Memorandum of Understanding signed by the air force commanders of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark to create a unified Nordic air defense against the growing threat from Russia. The Kremlin, meanwhile, is rolling back plans for another offensive in Ukraine in the spring and is concentrating on defending the conquered territories in anticipation of a counteroffensive from Kiev. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says China has not offered Kyiv as a mediator in the conflict, adding that he wants to talk to Beijing
Kyiv, “Autumn Wheat Summit”
“In the fall, we plan to organize the second summit under the Grain from Ukraine initiative to raise more funds to run the program, and therefore we must encourage as many countries as possible to join it.” Interview with Ukrinform Maksym Subkh, Ukraine’s Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa explained. Subkh spoke of nearly three million tons of grain shipped to Africa since the Black Sea Grains Initiative began and about $200 million raised by donors.
“We have official requests from several African countries asking for help with grain – he added countries. But we are working with the World Food Program to find ways to meet the needs of these countries.”
On average, almost 40% of Ukrainians know someone who is dead or injured
37% of Ukrainians said they have injured or killed at least one relative or friend, both civilian and military, since the start of the Russian invasion: reports Sky News, citing a poll conducted by the Razumkov Center, a political research center based in Ukraine in Kiev. The survey also shows that 28% of respondents have relatives (including close ones) or friends who have fled the country, with 47% saying they are in Poland, 18.5% in Germany and 9% in the Czech Republic .
Tajani, China can convince Moscow to step down
Regarding the war in Ukraine, “it is true that China is playing a positive role, it is perhaps the interlocutor who, more than anyone else, can persuade Russia to step back, that is, if China wanted to be the interlocutor for peace to create it, we would all be happy.” This was stated by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on the fringes of an election rally.
Erdogan to Putin, talks with Ukraine as soon as possible
Turkey is pushing for a resolution to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and wants to hold talks between the two countries as soon as possible. This is what Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tass reports.
Kiev, Moscow maintains 2 ships with cruise missiles in the Black Sea
Russia has deployed two warships armed with up to eight Kalibr cruise missiles in the Black Sea, Ukraine’s Southern Operations Command said, Ukrinform reported. “The presence of the group of enemy ships in the Black Sea was reduced to ten this morning. The surface missile boats have returned to their bases. There are two submarines at sea armed with up to eight Kalibr missiles,” the report said. The command has warned that the threat of missile attacks remains high. On March 24, Russia had four warships in the Black Sea armed with up to 24 Kalibr cruise missiles.
Kiev, 16 civilians killed and 59 wounded by Russians in the last 24 hours
As a result of Russian attacks over the past 24 hours, 16 civilians have been killed and 59 injured. The Military Media Center shared this in a note, according to reports from Ukrinform. “Over the past 24 hours, Russian troops have bombed the territory of eight regions of Ukraine,” the note said.
Kiev, “over 700 Russian soldiers killed yesterday”
Russia lost 720 men in the last day, bringing its ranks to 169,890 since the day Moscow attacked Ukraine on February 24. This was reported by the Daily Bulletin of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, just published on Facebook, with numbers that cannot be independently verified. According to the Ukrainian military, Russian losses so far amount to around 169,890 men, 3,580 tanks, 6,887 armored vehicles, 2,623 artillery systems, 520 multiple rocket launchers, 276 anti-aircraft systems. Russian forces also lost 305 aircraft, 291 helicopters, 5,483 vehicles, 18 naval units and 2,214 drones, according to the bulletin, which states that the data is being updated due to the intense fighting.
Nordic countries to joint air defense of Russia
The air force commanders of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark have signed a memorandum of understanding to create a unified Nordic air defense aimed at countering the growing threat from Russia. The aim is to be able to operate together on the basis of the operational methods already known in NATO, as was declared yesterday by the armed forces of the 4 countries. The decision to integrate the air force was prompted by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Danish Air Force commander Major General Jan Dam told Portal, the news agency reported on its website.
Zelensky, China, did not receive a proposal to interview Xi
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had not received any offers to speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who recently visited Moscow. “I have not received a mediation offer from China. I have not received an offer to meet. But I sent direct messages through diplomatic channels to say I want to speak to Chinese leader Xi Jinping,” Zelensky said in an interview with Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun.
Zelenskyy has asked Beijing to cooperate on the peace plan proposed by Ukraine and to organize a high-level meeting. The Ukrainian president said he was skeptical of China’s 12-point proposal, stating that “respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity” should come first.
