War against Ukraine: this is the situation
Ukraine reported a new wave of Russian drone attacks on Saturday night. Late on Friday evening, the air defense was active around the capital Kiev, as the local military administration announced on Telegram. There was initially no information about possible casualties or damage. People were called upon to seek shelter in basements and other safe shelters. Drone attacks were also reported from other parts of the country, such as Kharkiv in the east and Kherson in the south.
Meanwhile, the Black Sea region of Odessa was shelled with rockets on Friday evening, according to official Ukrainian reports. At least three people were injured. Among the victims was a 96-year-old woman who was rescued from the rubble of her house, wrote military governor Oleh Kiper. The information provided by the warring parties can hardly be verified independently.
Lithuania provides further military aid to Ukraine
Meanwhile, Lithuania is providing Ukraine with further military aid for its defensive campaign against Russia. The Baltic EU and NATO country has handed over launchers and other equipment for the Nasams air defense system to Kiev, according to the Ministry of Defense in Vilnius. Anti-drone systems and generators were also delivered. "We hear Ukraine's needs and call on our allies to hear them too," Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas was quoted as saying in a statement.
In his evening video address on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude for the Lithuanians' continued support for the Ukrainian people. "Our alliance is really tangible," he said.
Canada deploys 15 Leopard 2 tanks in Latvia
Meanwhile, Latvia's NATO partner Canada has stationed 15 Leopard 2 tanks in the Baltic state. "This is an important step towards strengthening NATO's deterrence and combat capabilities in the region," wrote Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds on the online platform X, formerly Twitter. This brings the expansion of the existing troop presence to brigade level closer.
Kremlin defends pardoning criminals for military service
In Russia, the Kremlin defended its much-criticized practice of releasing convicted criminals from prison for military service. In addition to the classic pardon procedure, in which a prisoner's application must be approved by several instances, there is another option, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: "The second way is for them to pay their debt in blood. The convicts, including serious criminals, pay for their crime with blood on the battlefield."
The background to this is the recently announced pardon of a convicted murderer by President Vladimir Putin. The man from the Siberian city of Kemerovo, who had actually been sentenced to 17 years in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend in 2020, was reportedly released from prison early because he had declared his willingness to fight in Ukraine. The case caused fierce debate and outrage in the Russian media and social networks.
What will be important on Saturday
Heavy fighting continues in the east and south of Ukraine. The city of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region remains particularly embattled.
- Diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and promote peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are urgently needed, as ongoing conflicts fuel the escalation of weapons use and contribute to the suffering of innocent civilians.
- International communities, including nations like Lithuania and Canada, should continuously provide military aid and support to Ukraine, ensuring the availability of weapons like NATO's Nasams air defense system and other vital equipment to help defend against Russian drone attacks and shield its population.
- With shipping lanes in the Black Sea region often under threat due to armed conflicts, effective measures should be pursued to safeguard maritime trade routes and reduce potential disruptions, ensuring distribution of essential goods and supplies for both war-torn countries and other neighboring nations.
Source: www.dpa.com
