Live Updates On War In Ukraine: Russian Offensive In Bakhmut Could Stall; Moscow Official Says West Wants To Tear Russia Apart

59 minutes ago

Contents

The West wants to tear Russia apart, a senior Moscow official claims

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev told Russian media on Thursday that the “desire of the West is very simple – to destabilize the political situation, to divide the country into several parts large enough to have agreements with each of these parts meet, denuclearize everything and demilitarize them and then offer his [security] services,” state news agency Tass reported.

Mikhail Svetlov | Getty Images

A senior Russian official and close ally of President Vladimir Putin on Thursday claimed the West wants to tear Russia apart, Russian news outlets reported.

Medvedev, who has been linked to Russian nationalist rhetoric and saber-rattling during the war in Ukraine, has – like other Russian officials, including President Putin – claimed that the West’s real motive for helping Ukraine is to destroy Russia to see without presenting evidence that. Ukraine’s western allies say they are helping Kiev defend itself against Russia’s unprovoked aggression and restore its territorial sovereignty.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Medvedev claimed that once the West divides Russia, the separated parts “even have a chance of joining NATO, especially if they give away our national resources.”

“She [Western countries] don’t want to have an equal partnership with us because they don’t need it,” Medvedev said, adding that the same applies to the West’s attitude towards China.

Medvedev is widely seen as the henchman of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has served as both President and Prime Minister of Russia for the past 20 years, swapping roles with Putin to circumvent constitutional rules that prohibit leaders from serving more than two terms in a row to serve.

As this so-called “tandemocracy” unfolded, Medvedev was always viewed as a subordinate to Putin, no matter what role he played.

— Holly Ellyatt

Before an hour

Russian forces are losing momentum in Bakhmut, the defense think tank says

A Ukrainian soldier fires his rifle at a drone flying over its position near Bakhmut on March 20, 2023.

Aris Messinis | AFP | Getty Images

The “tempo” of the Russian offensive in Bakhmut “appears to be slowing down,” the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest update on Wednesday. Ukrainian officials have reported less fighting in the city in recent days, the think tank noted.

However, Russian forces are currently increasing the pace of operations around Avdiivka with the aim of encircling the city, the institute added. Ukraine earlier this week said the city could soon become a “second Bakhmut,” according to Portal.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry also noted in its Wednesday update that the offensive potential of Russian forces in Bakhmut is decreasing.

Although the Russian attack at Bakhmut may be “losing limited momentum”, there is still a risk that the Ukrainian garrison at Bakhmut could be encircled, Britain’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

– Audrey Wan

10 hours ago

The White House downplays Putin, who credits the Russian pilot for shooting down a US drone over the Black Sea

The US military on Thursday released newly declassified footage showing a Russian fighter jet intercepting its MQ-9 Reaper drone.

US Department of Defense

The White House downplayed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s award presentation to one of the pilots involved in shooting down a US drone over the Black Sea.

“I don’t know of any other military in the world that would award a pilot for ramming a drone,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

“I have to throw the flag at that, I don’t know why they would throw a prize for bravery at a pilot who was an idiot at best,” Kirby added.

Last week, the Russian Defense Ministry said its two fighter jets did not come into contact with the US drone.

– Amanda Macias

12 hours ago

The Treasury Department has imposed more than 2,500 Russia-related sanctions since the war began in February, Yellen says

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the federal agency she oversees imposed more than 2,500 sanctions related to Russia following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.

“We have reduced the Kremlin’s ability to replace more than 9,000 pieces of heavy military equipment lost on the battlefield. We have also stabilized global energy markets and reduced Kremlin revenues by introducing innovative caps on Russian oil prices,” Yellen said in the opening statement to the Senate Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy greets U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen amid the Russian attack on Ukraine February 27, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Ukrainian Presidential Press Service | via Portal

Yellen also referred to her visit to Kiev in February, where she met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials.

“As part of a broad coalition, we responsibly provide important economic aid to Ukraine,” Yellen said. She added that “when I visited Kiev a month ago, Ukrainian officials told me firsthand about the critical impact of our work.”

– Amanda Macias

13 hours ago

This US-made drone made its combat debut in Ukraine

An illustration of a Fortem Technologies DroneHunter capturing a drone.

Courtesy of Fortem Technologies

A Utah-based drone system designed and manufactured by Fortem Technologies is helping Ukrainian forces capture drones deployed by Russia on the battlefield.

The unmanned defense system, dubbed Drone Hunter F700, was originally donated to the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the start of the war and then made its combat debut on the battlefield in May.

In Ukraine, as the name suggests, Drone Hunter captures Russian surveillance and reconnaissance drones by shooting a net around them to either ground the system or tow it away from the battlefield.

“Ukrainians love the system because they are able to reuse some of the drones they capture. They’re actually deriving additional assets from it,” Jon Gruen, chairman and CEO of Fortem Technologies, told CNBC.

Warren Brown, vice president of marketing at Fortem Technologies, echoed Gruen, saying that in some cases Ukrainian forces were able to fingerprint the captured drones.

“If you blow up the drone, you don’t know where it came from and what its mission is,” Brown added.

An illustration of Fortem Technologies’ DroneHunter system intercepting a drone.

Courtesy of Fortem Technologies

Gruen explained that Fortem Technologies developed the Drone Hunter system after receiving specific feedback from Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The unmanned defense system, which can be deployed fully autonomously, was recently modified to counter the use of Iranian drones deployed by Russian forces in Ukraine.

Gruen said that Ukraine currently has about 10 of Fortem’s drones in operation, but that more are on the way.

“From start to finish, it takes about three days to learn how to operate the system,” added Gruen.

– Amanda Macias

16 hours ago

The IAEA boss demands repairs to the power line in the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant

This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2022 shows a security guard standing in front of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in Enerhodar, Zaporizhia, amid the Ukraine war.

Stringers | AFP | Getty Images

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said the last remaining emergency power line at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant has yet to be repaired.

“Without a backup line, no damage to the 750 kV line [main external power line] will result in total loss of all external power supply to the facility,” IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a statement.

Grossi said the backup power line had been cut and damaged since early March and the overall situation at the plant “remains dangerous”.

“I again call for commitment from all sides to ensure nuclear safety and security protection at the facility,” he said.

– Amanda Macias

17 hours ago

The death toll in Kiev is rising after nighttime drone strikes

A fragment of a drone seen on the ground in Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv. Drones have become an important part of warfare in Ukraine.

Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty Images

At least seven people were killed in a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kiev in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The head of the Kyiv regional police, Andriy Nebytov, said on Telegram that “during the occupiers’ attack, a total of 12 drones were shot down by security and defense forces in the Kyiv region.”

Nebytov said nine people have been injured so far in the attack, which was carried out by Iranian-made drones.

– Amanda Macias

20 hours ago

Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits troops on the Bakhmut front

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Ukrainian soldiers on the Bakhmut front in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (R) visits Ukrainian soldiers at the Bakhmut frontline amid the Russo-Ukrainian war in Donetsk region, Bakhmut, Ukraine March 22, 2023.