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This life is over
This Tuesday, all eyes were on the town of Bakhmout, which was on the brink of being lost by the Ukrainian army. For the NATO Secretary General, Bakhmout could fall into the hands of the Russians “in the coming days”.
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03.08 at 21:08
Zelenskyy wants “democratic success” for demonstrators in Georgia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday he wanted “democratic success” for protesters in Georgia who oppose a law that would threaten the media and NGOs and that critics liken to a draconian Russian law.
“There is no Ukrainian who does not wish our friend Georgia success. democratic success. European success,” he said in his daily address.
“All free nations in Europe deserve” to be part of the European Union, he argued, as Kiev and Tbilisi aspire to join the EU.
03.08 at 18:40
Washington says Russia will not make “major territorial gains” in Ukraine in 2023
The Russian military is unlikely to make “large territorial gains” in Ukraine this year, US Intelligence Director Avril Haines told a Senate committee on Wednesday.
The Russians were being inflicted “heavy casualties” and President Vladimir “probably better understands the limits of what his military can achieve,” she said, adding that he appears to have “focused on more modest military goals for the time being”.
“We don’t expect the Russian military to recover enough this year to make any major territorial gains, but Putin most likely counts on time being on his side,” she added.
08.03 at 16:41
In Russia, a teenage girl was banned from her father, who “discredited” the army.
A Russian teenager placed in a center for minors after her father was convicted of “discrediting” the Russian army in Ukraine has been banned from all contact with the outside world, specialized NGO OVD-Info reported on Wednesday.
“Maria Moskalev (…), who ended up in a center for minors after her father Alexei Moskalev was placed under house arrest, is not allowed to call her father,” the organization said after consulting the family’s lawyer.
The story goes back to April 2022, when this 13-year-old schoolgirl from the Tula region south of Moscow made a drawing against the military intervention in Ukraine in her art class. She wrote “No to war” and “Honour to Ukraine” on it, explains the independent Russian medium Meduza.io.
In the same month, Alexei Moskalev was fined 32,000 rubles (€400 at the current rate) by a local court for posting comments on social media criticizing the Russian offensive.
03.08 at 15:54
To bolster NATO’s capabilities in the Arctic, London opens a military base in the far north of Norway
The British military on Wednesday announced the opening of a military base in far north Norway to boost NATO capabilities in the Arctic amid concerns over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While Norway, which borders Russia, refuses to host permanent bases for foreign soldiers, Camp Viking has been forced to open north of Tromso for ten years and accommodate commandos training for combat in extremely cold conditions.
“The camp’s location is ideal for countering threats in the region and allows the UK to respond quickly if necessary to protect NATO’s northern flank and its close ally Norway,” the UK Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
03.08 at 14:43
Antonio Guterres thinks it is “capital” to extend the grain deal
The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday said it was “important” to renew Ukraine’s grain exports agreement with Russia, a key text for world nutrition that expires on March 18.
“I want to underscore the paramount importance of extending (the Grains Agreement) on March 18 and creating the conditions to make the most of export infrastructure,” said Antonio Guterres during a visit to Kiev.
08.03 at 14:39
UN chief on visit to Ukraine calls video showing execution of Ukrainian soldier ‘shocking’
Visiting Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres returned to viral video of a Ukrainian soldier apparently shot dead after shouting “Honour to Ukraine” while in Russian captivity.
“The recent shocking images of an apparently summarily killed Ukrainian soldier are another tragic reminder that the laws of war must be strictly observed,” said Antonio Guterres alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
03.08 at 12:54
For the Secretary General of NATO, Bakhmout could fall into the hands of the Russians “in the coming days”.
The town of Bakhmout in eastern Ukraine, which has been at the center of fighting for months and is threatened by the Russian army and paramilitary group Wagner, could fall “in the coming days,” NATO Secretary General warned on Wednesday.
“We cannot rule out that Bakhmout will finally fall in the next few days,” said military alliance leader Jens Stoltenberg on the sidelines of a meeting of EU defense ministers in Stockholm.
03.08 at 12:38
Public lighting in Kharkiv, a first since the Russian invasion
On Tuesday, public lights were partially turned on in Kharkiv, to the delight of residents of this large city in eastern Ukraine, which has been in the dark for more than a year due to intense Russian bombing.
Lights on Kharkiv’s main thoroughfares and adjacent streets, in the city center and in several parks were on for about two hours on Tuesday evening.
Mayor Igor Terekhov has been given the green light by security officials in this city, which is about forty kilometers from the Russian border and regularly the target of deadly strikes, the city hall said in a statement on Tuesday.
03.08 at 12:30
Nord Stream: A boat suspected of sabotage was searched in Germany in January
A boat suspected of being involved in the operation to sabotage the two Nord Stream subsea gas pipelines in September 2022 was searched in January as part of Germany’s investigation into the operation, federal prosecutors said on Wednesday.
