Ukraine seeks additional slots for F-16 aviators to undergo training.
Ukraine requests additional training spots for F-16 pilots from the US and other Western nations. Currently, there aren't enough slots, states Ukraine, to accommodate pilots for the incoming jets per "Politico." There are 30 pilots ready to begin training in the US right away, stating from Kiev. On the other hand, Washington only has 12 spots accessible in the training program in the Arizona state. Similar issues surface in other countries that provide training such as Denmark and Romania.
11:28 ISW: Ukrainian forces increase counteroffensives in VovchanskAround the city of Vovchansk, situated close to the Russian-Ukrainian border, fighting continues. Ukrainian military is focusing on inflicting maximum harm on Russian military, hindering advances, and gradually recapturing territory, as detailed by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) quoting Ukrainian Chief of Staff Oleksandr Syrskyi. Russian military bloggers allegedly report that Ukrainian armed forces have strengthened their counterattacks in and around Vovchansk on Wednesday, with the military head of the city, Tamaz Gambaraschvili, stating that Ukrainian troops retaken unspecified positions within the city.
10:52 Ukrainian Military Intelligence sinks Russian tugboat in the Black SeaUkrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) claims to have sunk a Russian tugboat in the Black Sea per their own statements. This is stated by "Kyiv Independent" citing HUR spokesman Andriy Yusov. The tugboat in question is located around the Russian-occupied Crimea in waters. "Tonight, a raid by HUR special units was successful and resulted in the loss of one enemy ship," said the spokesman on Ukraine television.
10:23 Distinguished Ukrainian writer Serhiy Zhadan joins the militaryUkrainian writer and recipient of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, Serhiy Zhadan, has enlisted in the Ukrainian army. "I have enlisted in the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, Chartia," he writes in online media. Additionally, the 49-year-old published a photo of him in camouflage attire bearing an automatic rifle.
09:57 Scholz supports armament for Ukrainian strikes on RussiaGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterates that Ukraine can use the offered weapons to strike Russian positions, not only in Ukraine but also in Russia. He asserts in his government statement within the Bundestag that Ukraine possesses the lawfully recognized right to defend itself against attacks on its territory, cities, and people. "This also applies to attacks like in the region of Kharkiv, that Russia carries out from positions in the directly adjacent Russian border area," he adds. "To protect against such attacks, Ukraine can also utilize the weapons we provide and our allies - careful and in compliance with international legal obligations." We have scrutinized the risks alongside our allies.
09:26 Munz: "Putin aims to put the squeeze on Germany"Russian President Putin addresses reporters for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine and employs the chance for threats against the West, particularly on Germany. NTV correspondent Rainer Munz interprets these statements.
08:56 Russia: 13 Ukrainian drones downed over CrimeaRussia reports shooting down 13 Ukrainian drones over the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia, during the previous night. Moreover, six objects were destroyed over the Belgorod region, and a missile defense system was taken down over the Rostov region, the Russian Defense Ministry asserts. The validity of these claims cannot be verified separately. Ukraine also reports having destroyed Russian attack drones in the previous night (see entry at 06:54).
08:23 Ukraine: 515,000 Russians lost in the warThe Russian attackers have incurred losses of 515,000 soldiers in their war campaign, as per Ukrainian figures. In the previous 24 hours, Russian losses increased by 1,300 soldiers, and the Ukrainian General Staff shared via the Eighteenth Army Corps. Additionally, 22 tanks and 48 artillery systems were destroyed, along with a missile defense system and 40 armored personnel carriers. These numbers cannot be independently verified.
07:55 Ukraine suspends work at a Russian oil refinery using a drone assaultAs per Russian reports, work at a refinery in southern Russia was stopped after a Ukrainian drone attack, fires breaking out due to the drone attack. Governor of the affected region Rostov, Vasily Golubev, notified. No injuries reported. The Novoshakhtinsk refinery, viewed as one of the essentials oil refineries in southern Russia, located ten kilometers east of the border and frequently targeted by Ukrainian attacks.