Kiev, 6 drones and Russian Mi-24 helicopter shot down in 24 hours
The Ukrainian army has attacked 17 areas where Russian troops were located in the last 24 hours, shot down six drones and a Mi-24 helicopter and destroyed a Moscow artillery unit, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Kiev announced in its daily update on the situation ahead Location. This was reported by the Kyiv Independent. According to the army, two Russian control centers, four bases, two anti-aircraft missile systems, an ammunition depot, an artillery unit and two electronic warfare stations were also hit. For their part, the Russian troops focused their efforts mainly on offensive actions in the Donetsk region, and especially near the cities of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiika, Marinka and Shakhtar: in these areas the Ukrainian army repelled 59 Russian attacks. Also in the last 24 hours, Russia has carried out 50 airstrikes, 11 rocket attacks and 75 volley attacks against Ukrainian troop positions and civilian infrastructure.
Moldova: Defense minister rules out threat of imminent attack
“The situation on Moldova’s borders remains tense, but given the war in the neighboring country and its consequences, there is currently no threat of an impending attack on Moldova,” Moldovan Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatii said in an interview with Agerpres agency, quoted by Moldpres. “At the same time – he added – the Moldovan government has all the tools to ensure security and order in the country.” Asked whether there was a risk of an imminent attack on Moldova, the minister explained that “at the moment there is no such thing scenario exists”.
”This is thanks to the courage and dedication of the Ukrainian people who are currently fighting for the security, independence, sovereignty and at the same time for the democratic principles of the European continent”, he noted. The minister said he was confident that in the near future “the situation on the front lines will change radically in favor of the Ukrainian army, which will allow us to find ourselves in a more stable situation.” Nosatii also said that Moldova is “using all diplomatic tools to strengthen defense capabilities, including cooperation with the European Union.”
He ends up in the register of foreign agents, wanted former Putin speechwriter
Russian police have put a former speechwriter for President Vladimir Putin on a wanted list for alleged crimes. Abbas Gallyamov, reports the Guardian, wrote speeches for Putin between 2008 and 2012, when the Russian leader was prime minister. Gallyamov, who had lived abroad for years, later became a political adviser and analyst, often quoted in Russian and foreign media. Russia’s Justice Ministry added Gallyamov to the register of foreign agents last month, saying he “distributed materials provided by foreign agents to a circle of people, spoke out against the special military operation in Ukraine, and participated as an expert and foreign information platform.” .
Zelensky, let’s wait for weapons to start the counteroffensive
Ukraine is not yet in a position to launch its counter-offensive because it is waiting for enough weapons from its partners, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an exclusive interview with the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, Ukrainian media reported. “We are waiting for ammunition from our partners,” said Zelenskyy, noting that the Russians use three times as much ammunition as the Kiev armed forces every day. Ukraine, he stressed, “cannot send its brave defenders on the counteroffensive without sufficient weapons.”
British Intelligence: ‘Russian forces exhausted, Bakhmut siege stalled’
The British Ministry of Defense writes in its Daily Intelligence Update that the Russian attack on the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine has practically come to a standstill, mainly because of Moscow’s heavy losses so far. Kiev has also suffered heavy casualties, but the report, published on Twitter, underscores that the Russian situation was likely exacerbated by tensions between the Russian Defense Ministry and the Wagner Group. Within this framework, Russia is believed to have shifted its operational focus to Avdiivka south of Bakhmut and the Kreminna-Svatove sector to the north, areas where Moscow is probably only aiming to stabilize its front line. This, the report concludes, indicates a return to a more defensive operational design after attempts to mount a sweeping offensive since the beginning of the year have been inconclusive.
Zelenskyy: “China has not offered to be a mediator”
China has not offered itself to Kyiv as a mediator in the conflict in Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun. “China did not send me a mediation proposal. I have not received an offer to meet,” Zelenskyi said, adding: “Also, I sent direct messages (to Beijing) through diplomatic channels saying that I would like to speak to the leader of China.”
Secret service Ukraine: “Occupiers sell property and leave Crimea”
“The Russian occupation authorities of Crimea have begun evacuating the conquered peninsula.” This was stated by Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, adding that the Russian command and administration are selling many properties on the peninsula and evicting their families from Crimea. “But private individuals are told: Don’t worry, everything is calm, everything is under control and that the ‘special operation’ is going according to plan…” Jussow added.
Biden, no weapons from China to Russia yet
China has not yet delivered any weapons to Russia. This was reiterated by US President Joe Biden at a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa.
Media, Moscow reduces plans for spring offensive
The Kremlin has scaled back plans for another offensive in Ukraine this spring and will focus on defending the captured areas in anticipation of a counter-offensive by Kiev forces to begin shortly: the decision, according to anonymous sources supported by the Agency Bloomberg were asked, given the limited progress made on the battlefield so far. Moscow also wants to recruit up to 400,000 “contract soldiers” this year to compensate for the losses so far. Sources say the Russian authorities want to avoid another large-scale mobilization ahead of the presidential election campaign next March. Authorities have already launched a campaign to recruit the mercenaries, while local officials have sent out invitations to potential volunteers, targeting veterans and rural residents in particular. At the same time, some experts and officials consider the target of 400,000 “contract soldiers” unrealistic.
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