Federal prosecutors said in a statement that they “searched a ship from January 18 to 20, 2023” and suspect that “the ship in question may have been used to transport explosive devices” to blow up the ships Jan. 26. September 2022. Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
03.08 at 12:13
On March 8, Putin celebrates women serving Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday celebrated International Women’s Rights Day for those who “do their duty” in the service of Russia, noting in particular the military offensive in Ukraine.
“Today, as Russia once again faces direct threats to its security and sovereignty, we see many examples of courage and determination,” Vladimir Putin said at a Kremlin ceremony.
He presented awards to women who excelled in various fields, including the military, and to mothers of particularly large families.
03.08 at 12:10
EU court lifts sanctions against Wagner boss’ mother
European justice on Wednesday lifted EU sanctions against the mother of the leader of Russian paramilitary group Wagner, in the first of a series of decisions on punitive measures taken in response to the war in Ukraine.
“Although (Yevgeni Prigojine) is responsible for actions that endangered the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, Mrs. (Violetta) Prigojina’s connection to her son, established at the time the restrictive measures were adopted, is only based on based on their family relationship and is therefore not sufficient to justify its inclusion in the disputed lists,” the General Court said in a press release.
03.08 at 12:07
March 8: Zelenskyy thanks the women for their service in the war
Ukraine’s President on Wednesday praised the role of women in his country’s fight against Russian invasion on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
“I think it’s important to say thank you today. Thanking all women who work, teach, study, rescue, treat and fight for Ukraine,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video uploaded by the presidency.
He also called for “remembering, thinking and thanking all the women who gave their lives for our country”.
08.03 at 10:59
The EU wants to stock up on grenades for Ukraine
European Union defense ministers are meeting on Wednesday to work out a plan to supply ammunition to Ukraine despite stockpiles being under pressure.
The first part, designed by EU diplomats, aims to use €1 billion from the European Peace Facility (EFF) to deliver stockpiled shells in states’ armies within weeks. According to European officials, there are still enough 155mm shells in stocks not to endanger EU countries.
The plan also envisages joint orders for the armies of the EU and Ukraine to encourage shell manufacturers to increase their capacities.
03.08 at 10:55
For Moscow, the new revelations on the sabotage of Nord Stream serve as a “distraction”
The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed press reports that a “pro-Ukrainian group” was behind the sabotage of Russia’s Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines last year, saying it was an attempt to “distract attention”.
According to information from American secret services, the daily newspaper The New York Times attributed the sabotage to a “pro-Ukrainian group” on Tuesday, but without the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“It is clear that the assassins want to distract. It is clear that this is a coordinated media stunt,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told the Russian news agency Ria Novosti on Wednesday.
03.08 at 10:41
Zelenskyy says that if they took Bakhmut, the Russians would have “a clear path” to eastern Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned in a CNN interview aired on Wednesday that the Russian army would have “free chance” to seize towns in eastern Ukraine if Bakhmout, the epicenter of particularly deadly fighting for months, is taken.
“We understand that after Bakhmout they could go further. They could go to Kramatorsk, they could go to Sloviansk, the way for the Russians (…) to other cities in Ukraine would be free,” he told CNN.
The Russian army promised to capture Bakhmout, considering the city vital to continue their offensive, despite the Ukrainians’ fierce defenses.
03.08 at 10:37
Switzerland remains neutral against arms exports to Ukraine in the name of its neutrality
In view of the Ukraine conflict, Switzerland intends to maintain its constitutional neutrality and is therefore initially refusing arms deliveries to this country at war, said Federal President Alain Berset on Tuesday during a UN visit.
“The debate about arms exports is not possible as long as we have a legal framework in Switzerland (…). For the government and the Federal Council, we must and want to maintain this legal framework and work within this framework,” explained Alain Berset.
03.08 at 10:06
UN Says Video Showing Execution of Ukrainian Soldier ‘Seems Authentic’
The viral video of a Ukrainian soldier apparently filmed after shouting “Honour to Ukraine” while a prisoner “appears authentic,” the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Wednesday.
“We are aware of this video posted on social media showing a disabled Ukrainian soldier who appears to have been executed by the Russian Armed Forces Commission.
03.08 at 10:05
Nord Stream: Kiev assures that the sabotage “did not result from our action”
Ukraine was not involved in the spectacular sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea last September, Ukraine’s defense minister said Tuesday after press reports attributed it to “a pro-Ukrainian group”.
“It doesn’t come from our actions,” said Oleksiï Reznikov, who was questioned on the sidelines of a European meeting in Stockholm.
Based on information from US intelligence, the New York Times on Tuesday blamed a “pro-Ukrainian group” for the sabotage, but without the involvement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
03.08 at 10:04
The Wagner group claims to have conquered the entire “eastern part” of Bakhmout
The leader of Russia’s paramilitary group Wagner said on Wednesday his forces had taken “the entire eastern part” of the town of Bakhmout, the epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine.
“Wagner units took the entire eastern part of Bakhmout, everything east of the Bakhmoutka River,” Yevgeny Prigozhin said in an audio message released by his press service.
03.08 at 10:03
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