An hour ago
Loss of a ship will limit Russian Black Sea Fleet maneuvers, Britain says
The patrol ship Sergey Kotov takes part in a Navy Day parade in Novorossiysk, Russia.
Vitaly Timkiv/Sputnik via AP
Ukraine's sinking of the Russian patrol ship Sergei Kotov on Tuesday continues a trend of attacks on Russia's prized Black Sea Fleet that will limit the fleet's ability to maneuver around Crimea, Britain's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
“This is the third ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet sunk in the last five weeks,” the ministry said in an intelligence update on X.
“Probably due to the losses of the Black Sea Fleet, on February 15, 2024, the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Viktor Sokolov, was dismissed. “Ukraine continues to restrict the Russian Navy’s freedom of maneuver in the Black Sea,” the ministry said.
Viktor Sokolov attends a ceremony marking the 240th anniversary of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea, May 13, 2023.
Alexey Pavlishak | Portal
The “Sergei Kotov”, which Ukraine said attacked with naval drones on Tuesday and led to the sinking of the ship, was not accepted into the Black Sea Fleet until July 2022.
“It had previously been targeted by USVs [Unmanned Surface Vehicles] in July and September 2023, both times sustaining minor damage and returning to service shortly thereafter,” the ministry noted.
– Holly Ellyatt
2 hours ago
German ambassador to UK says 'no need to apologize' after military leak
The German ambassador to the UK said there was “no need to apologize” for a security breach that led to a phone call between senior Russian military officials being leaked to the media.
Miguel Berger told BBC Radio 4's “Today” program on Wednesday that one of the participants in the call was likely dialed in via an unsecure line. As a result, Russia was able to intercept the call, he said.
Miguel Berger, the Ambassador of Germany at Buckingham Palace, on July 7, 2022 in Windsor, England.
Pool | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
During the call, officials reportedly discussed the possibility of giving Ukraine long-range Taurus missiles, as well as possible Russian targets, including the Crimean Bridge, which connects mainland Russia with annexed Crimea.
Officials also said that British troops were on the ground in Ukraine, much to Britain's disappointment. Former British defense secretary Ben Wallace said Germany was “quite penetrated by Russian intelligence” and was “neither safe nor reliable.”
“It’s extremely unhelpful what Ben Wallace did,” Berger said, adding: “That’s what Russia wants.”
Germany confirmed the authenticity of the call but said it was not sure whether it had been processed. It said an investigation was underway into the security breach.
– Holly Ellyatt
3 hours ago
According to a GUR source, Ukrainian military intelligence is responsible for the attack on a Russian ironworks
Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency is responsible for an attack on the Mikhailovsky iron ore plant in Russia's Kursk region, a source in GUR told Portal on Wednesday on condition of anonymity.
Russian officials and the plant's owner, Metalloinvest, said earlier that two drones hit a fuel tank at the company, one of Russia's largest iron ore plants.
—Portal
3 hours ago
The Kremlin says it does not recognize ICC arrest warrants against senior Russian officials
The Kremlin said on Wednesday that it did not recognize arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) the previous day against senior Russian military commanders.
“We are not part of the ICC, we do not recognize this and are treating this decision accordingly,” Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.
The ICC on Tuesday issued arrest warrants against Lieutenant General Sergei Ivanovich Kobylash and Admiral Viktor Nikolayevich Sokolov, saying there were “reasonable grounds to believe that the two suspects bear responsibility for missile attacks carried out by the armed forces under their command against Ukrainian electricity infrastructure were carried out.” at least October 10, 2022 to at least March 9, 2023.”
A man takes a selfie photo in front of the Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower and St. Basil's Cathedral in downtown Moscow on September 11, 2023. The Russian election commission said the pro-Kremlin United Russia side won local elections in four regions of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces, in a vote rejected by Kiev. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP) (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images)
Alexander Nemenov | Afp | Getty Images
There is reason to believe that the attacks were aimed at civilian targets and caused “too great damage”. They could be classified as acts against civilians that fall under the category of “crimes against humanity or inhumane acts,” the ICC said.
Ukraine welcomed the ICC's move. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that “international justice takes time but is inevitable.”
“We continue to make every effort to ensure that no Russian animal responsible for the murder of Ukrainian children, women and men goes unpunished. And no stars on shoulder straps or closet doors will stop them from being held accountable,” Zelensky wrote in one post on the social media platform X.
—Holly Ellyatt, Sophie Kiderlin
4 hours ago
Why Ukraine's First Lady Declined State of the Union Invitation
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska arrives at the White House with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, DC on September 21, 2023.
