NATO leader Stoltenberg confirms there are no intentions to send troops to Ukraine.
NATO Won't Send Troops to Ukraine, Says Secretary-General
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General, announced that there are no plans to deploy soldiers on Ukrainian territory. During a visit to the Finnish capital, Helsinki, Stoltenberg emphasized that there is no immediate military threat from Russia toward any NATO member state.
Biden: US, NATO Can't Ignore Ukraine Conflict
According to US President Joe Biden, the United States and NATO can't ignore the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Speaking in historic Normandy, France, on the anniversary of the Allied landing in World War II, Biden referred to Russia's attack on Ukraine and the threat it poses to democracy across Europe. "We will not submit, we will not surrender," he said, "or freedom will be suppressed, and all of Europe will be threatened."
Frenchman Arrested in Russia over Military Data Collection
A French national is reported to have been detained in Russia for allegedly collecting military information. The Serious Crimes Investigation Committee in Russia disclosed this information, stating that the man had visited Russia several times over the years and interacted with Russian citizens.
Russia to Boost Military Presence in African Countries
Russia plans to further increase its military influence in West and Central Africa. After a four-day tour of the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Russia will aid the region by raising the readiness of national armed forces and training military personnel and law enforcement officers.
Ukraine Suffers Casualties from Russian Attacks
Official Ukrainian sources claim that two people were killed and 22 others injured following a series of Russian attacks. The assaults targeted various regions, such as Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Dnipro. In Nikopol, a bus was attacked by a drone, resulting in four injuries.
Scholz Criticizes Putin's Praise for the AfD
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed discomfort over Russian President Vladimir Putin's complimentary remarks about Germany's far-right AfD party. Commenting on Scholz's government statement, Scholz called the support from Putin "embarrassing."
NATO: No More Delays for Ukraine Support
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted the significance of addressing supply gaps in military support for Ukraine. NATO must ensure predictability and reliability to assist the attacked country.
Ukraine Asks for More Training Spots for F-16 Pilots
Ukraine has requested that the United States and other Western nations increase the training capacity for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. They claim they lack enough slots to populate the jets that will later be given to them, with current estimates indicating 30 pilots ready to join the US training program in Arizona. However, Washington claims only a dozen spots are available. Similar difficulties are reported in other training countries such as Denmark and Romania.
Ukrainian Forces Intensify Counterattacks in Vovchansk
The confrontation in and around Vovchansk, a city close to the Russian-Ukrainian border, continues. The Ukrainian military is trying to inflict maximum casualties, halt the offensive, and gradually reclaim areas. According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russian military bloggers claim that Ukrainian forces have intensified their counterattacks in and around Vovchansk, and the leader of Vovchansk's military administration, Tamaz Gambarasvili, declared that Ukrainian troops have seized undisclosed positions in the city.
The Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) has reportedly sunk a Russian ship in the Black Sea. This news comes from the HUR spokesperson Andrij Jussow, as shared by the "Kyiv Independent." The ship in question is alleged to be a tugboat near Crimea's Russian-occupied waters. Jussow shared this update on Ukrainian television by stating, "Another enemy ship was destroyed in the Black Sea tonight. The sea raid by HUR's special forces was successful and resulted in 'minus one' enemy ship."
10:23: Noted Ukrainian writer Serhij Schadan enlists in the army
Famous Ukrainian writer and Peace Prize recipient Serhij Schadan has enlisted in his country's military. Schadan (age 49) shared this news on various online platforms with an accompanying photo of himself dressed in camouflage and holding an assault rifle. His online statement reads: "I have enlisted in the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, Chartia. I am undergoing training. I serve the people of Ukraine."
09:57: Scholz justifies supplying Ukraine with weapons for attacking Russian positions
German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz asserts that the Ukrainian forces have the right to use the supplied weapons to target Russian positions even if they are situated inside Russia. Scholz explains in his government statement in the Bundestag, "Ukraine has the globally recognized right to defend itself against attacks on its territory, cities, and citizens. This also applies to attacks like those in the Kharkiv region, which Russia conducts from positions in the adjacent Russian border area." Therefore, Scholz reasons that "Ukraine can also use the weapons provided by us and our allies - in line with international law." They have carefully assessed the risks with their allies.
