27 minutes ago
The Russians have abandoned some positions in Bakhmut, a Ukrainian official says
Ukrainian soldiers at their artillery positions on the Donetsk front line as the Russo-Ukrainian War continues April 24, 2023 in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine.
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
The chief of Ukraine’s ground forces said Monday that some Russian units had abandoned their positions in Bakhmut, a heavily contested town in the Donetsk region.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi said via Telegram on Monday that Ukrainian forces in the east of the country around Bakhmut in Donetsk, where fighting has been most intense in months, continue to defend the area.
“Intense fighting towards Bakhmut continues,” Syrskyi said, adding that Russian forces “launched numerous attacks, trying to break through the defenses of our positions in several directions…enemy actions failed,” he said.
However, Syrskyi said that despite the significant losses of Russia, new assault groups of mercenaries from the Wagner group, as well as “fighters from other private companies and paratroopers are constantly rushing into battle.”
While the situation was “rather complicated”, the military commander said that “at the same time in some parts of the city the enemy was attacked by our units and some positions were abandoned”.
CNBC was unable to verify the information in Syrskyi’s post.
— Holly Ellyatt
43 minutes ago
Putin orders Russian government to clarify rules on dividend payments to ‘unfriendly’ investors
The Kremlin Towers and Ivan the Great Cathedral in Moscow.
Kirill Kudryavtsev | AFP | Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday ordered his government to “clarify” the process of how Russian companies can make dividend payments to shareholders from so-called “unfriendly countries.”
Russia regards as “unfriendly” all countries that have imposed sanctions on it over its military campaign in Ukraine. It has hit back with its own set of counter-sanctions and capital controls, restricting the ability of companies and investors from those countries to repatriate profits or dividends.
The Kremlin said proposals on dividend payments should “include conditions that residents expand production in Russia, develop businesses based on new technologies, and invest in the Russian economy.”
Putin called on the government to come up with proposals by May 20, according to a document released by the Kremlin.
Scores of foreign companies have exited the Russian market since Moscow deployed tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine last February, while many others are still trying to transact business or awaiting approval from a government commission to sell their assets.
The Kremlin sparked fresh fears that it might be ready to nationalize foreign companies last week with a decree to take “temporary control” of the Russian assets of Finnish energy group Fortum and Germany’s Uniper, a move it described as denoted retaliation and which might be repeated.
– Portal
52 minutes ago
Logistics issues remain at the heart of Russia’s ‘fighting campaign’, Britain says
This photo taken on Oct. 7, 2022 shows an abandoned Russian T-62 tank south of the village of Novovorontsovka in part of southern Ukraine.
Dimitar Dilkoff | AFP | Getty Images
According to the UK MoD’s latest intelligence report, military-logistical problems in Ukraine “remain at the heart of Russia’s troubled campaign.”
In a post on Twitter, the ministry commented on recent reports on social media accounts linked to the Russian military alleging that Russia’s deputy defense minister, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, had been fired.
Mizintsev held the portfolio of military logistics and had been in office for just eight months, the ministry noted.
“Mizintsev’s sacking was not immediately confirmed, but speculation about his future shows that logistical issues remain at the heart of Russia’s struggling campaign in Ukraine. Russia does not have enough ammunition to be successful on the offensive,” noted the UK in its daily intelligence report.
“The lack of ammunition is causing internal divisions, particularly between the Russian Defense Ministry and the Wagner Group,” the ministry noted.
“Russia continues to give top priority to the mobilization of its defense industry, but it is still unable to meet wartime demands. As Russia’s political leaders continue to call for success on the battlefield, Russia’s logistics experts are caught in the middle,” the ministry added.
— Holly Ellyatt
2 hours ago
Putin warned he could be arrested if he attends the BRICS summit
South African authorities warned they would be forced to arrest the president after the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for him in March.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has been warned he could be arrested if he attends a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in South Africa in August.
The country’s authorities warned of the need to arrest the president after the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for him in March.
South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper, citing sources in the country’s government, said a special government commission set up by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to review the international arrest warrant concluded that the country had no choice but to than to arrest Putin when he travels to South Africa for the summit.
“We have no way of not arresting Putin,” a government official told The Sunday Times. “If he comes here, we will be forced to hold him down.”
Putin was due to travel to the summit, although the Kremlin had not confirmed his attendance, to meet with BRIC leaders.
The newspaper reported that officials were trying to find a way out of the diplomatic dilemma, with Putin’s “virtual” presence via video link being discussed as a possible workaround.
The newspaper’s sources said: “The only option we have is for [Putin] attend the summit from Moscow via Teams or Zoom.”
— Holly Ellyatt
2 hours ago
Ukraine was hit by a series of rocket attacks before dawn
Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel on Sunday that it was “very important that Russia gets stronger and stronger signals that the world will not forgive any Russian acts of terrorism. And that as many global actors as possible keep the sanctions regime against Russia absolutely principled.”
Andriy Zhyhaylo | News from Getty Images | Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the country’s international allies to maintain sanctions against Russia after a spate of pre-dawn rocket attacks in recent days.
Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel on Sunday that it was “very important that Russia gets stronger and stronger signals that the world will not forgive any Russian acts of terrorism. And that as many global actors as possible keep the sanctions regime against Russia absolutely principled.”
Zelenskyy’s comments came amid a spate of Russian missile attacks on Ukraine. Early Friday, Russian strikes hit several cities across the country, killing at least 23 people and injuring many others.
Before sunrise on Sunday, Russia launched another series of rocket attacks on Ukrainian cities. At least 34 people, including five children, were injured in an attack on Pavlohrad, near the city of Dnipro in central Ukraine. A 14-year-old boy died in an attack on the northern Chernihiv region.
— Holly Ellyatt
3 hours ago
Russia has suffered 100,000 casualties in Ukraine in recent months, the US says
Ukrainian soldiers of the 80th Brigade fire artillery towards Bakhmut as the Russo-Ukrainian war continues April 13, 2023 in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine.
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
The White House on Monday estimated that the Russian military had suffered 100,000 casualties in fighting in the Bakhmut region and other areas of Ukraine over the past five months.
White House National Security spokesman John Kirby told reporters the number, based on US Secret Service estimates, included more than 20,000 dead, half of them by the Wagner mercenary group, which includes convicts killed released from prison to join the fighting.
“Russia’s attempt at a winter offensive in the Donbas largely through Bakhmut has failed,” Kirby said.
“Last December, Russia launched a broad offensive across multiple lines of advance, including against Vuhledar, Avdiivka, Bakhmut and Kreminna. Most of these efforts have stalled and failed. Russia was unable to capture strategically significant areas.”
He said the Russians had made some incremental gains at Bakhmut but that it had come at a “horrible, horrible price” and that Ukraine’s defenses in the region remain strong.
“Russia has exhausted its military supplies and its armed forces,” Kirby said.
Most of the soldiers in the Wagner mercenary group were “Russian convicts who were thrown into battle at Bakhmut without adequate combat or training, combat skills, or any sense of organizational command and control,” he said.
“It’s really staggering, these numbers,” Kirby added, saying the total was three times the number of American casualties in the Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II. Kirby said another US arms package for Ukraine will be announced soon.
– Portal
3 hours ago