging Biden in the November 5th election.
As of today, there are over 6,000 Ukrainian captives in Russian custody, a considerably higher number than the Russian soldiers and officers held in Ukraine. Putin disclosed these statistics at a meeting with international news agencies in St. Petersburg. Neither side confesses clear numbers concerning casualties, but both agree that Russian losses are less than Ukrainian losses.
The Russian president advised against Ukrainian troops using German weapons to target Russian facilities, claiming this would be detrimental to Russia-Germany relationships. The delivery of German tanks to Ukraine last year generated widespread outrage in Russia. "If they now launch rockets to attack facilities on Russian territory, it will completely destroy Russian-German relations," said Putin. The meeting with international journalists took place at the Lachta Center of Gazprom – Russia's gas giant, part of the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the first significant international event in the region since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine.
To recap:
- Lavrov announced that Russia would send more equipment and trainers to Burkina Faso to strengthen defenses.
- Putin expects no drastic alterations in US policy, regardless of election's outcome.
- Putin prefers more predictable leaders, such as Biden.
- He criticized the legal proceedings against Trump, who's running against Biden.
- Over 6,000 Ukrainian captives are being held in Russia.
- Putin warned against utilizing German weapons for attacks in Russia.
- This is part of the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
- It's the first international event since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Additionally, Russia and Burkina Faso have enjoyed a close relationship since 2022, encompassing all areas, including military and military-technical relations. Russia seeks a partner for military support who opposes the war but remains silent on the issue.
Moreover, Putin mentioned that neither side discloses concrete statistics on casualties in the war. However, the measurement of prisoners follows a similar pattern as losses. Ukraine is reported to have more Russian prisoners than their own soldiers lost in the conflict.
Lastly, Putin raised alarm over the potential use of German weapons in attacking Russian facilities and commented on the significant damage this could cause to Russian-German ties. The meeting with international agencies occurred at the Lachta Center of Gazprom, which marked the first significant international event in the region since the start of Russia's war against Ukraine.
Read also:
- President Biden reiterates that the U.S. and NATO will not avoid the Ukraine crisis, as they stand against the aggression from Russia's "tyrant" leader.
- Russia is planning to expand its military influence in western and central Africa, aiming to bolster the combat effectiveness of local armed forces.
- NATO's Secretary General, Stoltenberg, urges Western allies to ensure military support to Ukraine is consistently available, preventing future supply lapses.
- In response to Russia's attack on Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for Western nations to increase the number of training spots for Ukrainian pilots for F-16 fighter jets, as current availability is insufficient.
- During military operations in Ukraine, Ukraine's military intelligence claims to have destroyed a Russian tugboat docked near the Russian-occupied Crimea.
- Ukrainian author Serhij Schadan joins the army and is currently undergoing training in the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine.
- Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz defends providing weapons to Ukraine, stating that Ukraine has the right to use them in self-defense against Russian aggression.
- Russia allegedly shoots down 13 Ukrainian drones over the Crimean Peninsula and targets other objects in near regions, according to Russian claims, which have not been independently confirmed.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with the Foreign Minister of Burkina Faso, announcing Russia's plans to strengthen their military cooperation with the West African nation.
- Russian President Putin defends his collaboration with the far-right AfD party of Germany, stating that they observe no signs of Nazism in the AfD's actions.
