Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a new military success on Tuesday with the capture of a bridgehead in the south that Ukraine had built with great effort, a few days after the “chaotic escape” of Ukrainian forces from Avdiika. Follow the latest news live.
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Volodymyr Zelensky, the former comedian turned warlord
6:35 p.m
MOSCOW WELCOMES “MINIMAL” LOSSES IN AVDIIVKA
Moscow welcomes the capture of Avdiivka, which the defense minister said would have caused only “minimal casualties.” “In general, this operation will be included in the manuals of the Ministry of Defense,” Sergei Shoigu even said.
As a reminder, although there is no official report, Western intelligence agencies estimate the cost to the Russian army of capturing Avdiivka as “colossal.” According to British intelligence, Russia lost more than 400 tanks. Kiev, in turn, states that more than 17,000 Russian soldiers were killed in this battle.
6:16 p.m
Nuclear in space
Moscow is “categorically against” the use of nuclear weapons in space, Vladimir Putin assured in an interview with his defense minister. “We have always been and continue to be categorically against the use of nuclear weapons in space,” the Russian president said at this Kremlin-broadcast meeting. For his part, Sergei Shoigu reiterated that Russia “does not have the kind of weapons” that the United States accuses it of wanting to use.
To learn more about this type of weapon that the United States accuses them of using, read our article on the subject Here.
5:44 p.m
Call to strengthen security in the armies
In view of the risk of cyber attacks from Russia, the Minister of the Armed Forces is calling for security measures to be tightened. “Since the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Federation has been in a balance of power with France and its partners, conducting hybrid interventions below the escalation threshold. These attacks primarily concern the Ministry of Defense,” according to this internal memo signed by Sébastien Lecornu, seen by AFP. The minister mentions in particular “the threat of sabotage and cyber-attacks, which can burden personnel and their family environment, facilities, information systems and networks”.
“The signing of a security agreement between France and Ukraine carries the risk that Russia will intensify these operations in order to increase its influence, discredit our actions and weaken our national cohesion,” emphasizes the minister, calling in his communication for measures to “reduce the vulnerabilities in Ukraine”. in the face of subversive actions that could impact our personnel, our infrastructure, our teams or even our activities.”
5:41 p.m
TRANSCRIPT
Viktor is among the Ukrainian soldiers who have withdrawn from the city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine. This survivor, who lost six comrades, tells LCI about the hell of fighting against Russian troops. ↓
5:39 p.m
NEW SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA?
Asked about possible sanctions against Russia, Christophe Lemoine, deputy speaker of the Quai d'Orsay, recalled that this Monday a thirteenth sanctions package was adopted at the European level and that further discussions “will take place”. “Everything is being done to provide the best possible support to Ukraine and ensure its victory,” assured the deputy spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.
5:17 p.m
PUTIN IRONICS ABOUT AVDIIVKA
In an interview with his defense minister, the Russian president joked about the Ukrainian army's “chaotic escape” from the city of Avdiivka, which was abandoned by Kiev forces last week after months of fighting. “This chaotic escape took place at the moment when the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces gave the order to withdraw,” Vladimir Putin emphasized in the video released by the Kremlin. “It was actually a leak in the truest sense of the word,” he told Sergei Shoigu.
5:13 p.m
Moscow demands strategic progress
Russia claims to have regained control of the city of Krynky, which Ukraine built with great effort in the south on the occupied bank of the Dnieper last summer. The Russian Defense Ministry told Sergei Shoigu this information during a meeting with Vladimir Putin.
“This is actually the case, Krynky has been purged, we de facto control the entire bank,” Sergei Shoigu said after the Russian president asked him to confirm that this beachhead had been recaptured, following images distributed by Russian media .
15:54
G7 MEETING ON SATURDAY
The Italian presidency has announced that a video conference meeting of the G7 heads of state and government on the subject of Ukraine will be organized on Saturday. This meeting is the first of the heads of state and government of the G7 member countries under the Italian presidency. It is being organized with the planned participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
It was called “on the occasion of the second anniversary of Russian aggression against Ukraine,” said a government press release in Rome, at a time when Kiev recognizes that it is in an “extremely difficult” situation for its armed forces , who lack ammunition. and American aid.
3:49 p.m
THE AUDITORS
While Poland is one of Ukraine's biggest supporters, the mobilization of Polish farmers at the border is straining relations between the allies. Among the madman-shaming videos is that of a truck delivering aid to the Ukrainian army that was apparently blocked at the border. We checked it. ↓
3:37 p.m
Kiev “Outraged” by the actions of Polish farmers
Ukraine's state railway company said it was “outraged” by the actions of Polish farmers who opened two Ukrainian wagons and threw grain onto the tracks. “Ukrzaliznytsia is outraged by these actions by Polish protesters and calls for an end to these illegal actions,” the company said on Facebook, adding that it had sent a request to this effect to “Polish law enforcement authorities.”