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images
Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska will not attend US President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Thursday due to a scheduling conflict, her spokeswoman said.
“The Embassy of Ukraine in the USA received an invitation for the First Lady of Ukraine to be present on March 7 during the Union address of the President of the United States to Congress,” said Tetyana Gaiduchenko.
“But due to the planned events on the schedule, including the visit of Kiev children from the orphanage, which were planned in advance, the first lady, unfortunately, will not be able to attend the events,” she said, NBC reported.
There was speculation that Zelenska declined the invitation when she learned that Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, had also been invited to the prestigious event.
The Washington Post reported that Navalny's possible presence would be uncomfortable for Ukrainians because Navalny has said in the past that Crimea, which Putin annexed in 2014, belongs to Russia.
Citing people familiar with Kiev's deliberations, the news agency said sources had indicated that Ukrainians were also wary of voting in the run-up to the US presidential election, where a Republican candidate, most likely Donald Trump, could be considered closely aligned with Biden to be re-elected.
– Holly Ellyatt
6 hours ago
Putin's intelligence chief scolds Macron for his extremely dangerous comments about Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin's head of foreign intelligence said French President Emmanuel Macron's refusal to rule out sending European troops to fight Russian soldiers in Ukraine was extremely dangerous and irresponsible.
Macron said last month that there was no consensus on sending European troops to fight in Ukraine but that nothing should be ruled out, although the United States and other European members of the alliance have said there are no plans to do so.
Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR RF) Director Sergei Naryshkin seen attending the Victory Parade on Red Square on May 9, 2023 in Moscow, Russia.
Contributor | Getty Images
Asked about Macron's comments, Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), the main successor to the First Directorate of the KGB's foreign espionage department, said they were deeply irresponsible.
“This shows the high level of political irresponsibility of today’s European leaders, in this case the French president,” Naryshkin told state television on Tuesday. “These statements are extremely dangerous.”
“It is sad to see this, sad to observe and sad to understand that the negotiating capacity of the current elites in Europe and the North Atlantic is at a very low level,” he said. “They are less and less likely to show any common sense at all.”
—Portal
5 hours ago
Missile alert in Russia's Kursk region after a Ukrainian drone reportedly attacked a fuel depot
The governor of Russia's Kursk region said on Wednesday that a fuel depot was on fire after it was attacked by a Ukrainian drone.
Local governor Roman Starovoit said on the Telegram news site that a fire broke out at a fuel and lubricants warehouse “as a result of an attack by a Ukrainian drone in the Zheleznogorsky district” of Kursk, a region bordering Ukraine.
“The fuel tank is on fire, no one was injured. Rescue workers were on scene,” he said, according to a Google translation.
Shortly afterwards, Starovoit published another message warning the city of Zheleznogorsk of “missile danger” and urging residents to seek refuge in windowless rooms with solid walls.
A sign reading “Kursk for you!” with the letter Z, a tactical insignia of Russian troops in Ukraine, is pictured outside the village of Bolshoe Zhirovo in the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, on May 26, 2023.
Olga Maltseva | Afp | Getty Images
CNBC could not immediately verify the claim and Ukraine has not publicly commented on the incident. Previously, the company launched numerous drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, such as oil refineries, in other border regions such as Rostov, Bryansk, Belgorod and Voronezh.
22 hours ago
Zelensky says he welcomes the ICC's arrest warrants against Russian military personnel
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he welcomed the International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warrants against two senior Russian military officials.
“International justice takes time, but it is inevitable. We continue to make every effort to ensure that no Russian animal responsible for the murder of Ukrainian children, women and men goes unpunished. And no stars on shoulder straps or closet doors will be affected, preventing them from being held accountable,” Zelensky wrote in one post on the social media platform X.
Earlier on Tuesday, the ICC said there were “reasonable grounds to believe” that the two Russian military personnel were responsible for attacks that could be classified as war crimes.
— Sophie Kiderlin
23 hours ago
The International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants against high-ranking Russian military officials
The International Criminal Court said Tuesday it had issued arrest warrants for two senior Russian military officials: Lt. Gen. Sergei Ivanovich Kobylash and Admiral Viktor Nikolayevich Sokolov.
“The Pre-Trial Chamber II concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the two suspects were responsible for rocket attacks carried out by the armed forces under their command from at least October 10, 2022 to at least March 9, 2023 against the Ukrainian electricity infrastructure,” the ICC said in a statement.
