The German Defense Ministry is sounding the alarm: the forecast 2024 budget, which will be prepared by mid-November, is far from enough to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. Members of Russian minorities are being forcibly recruited in Moscow, while Russian nuclear facilities are being expanded in Belarus. This morning we return to the highlights of the war in Ukraine, observed on the night of Sunday, October 22nd to Monday, October 23rd, 2023.
Also read: Update for Sunday, October 22, 2023
Germany lacks the budget
According to Bild, the German Defense Ministry fears that it will not be able to help Ukraine to the extent it promised for the coming year if the federal government does not release more funds for the 2024 budget.
However, the country is the second largest supporter after the USA. “Ukraine must be able to count on Germany’s commitments”Andreas Schwarz, deputy responsible for the defense budget in the budget committee of the German Bundestag, told Bild media.
In a confidential statement, the German Defense Ministry expects that if the government has already provided Ukraine with four billion euros in aid, almost all of it will support projects already announced in 2023. Any new project would therefore be limited to military aid for 2024, the remaining 120 million euros.
Also read: Germany would continue to import Russian oil despite European sanctions
Negotiations to finalize the budget are in full swing and are expected to be completed in November. In order to be able to cover Ukraine’s needs, the Defense Ministry is calling for at least five billion additional euros. In August, Germany planned to provide Ukraine with 5 billion euros in military aid annually until 2027.
Forced recruits in Russia
Russian opposition media reports that Russian riot police arrested dozens of worshipers at a mosque in the Moscow region on October 20, 2023 to take part in the war in Ukraine, without specifying the time.
The majority of those affected came from Central Asian migrant communities. A Russian singer, Mamut Useinov, explained on Telegram with supporting video that he was one of those detained and that he had been threatened with prison if he did not sign a one-year military service contract. Some media outlets note that officials threatened the immigrants with expulsion from Russia.
As evidence of the growing xenophobia in the country, many Russians welcomed the initiative: They affirm that naturalized citizens have a duty to serve Russia, the Institute for War Research (ISW) notes in its daily report. Mobilization is one of the biggest challenges to Russian power as casualties mount on the Ukrainian front.
Russia is developing its nuclear capabilities in Belarus
On October 18, the Wall Street Journal published satellite images showing the construction of a hangar to house Iskander cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Satellite images also show the construction of facilities typical of Russian nuclear weapons storage facilities.
Also read: Nuclear: The Russians have failed nuclear non-proliferation negotiations
According to the Institute for War Research, Russia’s goal is to integrate Belarus somewhat more into Russia’s military and political system rather than actually using these weapons. The institute considers the use of Russian nuclear weapons in Ukraine to be highly unlikely.