In light of his army’s recent successes in recapturing previously occupied territories, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the annexations by Russia meaningless. “As soon as the Ukrainian flag returned, no one remembers the Russian farce with no documents and no annexations,” Zelenskyy said in his video speech on Monday night.
It was previously known that Russian troops had to give up the strategically important small town of Lyman, in the eastern region of Donetsk, and that the Ukrainians now have control there again. About seven months after the start of the war, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin annexed the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson, as well as Donetsk, last Friday. The incorporation of regions, parts of which Russia has not yet conquered, in violation of international law, is not internationally recognized.
Both Germany and the US have assured Ukraine that they will continue to support the liberation of their country. Meanwhile, in view of the mass exodus before the partial mobilization that has lasted about ten days, Russia, according to its own statements, has begun to actively prevent recruits from leaving the country.
Russia: 180 men called up in attempted border escape
According to its own statements, Russia has already prevented more than 180 recruits trying to flee from being called up for military service on the border with neighboring Georgia. Interfax reported, citing the military commissariat of the Russian region of North Ossetia, which borders the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, that they received a draft directly at the Verkhni Lars border crossing.
The mobilization ordered by Kremlin chief Putin on 21 September triggered a veritable mass exodus from Russia. Tens of thousands of men fled not only to Georgia in the South Caucasus, but also to the former Soviet Central Asian states of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Lambrecht: Ukraine receives 16 additional howitzers from Slovakia
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced the delivery of 16 Slovakian-made self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine for next year. The Zuzana-type systems are produced in Slovakia and jointly financed by Denmark, Norway and Germany, the SPD policy told the ARD program “Report from Berlin” on Feb. start of the war.
US Minister: Support for Ukraine ‘as long as it takes’
The United States assures Ukraine of continued support – regardless of the course of the war. Combat operations are currently developing positively for the Ukrainian army, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the CNN news channel. It is difficult to predict the further course, he restricted. “But I would say that no matter which direction this goes, we will provide security support to the Ukrainians for as long as necessary,” he said.
What will be important on Monday
Just days after the annexation of four Ukrainian regions announced by Kremlin chief Putin, the State Duma in Moscow is expected to seal the illegal annexations by law on Monday. In the meantime, the Ukrainian army will likely continue their recapture attempts after the successful recapture of Lyman.
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