It was a cargo destined for Germany, said Ukrzaliznytsia and made sure to “strictly comply with the ban on the import of grain into Poland”.
3:33 p.m
UKRAINIAN WHEAT DESTINATION IN POLAND
Polish farmers blocked around a hundred roads and border crossing points into Ukraine this morning. Actions by farmers, particularly denouncing Ukrainian agricultural and food imports that are considered “uncontrolled,” include throwing wheat onto the rails of the Medyka border post, which is used to transport Ukrainian goods.
“Around 10:30 a.m., a group of farmers entered the railway line that runs along the closed road and stood there for a moment. Discussions led by the police led to them leaving the route after a few minutes. “There was no use of force.” “It was found that a small amount of grain was spilled on the tracks,” the Przemysl police spokesman told AFP.
10:04
EMMANUEL MACRON CONVERSATION WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OF BULGARIA
Emmanuel Macron will meet tomorrow with Nikolai Denkov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria. “As Ukraine enters its third year of war this week, the two leaders will reaffirm their determination to provide long-term support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” the Élysée wrote in a press release.
The two leaders will also discuss “the various areas of cooperation such as European security and defense, the contribution of nuclear energy to the goals of decarbonization and energy security, and strengthening European integration.”
09:35
RUSSIAN OPPONENT ILIA YASHIN VOWED TO FIGHT THE TYRANT AFTER NAVALNY'S DEATH
Russian opponent Ilya Yashin, sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for his condemnation of the attack in Ukraine, has vowed to continue his fight against Vladimir Putin following the death in prison of his long-time friend Alexei Navalny.
“As long as my heart beats in my chest, I will fight against tyranny. As long as I live, I will not fear evil. And as long as I breathe, I will be with my people. I swear,” Ilia Iachine wrote in a letter published Tuesday.
09:17
SWEDEN ANNOUNCES RECORD MILITARY SUPPORT TO UKRAINE
Sweden announces new record military aid to Ukraine in the form of equipment worth 7.1 billion crowns or around 633 million euros. “The reason we continue to support Ukraine is a matter of humanity and decency. “Russia has started an illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable war,” Defense Minister Pål Jonson said at a press conference.
08:52
A Russian deserter shot dead in SpainSource: TF1 Info
08:13
RUSSIAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL ARRESTED FOR “TREASON IN RUSSIA.”
A Russian-American citizen residing in Los Angeles was arrested in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on charges of “high treason” by the Security Services (FSB), which accused her of raising funds for the Ukrainian army, Russian authorities said on Tuesday.
“The Federal Security Service put an end to the illegal activities in Yekaterinburg of a 33-year-old resident of Los Angeles, who has Russian and American citizenship,” the FSB said, according to these authorities. According to her, the young woman was arrested as part of an investigation into “treason” for allegedly collecting funds that allowed the Ukrainian army to purchase weapons.
07:47
Zelenskyy: “The situation is extremely difficult” Source: TF1 Info
06:57
ECUADOR ANNOUNCES A CLOSURE OF SUPPLIES OF SOVIET-ERA WEAPONS TO UKRAINE
Ecuador announced on Monday that it would stop sending Soviet-era weapons to Ukraine via the United States, after a promise to do so sparked Moscow's ire and a ban on imports of Ecuadorian bananas to Russia.
“Ecuador will not send war material to a country that is involved in an international armed conflict,” Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld assured a parliamentary committee.
The Ukrainian army reported on Monday, February 20, “heavy fire” from Russian forces near Robotyné, a town in the Zaporizhia region in the south of the country that was recaptured by Ukrainian forces during their counteroffensive last year. In the evening, President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted that the Ukrainian army is in an “extremely difficult” situation faced by Russian forces, which, in his opinion, are taking advantage of the West's delays in providing their military assistance.
United States President Joe Biden said he is “considering” new sanctions against Russia against his counterpart Vladimir Putin, whom former White House resident Donald Trump carefully avoided denouncing over the death of Russian opponent Alexei Navalny. “We already have sanctions, but we are considering more, yes,” replied journalists, the Democratic leader who had considered President Putin “responsible” for Navalny’s death in an Arctic prison announced on Friday.
Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakow on Monday described the blockade of the border between the two countries by Polish farmers as a “threat to the security of Ukraine.” “Such actions have a negative impact on our confrontation with the common enemy Russia,” Mr. Koubrakov denounced on Facebook. Volodymyr Zelensky, for his part, believed that the blockade of the Polish border was evidence of the “erosion of solidarity” towards his country.
The editorial team of TF1info