07:22: KNDS: Acquiring spare parts for Ukraine demanding
Concerning the damaged tanks in the Russian assault against the Ukraine, the CEO of the defense corporation KNDS, Ralf Ketzel, explained that it was unforeseeable for it to warrant over a decade of servicing in Ukraine. "We don't have any insight into the actual condition on-site either. About 80 to 90% of the repairs won't be executed by us, but on the front." It is challenging to acquire parts for heavy military apparatus. "This is an area we should contemplate if the government declares: We're progressing toward being battle-ready," asserts Ketzel.
06:54: Ukrainian defenders thwart Russian combat drone raid
The Ukrainian soldiers repelled a Russian drone invasion. They downed 17 of 18 Shahed drones in Mykolaiv, Kherson, Saporischschja, and Khmelnytskyi during the night, according to the Ukrainian General Staff on February X. Moreover, the Dnipro region was subjected to Iskander missile attacks. The Ukrainian army had not specified if these were also shot down.
06:25: Russia intends to mount high-tech long-range missiles
Putin threatened to deploy cutting-edge long-range missiles if the West permits Ukraine to use long-range armament against Russia. If the West allows certain missiles to be utilized against Russian territory, high-tech long-range missiles could be stationed on the territory of those countries, states Putin to visiting journalists in St. Petersburg. He referenced, amongst others, American ATACMS, British, and French rocket systems. The precise location where Russian missiles would be installed remains indeterminate.
05:52: KNDS Unable to Swiftly Provide Ukraine with Additional Material
The managing director of the German defense firm KNDS, Ralf Ketzel, perceives his corporation incapable of furnishing expeditious provisions to the Ukraine. "Our ability to furnish something promptly has been exhausted," he communicates with the German news site web.de. "This could've been the strategical choice two years ago: This would be a multi-year struggle." However, this prediction wasn't certain at the time.
04:22: Russia aims to foster relations with the Taliban
Russian President Putin endorses establishing ties with the radical Islamic Taliban, governing Afghanistan. "We've always believed must acknowledge reality," he remarks during a gathering with global media representatives at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, where a Taliban delegation assembled. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had announced previously that Moscow plans to remove the Taliban from the list of prohibited terrorist entities, featured therein since 2003.
03:32 Nawalny Widow: "Free Speech Prevails over Propaganda's Toxicity"
Julia Nawalnaja, partner of the slain Kremlin critic Alexei Nawalny, accepted the Freedom Award at the hands of Deutsche Welle. Nawalnaja disclosed in her speech that she and the foundation would carry on her spouse's work. Putin "executed my husband Alexei Nawalny, yet his ideologies haven't been eliminated." Nawalnaja cautioned against Russian disinformation and insinuated European Union false experts in anticipation of the European elections. Putin is promoting his agenda. "And he occasionally succeeds," Nawalnaja concluded. "Freedom of expression will annihilate the 'poison of propaganda."
02:44 Russia ascribes refinery inferno in Nowotschinsk
An inferno has transpired in an Russian oil refinery, as per Russian media reports. Prior to this, there had been various explosions. The governor of the neighboring Ukrainian region, Rostov, claims a drone assault, rescue crews are in action. The refinery had already been the goal of a Ukrainian drone skirmish in March.
01:24 US anticipates Russian naval exercises in the Caribbean
The United States anticipates that Russia will host naval and aerial forces drills in the region near the United States. "In the wake of Russia's customary military exercises, we anticipate Russia to host more fervent naval and air force exercises in the vicinity of the United States this summer," said a US government representative during a question-and-answer session held with reporters. The exercises would be perceived as component of the customary military activities and will not present a significant hazard to the United States. "It's about Russia demonstrating that it can still exert international influence." However, the US Navy will monitor the maneuvers.
00:04 Putin advocates Russian collaboration with the AfD
Russian President Putin advocates for collaboration between Russian representatives and AfD (Alternative for Germany) officials. "We'll collaborate with anyone who wishes to collaborate with Russia," Putin shared with international news agencies during a gathering at St. Petersburg. "We see no indications of neo-Nazism in the AfD's actions," reiterates the Kremlin head concerning the party deemed radical by certain groups. Although there is no "systemic cooperation" established with the German opposition party, if someone supports negotiating amicable relations with Russia, Moscow would back them.
