To divide
Russia is probably daring a new offensive in Bakhmut. Ukraine reported previously recaptured areas. The news ticker about the war in Ukraine.
- draw put on the tightest loop? Belarus announces border innovation
- new russian offensive at the bachmut? Vladimir Putin’s military leadership is apparently redeploying troops
- Ukraine with strategy ofactive defense”: Counterattacks seem to be partially successful,
- All war news in Ukraine in our news ticker. The information comes in part from the warring parties in Russia or Ukraine. They usually cannot be independently verified.
Update May 17, 10:55 pm: The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, passed several laws on Wednesday reforming electoral law in the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson. The information is from the Russian state news agency Tass.
Thus, it should be possible in the future to vote in elections or referendums in polling stations outside the four oblasts, i.e. in polling stations on Russian territory. Furthermore, if Russia’s Central Election Commission has the impression that holding an election or referendum on the territory of one of the four regions would pose a threat to the well-being of citizens, the vote may be postponed. Additionally, citizens who violate martial law in the four oblasts can now be jailed for 30 days.
Update May 17, 9:42 pm: According to Portal news agency, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has proposed increasing the fund to finance Ukrainian military spending, the so-called European Peace Facility, by 3.5 billion euros. So far, around 4.6 billion euros have come out of the fund to Ukraine for military aid.
Is Putin tightening the noose? Belarus announces border innovation
Update May 17, 8:05 pm: Belarus, one of Russia’s closest allies, has partially restored border controls with Russia. This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Sergei Aleinik. The purpose of the measure is to prevent third-country nationals from entering Belarus, Aleinik told reporters in Moscow.
Aleinik continues: “It’s not really about control, it’s more about monitoring the situation at the border.” However, human rights activists assume that border controls are aimed at Russian men who want to avoid conscription into the Russian army.
News from Ukraine: Orban blocks EU military aid to Ukraine
Update May 17th, 6:05 pm: Hungary blocks further EU military aid to Ukraine worth €500 million. The government will only approve the new tranche if Ukraine removes Hungary’s largest OTP bank from a blacklist of companies operating in Russia, Viktor Orbán’s foreign minister Peter Szijarto said. The EU’s promised deliveries of ammunition to Kiev are also not progressing.
The 500 million euros should flow from the so-called European Peace Facility (EPF). EU countries can use the pot to be reimbursed for the costs of weapons and ammunition they pass on to Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, EU countries have provided €5.6 billion through the fund.
Of all EU countries, Hungary has the closest ties with Russia and is the only country that has expanded its gas contracts with Moscow. Budapest has already justified its opposition to the new military aid by saying it must also benefit other regions in crisis and not just Ukraine.
Ukraine-News: Russian region targeted by Kiev armed forces
Update May 17, 5:15 PM: Ukrainian troops apparently advanced about 500 meters into the city of Bakhmut. The information is from the Ukrainska Pravda portal, citing the Ukrainian news agency Interfax Ukraine. Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesman for the Ukrainian military, said according to the portal: The Russian military recognizes “that we are gradually taking the initiative”.
Update May 17, 4:25 pm: Drones, explosions, accidents: Russia’s Bryansk region is repeatedly targeted by suspected drone attacks and sabotage. The armaments industry is located here, right on the Ukrainian border. And not only that.
May 17th update at 4:10 pm: Russia and Ukraine have agreed to extend the grain deal. It will apply for another two months, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in Ankara. Erdogan is currently facing a runoff election in Turkey.
Tanks, drones, air defenses: weapons for Ukraine
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Ukraine war: Debate over F-16 for Ukraine continues
Update May 17, 3:45 PM: Germany and Great Britain see the decision on the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine for the US. “It’s up to the White House to decide whether to release this technology,” British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said during a visit to Berlin. Britain “has no F-16”. Therefore, your country’s role could be “only limited” and related to training, coordination and logistics.
Germany could not “play an active role” in a fighter alliance, emphasized Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at a joint press conference with Wallace. Because it has “neither training capacity (…) nor aircraft”. He also said: “In the end, as far as I’m concerned, it’s up to the White House anyway.” That would have to decide whether the F-16 fighters would be delivered to Ukraine.
In any case, Tornadoes or German Eurofighters are not suitable for use in Ukraine, Pistorius confirmed. Germany has other core competencies when it comes to supporting Ukraine: “We are specialists in tanks and air defense,” the minister said. “We are leaders in supporting Ukraine in these areas. And it will stay that way.”
War in Ukraine: Putin’s army doesn’t want to give up Bakhmut
First report from May 17th: Bakhmut – Russia is apparently losing ground in the battle for Bakhmut – but apparently it doesn’t want to give up the city that has been under siege for months and is even moving more troops there. This is the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessment of a recent review. Russian military leadership decided to withdraw soldiers from other areas of Ukraine and station them in Bakhmut.
Denis Puschilin, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, announced on Tuesday (May 16) that the Russian army has reinforced its forces in the Bakhmut region, according to the ISW report. These are intended to stabilize the situation there for Russia, Puschilin said.
Also, a well-known Russian military blogger wrote on his Telegram channel that Russia had moved four battalions to the flanks of the city. According to him, a full-scale attack on the Ukrainian defenders is not planned: “Your task is to survive and prevent further breakthroughs,” the blogger writes.
Russian soldiers launch attacks on Ukraine in Bakhmut. Photo is from May 1, 2023. © Russian Ministry of Defense/Imago
War in Ukraine: Putin apparently stationing more air forces near Bakhmut
It is fitting that Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar stated in Telegram on Monday (May 15) that Putin’s army has stationed additional air forces near Bakhmut. These were likely taken from other front sections in the Ukrainian war.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet made any statement about a new tactical offensive in Bakhmut. Instead, Tuesday (May 16) said the focus in the embattled city would be on repelling Ukrainian counter-attacks. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Malyar said the Ukrainian army had liberated 20 square kilometers in recent days.
Ukraine-News: Kiev is apparently pursuing an “active defense” strategy in Bakhmut
The commander of Ukraine’s Eastern Forces Group, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said the “active defence” strategy was being adopted to launch counter-attacks in unspecified areas near Bakhmut. According to ISW, however, the Russian army has made little progress on Bakhmut in recent days.
On Tuesday (May 16), there were reports that Bakhmut was becoming a death zone for Russian soldiers: Russians were sitting in a “mousetrap” there, Colonel-General Syrskyj declared. Previously, Ukrainian army units northwest and southwest of Bakhmut had driven back Russian troops, some of them for several kilometers. (smu)