It added that there was reason to believe the attacks were directed at civilian targets and “caused excessive damage.” They could be classified as acts against civilians that fall under the category of “crimes against humanity or inhumane acts,” the ICC said.
— Sophie Kiderlin
Tue March 5, 2024 8:25am EST
Moldovan intelligence chief warns of new destabilization attempts by Russia
Moldova's intelligence chief said on Tuesday that Russia is planning new attempts to interfere in the country's internal affairs by provoking protests, interfering in upcoming presidential elections and disrupting plans to join the European Union.
Alexandru Musteata, head of the Information and Security Service, said his agency has intercepted record levels of activity by Russian security services since 2023 and expects more destabilizing actions this year and next.
“Russian secret services intend to intervene in the electoral process again this year,” Musteata told media.
“We have information that attempts are being made to jeopardize a referendum on European integration, to interfere in the presidential elections and to discredit government institutions and politicians who support Moldova's accession to the European Union.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during his meeting with drivers and road industry representatives on February 22, 2024 in Kazan, Russia.
Contributor | Getty Images
Relations between Moldova and Russia have been frayed as the government has taken a pro-European course and accused Moscow of destabilizing it. The pro-Western president of the former Soviet state, Maia Sandu, has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and is leading Moldova on the path to EU membership and NATO defense alliance.
Moscow denies the allegations of interference and accuses Sandu of stoking anti-Russian sentiment in the country, which lies between Ukraine and Romania.
Musteata said Moscow tried to interfere in last November's local elections in Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries. Moscow has denied such interference. Musteata said Moscow also plans to interfere in an upcoming presidential election by supporting pro-Russian politicians and parties.
Russia is likely to provoke protests in Moldova in March and April and stoke separatist sentiment, particularly in eastern and southern Moldova, he said. Last month, the pro-Moscow leader of Moldova's Gagauzia region asked Russia for its support and to maintain close ties. Also in February, Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria asked Russia to help its economy withstand “pressure” from Moldova.
—Portal
Tue Mar 5, 2024 7:27am EST
How could Moscow cause unrest in Moldova?
Moscow continued its saber-rattling over Moldova's pro-Russian region of Transnistria this week, and speculation continues about what it might do next.
Analysts point out that Russian authorities would find it difficult to physically reach the breakaway region to reinforce their troops there or even annex it, but there are still ways to foment pro-Russian unrest and problems for Moldova .
Since the separatist, self-proclaimed authorities in Transnistria last week asked for Moscow's “protection” from the Moldovan authorities – a move that was widely seen as coordinated with the Kremlin and a possible precursor to Russia increasing or even increasing its military presence there the country could annex the region – the West has been closely watching the rhetoric from Moscow.
In this pool photo distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with residents of the city of Tsivilsk in the Chuvashia Republic on February 22, 2024.
Alexander Kazakov | AFP | Getty Images
What is problematic for Russia is that Moldova and Transnistria are landlocked states and lie between Romania and Ukraine. That would mean reinforcing its troops in the region would be a challenge.
But Russia could still cause trouble, especially as Moldova is set to hold a presidential election later this year – a vote that could take place alongside a referendum on EU membership.
Read more about the story here: Russia can't easily reach a pro-Russian region in Moldova – but there are ways it can cause trouble
– Holly Ellyatt
Tue Mar 5, 2024 3:10am EST
The Ukrainian military says it attacked a Russian ship off Crimea
Six years since the day Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an accession treaty admitting Crimea into the Russian Federation in Sevastopol, Ukraine, on March 18, 2020.
Pierre Crom | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Ukrainian military intelligence said Tuesday it used naval drones to attack a Russian ship off the coast of Crimea.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that Special Forces Group 13 damaged the Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship Sergey Kotov near Russian-occupied Crimea.
“The 'Kotov' was damaged by a fire in the territorial waters of Ukraine, near the Kerch Strait,” the agency said on Telegram in comments translated by NBC. The cost of the sunken ship is about $65 million, it said.
“As a result of the attack by Magura V5 naval drones, the Russian ship of Project 22160 “Sergei Kotov” suffered damage to the stern, right and left sides,” it said.
Apparently referring to the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Telegram on Tuesday: “The Russian Black Sea Fleet is a symbol of occupation. She can’t be in the Ukrainian Crimea.”
CNBC could not immediately verify the reports.
Among Ukraine's greatest successes in 2023 were Ukraine's operations to attack the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Drone and missile attacks on the Crimean port of Sevastopol forced Russia to withdraw a number of its ships from its main base there.
– Holly Ellyatt
7 hours ago