► Putin posthumously honors a military blogger killed in a bomb attack
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (3 April) posthumously honored a military blogger who was killed the day before in a bomb attack, a case in which Moscow blamed Ukraine and opponent Alexei Navalny’s “agents”.
The Order of Bravery is awarded to Maxime Fomin “for the courage and bravery he has shown in the performance of his professional duties,” according to a decree published on the Kremlin’s website.
► The Ukrainian army claims it is still “holding” Bakhmout.
The Ukrainian army on Monday, April 3, said it was “detaining” the eastern town of Bakhmout, which Russian paramilitary group Wagner allegedly took “in a legal sense” after capturing the town hall.
“The enemy did not stop their attack on Bakhmout. However, the Ukrainian defenders are holding the city valiantly, repelling numerous enemy attacks,” the Ukrainian General Staff posted on its Facebook page a few hours before Wagner claimed to control the city’s town hall.
► Wagner demands the conquest of the town hall of Bakhmout
Russian paramilitary group Wagner on Monday claimed responsibility for taking over the town hall of Bakhmout in eastern Ukraine, saying the capture means it now controls the town “in a legal sense”.
“Legally, Bakhmout was captured. The enemy is concentrating on the western areas,” Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigogine said on his Telegram channel. Despite this claim, the Russian army reported no progress in its latest daily update.
► Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Warsaw on April 5th
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will pay an official visit to Warsaw on Wednesday, April 5, a representative of the Polish President said on Monday.
“This is an official visit,” but the Ukrainian president “wants to meet Poles and Ukrainians living in Poland as well,” head of the presidency’s office for international politics, Marcin Przydacz, told Polish commercial broadcaster RMFFM.
► After joining NATO, Russia will strengthen its military capabilities near Finland
Russia has announced its intention to bolster its military capabilities near Finland, a border country that will become a member of NATO on Tuesday, an extension Moscow perceives as a threat. “We will strengthen our military capacities in the west and north-west”, i.e. on the borders with Eastern Europe and Finland, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister indicated.
“In the event of deployment of armed forces and assets of other NATO members on Finnish territory, we will take additional measures to reliably ensure Russia’s military security,” he added.
► The arrested American journalist appeals against his detention
The defense of American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in Russia last week on charges of “espionage” which he denies, appealed Monday against his detention, a Moscow court said. “The date of the hearing regarding the incarceration appeal will be announced this week,” the defense said, adding that the motion would be reviewed by another higher court.
Evan Gershkovich, Russian correspondent for the renowned Wall Street Journal and former AFP journalist in Moscow, was held in custody last Thursday until at least May 29.
► Poland delivered the first MiG-29s
Poland has delivered the first MiG-29 fighter jets it promised to Ukraine, the representative of the Polish presidency said on Monday after a similar announcement from Slovakia in late March. “Some MiGs have already been dispatched, they are indeed useful for Ukraine to defend the security of all of us,” he told private radio RMF FM.
► Putin sets up an aid fund for soldiers deployed in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree formalizing the creation of a special fund to support soldiers deployed in Ukraine and their families, a new social measure the Russian president announced amid a conflict that has been going on for more than a year persists.
► Moscow accuses Kiev of fueling the attack in Saint Petersburg
Russian authorities announced on Monday the arrest of a young woman, the prime suspect in the attack that killed a prominent military blogger and ardent supporter of the offensive against Ukraine the previous day. Investigators “on Sunday arrested Daria Trepova, who is suspected of being involved in the explosion at the cafe in Saint Petersburg,” the Russian Investigative Committee said.
Russia on Monday accused Kiev of orchestrating the attack with the complicity of supporters of detained Russian opponent Alexei Navalny. “It was established that the act of terrorism committed on April 2 in Saint Petersburg (…) was planned by the Ukrainian special services, who recruited agents from among those collaborating with the so-called Navalny Anti-Corruption Fund,” announced the Russian Anti-Terrorist Committee .
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