09:26: Munz analyzes Putin's threats against the West
In his first official press conference since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Putin made threats against the West. Rainer Munz, an ntv correspondent, comments on Putin's statements.
08:56: Russia reports shooting down 13 Ukrainian drones and other objects
The Russian Defense Ministry claims to have shot down 13 Ukrainian drones over the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Additionally, six other objects were destroyed over the Belgorod region and an anti-ship missile over the Rostov region, according to the ministry. However, these claims cannot be independently verified.
08:23: Ukraine reports 515,000 Russian soldiers lost in the war
The Ukrainian military reports that over 515,000 Russian soldiers have been lost since the war began. In the past 24 hours, there were 1,300 more casualties, per the Ukrainian General Staff on channel X. Twenty-two tanks, 48 artillery systems, a missile defense system, and 40 armored personnel carriers were also destroyed.
07:55: Russia: Ukraine halts operation at refinery with drone attack
Russian sources claim that Ukrainian drone attacks have caused a fire at a refinery in southeastern Russia's Novoshakhtinsk. The Governor of the region, Vasily Golubev, reported the incident and noted there were no casualties. This refinery is one of the most significant in southern Russia and is often targeted by Ukrainian attacks.
07:22: KNDS: Acquiring spare parts for Ukraine's military equipment is challenging
Ralf Ketzel, the CEO of the defense conglomerate KNDS, states that it was unexpected that the situation in Ukraine would call for years of maintenance. "We don't know how serious the maintenance problem at the site is. Eighty to ninety percent of the repairs aren't done there, but rather on the front lines." Ketzel notes that procuring spare parts for heavy military equipment is not an easy task. "This is a topic we should consider if the government states: We want to be prepared for battle."
06:54: Ukraine neutralizes 17 out of 18 incoming Russian combat drones
Ukrainian defenders managed to shoot down 17 out of 18 Shahed drones in the regions of Mykolaiv, Kherson, Saporischschja, and Khmelnytskyi during the nighttime, according to the Ukrainian General Staff on channel X. Additionally, two Iskander missiles were fired at the region of Dnipro. The Ukrainian army hasn't provided clarification on whether these missiles were shot down or not.
Putin warns West: We'll deploy high-tech missiles if Ukraine gains long-range weapons
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to deploy high-tech long-range missiles if the West allows Ukraine to use long-range weapons on Russian territory. He made the statement to foreign journalists in St. Petersburg, naming the American ATACMS, British, and French rocket systems specifically. The exact location of the Russian missiles is yet to be determined.
German defense contractor can't deliver Ukraine weapons quickly
According to Ralf Ketzel, managing director of the German defense company KNDS, they are unable to provide Ukraine with more weapons quickly. He told web.de that their ability to deliver had already been exhausted. Two years ago, they would have had to make the decision: "This will be a multi-year war." However, they couldn't predict that at the time.
Russia expands relations with the Taliban
Putin is pushing for Russia to strengthen its relationship with the Taliban, who are currently in power in Afghanistan. Speaking at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, he said, "We have to face reality." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the previous week that Moscow plans to remove the Taliban from their list of banned terrorist organizations, which they have been on since 2003.
Nawalny's widow fights on: "Freedom of speech will win over propaganda"
Julia Nawalnaya, widow of the late Putin critic Alexei Nawalny, and the Nawalny Foundation have received the Freedom Prize from Deutsche Welle. Nawalny died under suspicious circumstances in a Siberian prison on February 16. Nawalnaya said in her acceptance speech, "Putin killed my husband Alexei Nawalny but he didn't silence his ideas." She urged Europe to beware of Russian disinformation and false experts in the lead-up to the European elections. "Putin is trying to impose his agenda, and he often succeeds." She concluded by saying, "We will continue to fight. In the end, freedom of speech will overcome the 'poison of propaganda.'"