During conversations with reporters from prominent international news outlets, Russian leader Putin dismissed concerns of a Russian invasion into NATO land as "nonsense" and "nonsensical." Fervently he denied the false accusations, claiming they were of absurd nature. "Have all of you gone mad? Do you regard yourselves as foolishly as this table?" queried Putin. Furthermore, he refuted allegations that he had intimated the threat of deploying an atomic bomb, retorting, "Did I insinuate employing atomic weapons? You are the ones who brought up that notion."
At 22:20, Putin affirmed his openness towards conducting an investigation into the demise of ABC journalist Arman Soldin. In St. Petersburg, during a session with journalists from various international news agencies, Putin shared, "We'll do as much as we can. We'll be keen on this. However, I'm uncertain about how it will transpire in its practicality, given he passed away in a conflict-stricken region." Earlier, it was announced by the Kremlin that Russia was incapable of probing Soldin's death because he was in Ukrainian-administered zones. The video journalist met his end at 32 years old on May 9, 2023, following a projectile assault near the contested Ukrainian city of Bachmut. At that time, his reportage centered on Ukrainian soldiers in the close vicinity of the front lines in Chassiv Yar, in the nation's east.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's expedition to Burkina Faso has led to Russia's decision to despatch extra military equipment and skilled instructors to the West African country, according to Russian news sources. Since the 2022 coup, Russia and Burkina Faso have forged close ties. As part of a diplomatic push, Russia is attempting to procure fresh relations. "Since our initial connections after their coup, Russia and Burkina Faso have collaborated closely in all domains, including military and military-technical matters," quoted Russian news agency TASS Lavrov. With a nation distancing itself from the war's support but not endorsing its critique, Moscow gains a military ally.
At around 21:51, the Russian president anticipates no major alteration in the US approach to Russia following the presidential election. "For us, the outcome of the election is of limited importance," stated Putin during the media gathering in St. Petersburg. "during entry 20:58 and 20:18". Russia shall work concurrently with whichever individual Americans choose as their president. Previously, Putin had expressed a preference for an incumbent President Joe Biden's re-election owing to his perceived predictability. Also, Putin condemned the legal actions instituted against former President Donald Trump, who is contesting Biden ahead of November 5.
Moreover, Putin specified that there were approximately 6000 Ukrainian captives after two-and-a-half years of escalation in the neighboring nation. The number of Russian captives was significantly less comparative to this, the Russian president declared during the meeting with journalists from major international news agencies in St. Petersburg.
Ukraine holds 1348 Russian POWs, while Russia has 6365 captives of Ukraine. The accuracy of these figures could not be independently corroborated. In reply to inquiries regarding Russian military casulties in this campaign, Putin maintained that none of the conflicting sides disclose precise numbers. Nonetheless, the count of prisoners roughly mirrored that of casualties, claimed Putin. Surprisingly, the Ukrainian side claimed significantly greater Russian than their own deaths in the war.
Additionally, Putin cautioned against Ukrainian troops using German weapons to target Russian territories. Employing German armaments in offensive against Russian facilities would trigger a precipitous deterioration in Russian-German ties, warned Putin. Such a development might potentially occur during his meeting with representatives of significant international news agencies in St. Petersburg, at the Lachta Center of the petroleum conglomerate Gazprom, which is part of the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the first summit of its kind since the onset of Putin's war against Ukraine.
Read also:
- Russia has been accused of launching cyberwar attacks against Ukraine, with some analysts suggesting that these attacks could escalate into a full-fledged military conflict.
- In response to the Russian military operations in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has called for Nato to provide Ukraine with military aid, including advanced weapon systems and training for Ukrainian troops.
- Despite calls for military intervention, some Western nations have expressed concerns about getting involved in a potential conflict with Russia, citing the risk of escalation and the potential for a wider war in Europe.
- In response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, the US has imposed sanctions on several Russian companies and individuals, and has also provided military aid to Ukraine, including Javelin anti-tank missiles.
