British Royal Air Force planes and German fighter jets intercepted a Russian plane flying over Estonian airspace. The sighting while tensions between Moscow and Washington are still high. A Russian jet collided with a US MQ-9 drone “conducting routine operations in international airspace” over the Black Sea.
Michel, we want de-escalation, but no signal from Moscow
“We want a de-escalation. We would like to see an escalation towards peace, but Russia has not stopped escalating the war. A single decision would suffice. Just a decision to withdraw his troops behind Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. Unfortunately, we don’t see any signs for the Kremlin in this direction.” This was stated by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in the plenary of the European Parliament during the debate on the conclusions of the extraordinary European Council of 9 February and the preparation of the European Council of 9 February March 23-24 “Nevertheless, we continue to fight for peace, the diplomatic struggle, we support the formula for a just peace proposed by President Zelenskyy, based on the United Nations Charter,” he added.
GB: “Increasingly restrictive measures in Russia to prevent foreign travel”
Increasingly restrictive measures to prevent public officials from traveling abroad, especially for officials closest to the center of power: they have been implemented since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and subsequently tightened. In his daily Twitter report, he points to the war in Ukraine, British secret service, after which some Russian employees even had to surrender their passports. All of this, explains the Ministry of Defense in London, is aimed at “preventing the escape or defection of increasingly disaffected officials. There is a realistic possibility that travel restrictions will be further tightened for an increasing number of government workers.”
Kiev: 12 rocket attacks and 40 Russian airstrikes in 24 hours
In the past 24 hours, Russia has launched 12 rocket attacks on Ukraine, 40 airstrikes, as well as more than 100 rockets from multiple launchers, causing casualties and damage in Kramatorsk and Donetsk oblasts, according to a morning assessment by the general’s Staff Joint Forces of Kiev, quoted as saying by The Kyiv Independent. Bombings in Zatoka, Odessa region, Ivanivka and Kherson region caused damage to infrastructure, including a kindergarten. Kiev claims to have repelled 90 enemy attacks and attacked nine Russian makeshift bases, three anti-aircraft systems and three Moscow command posts on its territory.
Media: Russia ready to recruit 400,000 new soldiers
On April 1, the Russian Defense Ministry will begin recruiting new contract soldiers. The plans, published by various Russian regional media, speak of accepting 400,000 recruits into the Moscow army. This was announced by the Russian side of Radio Liberty.
Kiev: 13 Russian ships in the Black Sea with 28 Kalibr cruise missiles
Russia currently has 13 military ships on combat duty in the Black Sea, including four rocket launchers with a total of 28 Kalibr cruise missiles on board, the Ukrainian naval command wrote on Facebook, quoted by the Ukrinform agency. “As of March 15, 2023, 13 enemy ships are on combat duty in the Black Sea, including 4 Kalibr cruise missile carriers with a total salvo of up to 28 missiles,” the message said.
Chinese, Russian and Iranian military maneuvers in the Gulf of Oman
The armed forces of China, Iran, Russia and other countries will hold a cycle of joint naval exercises titled “Security Bond – 2023” from today, March 15 to March 19 in the Gulf of Oman. These are, according to a statement from the Beijing Defense Ministry, operations developed in the cycles that China, Iran and Russia conducted back in 2019 and 2022.
Kiev: 4 wounded in Russian attack on Kherson
Two civilians and two officers from Ukraine’s state rescue service were injured in Russian shelling in the Kherson region. This was reported by the Ukrainian military command operating in the south of the country, the Kyiv Independent reported.
Russian Ambassador in Washington: “Flying a US drone over the Black Sea is a provocation”
“The unacceptable activity of the US military in close proximity to our borders is a cause for concern.” This was stated by Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov in a comment published by the Embassy on the American drone incident in the Black Sea.
This is reported by the agency Tass. “We are aware of the purpose for which such unmanned reconnaissance and attack vehicles are used,” Antonov added, “the answer is obvious: they collect intelligence information that will later be used by the Kiev regime to attack our forces on our territory.” .
“The drone flew with the transponders turned off and entered the military special operations area. Information about the area was released through international channels. We, Russia, warned everyone about this. I think that was a real provocation,” the Russian diplomat told reporters. “They provoked us into a specific action that allows them to unprofessionally blame Russia and the Russian military,” Antonov added.
Ukraine: British and German planes intercept Russian planes over Estonian airspace
British Royal Air Force planes and German fighter jets intercepted a Russian plane flying over Estonian airspace.
The BBC reports the news, stressing that while the interception itself was “routine,” it was “the first time an operation of this nature has been conducted jointly by the two countries” involved in NATO’s joint air surveillance programme.
The interception occurred because the plane had failed to communicate with air traffic control in Estonia.
“NATO – said UK Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey – remains the bedrock of our collective security. This joint British-German operation in the Baltic States clearly demonstrates our shared determination to challenge any potential threat to NATO’s borders while demonstrating our collective strength.
ISW, Drone Crash Will Not Cause Direct Conflict Between US And Russia
The incident involving the American MQ-9 Reaper drone in the Black Sea will not cause a direct conflict between the United States and Russia. So say analysts from the Institute for the Study of War, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda.
“For decades, Russian troops have used deterrent tactics against American and allied aircraft and ships in numerous theaters of war that have never led to conflict,” the institute’s experts noted.
Today meeting between the Speaker of the Chamber and the Ambassador of Ukraine in Italy
Today at 11.30 a.m. Speaker of the Chamber Lorenzo Fontana will meet with the Ambassador of Ukraine in Italy Melnyk
Kiev, 4 wounded in Russian attack on Kherson
Two civilians and two officers from Ukraine’s state rescue service were injured in Russian shelling in the Kherson region. This was reported by the Ukrainian military command operating in the south of the country, the Kyiv Independent reported.
High tension between Moscow and Washington after the collision between a Russian jet and an American drone
High voltage Moscow-Washington. A Russian jet collided with a US MQ-9 drone “conducting routine operations in international airspace” over the Black Sea.
The United States summoned the ambassador from Moscow. “A dangerous and unprofessional act by the Russians,” was the Pentagon’s response. Russia does not want a “clash” with Washington, the diplomat said, however, and spoke of “provocation”. “American planes – he said – should not be near the Russian border.”
Meanwhile, in the usual evening message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured his fellow citizens that “we will win this war”. “We’re doing everything we can for that,” he said.
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