Fire breaks out in Russian oil refinery
A fire has occurred at an oil refinery in the Russian city of Novoshakhtinsk, according to Russian media. There were earlier explosions reported as well. The governor of the border region of Rostov reports a drone attack and rescue services are currently at the scene. The refinery had been targeted by a Ukrainian drone attack in March.
US expects Russia to conduct Caribbean military exercises
A US government official expects Russia to conduct intense naval and air exercises in the Caribbean, as part of their regular military activities. These would not pose an immediate threat to the US and are seen as a way for Russia to demonstrate its ability to project global power.
Putin defends Russian collaboration with the AfD
Putin has defended meetings between Russian representatives and AfD politicians. In a conversation with journalists from major international news agencies, Putin said, "We will cooperate with anyone who wants to cooperate with Russia." He added, "We see no signs of neo-Nazism in the actions of the AfD." The Kremlin chief made it clear that there are no "systemic relations" with the German opposition party, but if someone advocates for normal relations with Russia, Moscow will support that.
Putin dismisses claims of impending Russian invasion of NATO territory
Putin has dismissed claims of a Russian invasion of NATO territory as "Bullshit." He asked, "Do you think Russia wants to attack NATO? Have you all gone crazy? Are you as dumb as this table? It's nonsense, understand?" He also denied threatening with "a kind of atomic bomb." "But did I raise the possibility of using atomic weapons? You did."
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has indicated his willingness to investigate the circumstances surrounding the demise of AFP journalist Arman Soldin, who perished during a rocket attack in Ukraine. During a meeting with journalists from international news outlets in St. Petersburg, Putin stated, "We'll do whatever we can," adding, "We're prepared to carry out the investigation, but I'm not sure how it will play out because he died in a war zone." In recent times, the Kremlin had maintained that Russia couldn't conduct investigations in Soldin's case as he was in Ukrainian-controlled territory. The 32-year-old video journalist met his untimely end on May 9, 2023, while documenting Ukrainian soldiers near the frontlines.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has sought to strengthen Burkina Faso's defense capabilities through additional military aid and personnel. This was announced during Lavrov's visit to Burkina Faso as part of a larger diplomatic push by Moscow to foster new connections. Lavrov stated, "Since our first contacts with your country shortly after the military coup in 2022, Russia and Burkina Faso have acted in close coordination on various fronts, including military and military-technical cooperation." Russia stands to gain a partner who doesn't support the war but also doesn't criticize it.
In related news, while addressing the same gathering of journalists in St. Petersburg, Putin maintained that he anticipates no significant shifts in the US policy towards Russia post the presidential election. Putin asserted, "The outcome holds little consequence for us," adding, "We'll work alongside the president chosen by the American populace." Previously, Putin had shared his preference for Joe Biden's re-election, as the latter was perceived as more predictable. He also criticized the legal proceedings against former President Donald Trump, who is vying for the presidency against Biden on November 5.
On another note, Putin estimated the number of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian captivity to be over 6,000, with more Ukrainian soldiers and officers being held in Russia than the reverse. However, this cannot be independently verified. Putin was asked about the extent of Russian losses in the war and stated, "Neither side offers concrete figures on this matter." He further claimed that Ukraine had sustained significantly higher casualties than Russia in the ongoing conflict. In contrast, the Ukrainian authorities emphasize that there are considerably more Russian than their own warriors who perished during the war.
Lastly, Putin cautioned against employing German weaponry against targets within Russian territory, expressing that such actions could significantly damage relations between Russia and Germany. Putin shared these remarks at a meeting with international journalists during the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which marked the first significant international meet following Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
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Read also:
- Despite Biden's statement regarding the Ukraine conflict, NATO leader Stoltenberg affirmed that there are no intentions to deploy troops to Ukraine, citing no immediate military threat from Russia.
- The ongoing Ukraine conflict, which Russia has attacked, poses a threat to democracy and freedom across Europe, according to US President Joe Biden during a speech in Normandy, France.
- In response to Russia's military data collection activity in the region, a French national was detained for allegedly collecting military information in Russia.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced plans to further increase Russia's military presence in West and Central Africa, aiming to aid in enhancing the readiness of national armed forces and training military personnel.
