Overview of the situation - Zelenskyy relies on drones, Lukashenko on German hostages
During Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko's visit to Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian state television in Minsk aired an interview with a German man sentenced to death - sending a message to the West. A German man standing before execution in Belarus (formerly White Russia) pleaded for mercy from Alexander Lukashenko in a video broadcast by the state television.
The German government did nothing for his rescue, he said. He was reportedly convicted in Minsk for terrorism on behalf of the Ukrainian intelligence services. "I confess, definitely," he said. Some of his statements were clear to hear between the Russian translation.
Authoritarian Belarus carries out the last execution in Europe, and it does so by shooting in the neck. The German Foreign Office in Berlin stated that the case was known. The man would be consularly represented. The Foreign Office also stated that the death penalty is a cruel and inhumane form of punishment that Germany rejects under all circumstances. However, it did not comment on a proposal made by Minsk for negotiations.
Is Minsk considering prisoner exchange?
The man in the video only had his family fighting for his life, according to official statements, and no one was fighting for him. "I'm still alive, there's still time to negotiate, it's not too late," he pleaded. "The government should fight for me." The condemned man begged in the obviously state-orchestrated video to see his daughter, his girlfriend, and his father again.
The Foreign Ministry in Minsk stated that it had made proposals to Berlin to resolve the situation. There were no details about this.
Speculation arose that Belarus, allied with Russia, was considering a prisoner exchange. So Putin is interested in the return of a Russian who was sentenced to prison in Germany for a murder committed in the Berlin Tiergarten on behalf of Russian authorities. Putin welcomed Lukashenko on the monastery island Valaam on Lake Ladoga near St. Petersburg.
Zelensky praises own defense industry
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the progress in Ukraine's defense industry. "It's very important that foreign money finally works effectively in defense production, and that's our great achievement," Zelensky said in his daily video address. The sector is no longer just funded by state investments but also attracts funds from partners. As examples, he mentioned the production of rockets and long-range drones.
So Ukraine is taking steps to increase the range of its drones. Recently, Ukrainian drones have penetrated the Russian-controlled region of Tatarstan. Tatarstan is about 1000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Ukraine: Border guard prevents escape of over 20 men
Despite individual successes of Ukraine with drones, the country remains under pressure at the front. The need for new recruits is high, but many young Ukrainians are trying to avoid it: The Ukrainian border guard has now prevented over two dozen conscripted men from fleeing abroad. According to border guard reports, eleven men were caught in the Winnyzja region and another fifteen in the Odessa region at the border with Moldova. Some of the men wanted to go to the separatist-controlled region of Transnistria.
Russian tank transports car across border region [
(Note: The last sentence in the original text appears to be incomplete and does not make much sense without additional context.)
Some Russian soldiers seem to be lacking discipline: In the Russian border region of Belgorod, according to media reports, a tank ran over a car. The driver of the car died, according to information from the local internet portal "Pepel," at the scene of the accident. The tank reportedly disregarded the right of way at a crossing. The photos show that it drove about 100 meters after the accident before stopping. "According to eyewitnesses, the tank crew was in an irrational state and was laughing," it was reported. It was unclear whether they were sober.
Russia has been waging an offensive war against the neighboring Ukraine for over two years. Reports of marauding Russian soldiers in the neighboring country keep surfacing.
According to the Russian government's view, soldiers in the war zone should be allowed to temporarily keep their driver's licenses even after accidents or drunkenness at the wheel. However, this lax attitude leads to fatal incidents in their own country as well. In early July, similarly, drunken soldiers in the Belgorod region crushed a car and its driver. They then attempted to flee. A criminal proceedings have been initiated against the tank driver.
Speech of Zelensky (Ukr)
- The man in the video expressed his hope that Germany, just like Ukraine with Volodymyr Zelensky, would advocate for his release, given their rejection of the death penalty.
- Russian interest in a potential prisoner exchange might involve a Russian individual sentenced to prison in Germany for a crime committed in Berlin, as suggested by Putin's warm welcome for Lukashenko in Russia.
- The German government, while denouncing the death penalty, remained silent on the possibility of negotiations proposed by Minsk, leaving room for speculation about a prisoner exchange.
- The state-orchestrated video from Minsk depicted the German man, convicted for terrorism on behalf of Ukraine's intelligence services, pleading for mercy from Lukashenko, emphasizing his desire to see his family once more.
- Tatarstan, an ally of Russia, experienced incursions by Ukrainian drones, marking a significant conflict between the two neighboring nations and hinting at the growing capability of Ukraine's defense industry.
- Belarusian state television in Minsk aired an interview with the German man facing execution in white Russia, aiming to send a strong message to Europe and further fueling diplomatic tension between Minsk and the West.
- In a surprising turn of events, the Ukrainian border guard managed to prevent the escape of over 20 conscripted men, who wanted to evade military service and seek refuge in Transnistria.
- Ukrainian drones have demonstrated their range, successfully penetrating the Russian-controlled region of Tatarstan, highlighting the effectiveness of Ukraine's defense industry improvements under President Zelensky.
- The Secret Service in Belarus may play a role in negotiations related to the German prisoner, given the unusual nature of the case, its potential connection to Ukraine's intelligence services, and Minsk's ongoing discussions with Berlin.
- Reports of Russian soldier misconduct continue to surface in their conflict with Ukraine, most recently involving a tank running over a car and its driver in the Russian border region of Belgorod, emphasizing the tense relations between the two nations.
