06/29/2023
Ukraine war on live ticker +++ 03:14 Vatican representatives and Kremlin advisers talk about refugees +++
A papal envoy travels to Moscow to meet Russian President Putin’s foreign policy adviser. It was mainly about humanitarian issues, says the archbishop of the diocese, Cardinal Paolo Pezzi, to the Russian news agency TASS. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi focused their conversations on refugees, especially children. The meeting went well. He does not give further details. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had earlier said the two representatives would discuss “the situation surrounding the conflict in Ukraine and, of course, possible ways to find a political and diplomatic solution”. Russia “very much appreciates the Vatican’s efforts and initiatives to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Ukraine.”
+++ 02:21 Surovikin’s role in Rebellion remains a mystery +++
The role of Russia’s Deputy Supreme Commander of the Invasion Forces in Ukraine in the Wagner mercenary group’s uprising remains unclear. Sergey Surovikin sympathized with mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s revolt over the weekend, US officials said on condition of anonymity. Surovikin supported Prigozhin, but Western intelligence agencies are not sure whether he helped the uprising in any way, three of the sources said. Soon after the uprising began, Surovikin publicly urged private militia fighters to give up their resistance to the military leadership and return to their bases to avoid civil war. “I ask you to stop,” says Surovikin in a Telegram video. During his message to the mercenaries, his right hand landed on a rifle. The “New York Times” reported on Tuesday that Surovikin had knowledge of Wagner’s uprising. The Kremlin dismissed the reports as speculation.
+++ 01:29 Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief: took strategic initiative +++
According to its commander-in-chief, General Valeriy Zalushnyi, the Ukrainian armed forces “seized the strategic initiative”. “The Defense Forces of Ukraine are continuing their offensive actions and we have made progress. The enemy is putting up strong resistance and is suffering significant casualties,” writes Zalushny in Telegram. He spoke with US Chief of Staff Mark Milley about weapons needed for the counteroffensive and mine clearance equipment. According to Ukrainian officials, large mined areas are hampering progress.
+++ 00:44 Poland buys Patriot air defense system from USA +++
Poland is expanding its defense capabilities and is buying modern Patriot air defense systems from the United States for up to $15 billion, according to the Pentagon. The US agency DSCA, responsible for arms exports, reports that the agreement includes up to 48 rocket launchers and up to 644 rockets, in addition to radar components and system control. Patriots are to be used to defend against missiles and high-speed aircraft. The Patriots also play a crucial role in defending Ukraine against Russian air attacks. They also intercept Moscow’s tactical ballistic missiles and modern hypersonic missiles.
+++ 00:11 “Defenceless Colombian civilians attacked – Colombia’s President Petro wants to send protest note to Moscow +++
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announces an official note of protest from his country to Russia after the Russian rocket attack on the city of Krematorsk, in eastern Ukraine. Russia “attacked three defenseless Colombian civilians,” Petro wrote on Twitter. In doing so, it violated internationally binding rules of war. The attack destroyed the Ria Pizza restaurant, in the center of the city, frequented by journalists and the military. Among the injured are three Colombian celebrities – the well-known writer Héctor Abad, the politician Sergio Jaramillo and the journalist Catalina Gómez, who were having dinner at the restaurant with the Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelima.
+++ 23:18 Zelenskyy reports arrest after “terrorist attack” in Kramatorsk +++
According to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, a suspect has been arrested following the deadly Russian airstrike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. “Today, the Ukrainian domestic intelligence service (SBU) and special police forces arrested the person who coordinated this terrorist attack,” Zelenskyy said in his daily evening address. At least 11 people were killed and 61 others were injured, including several children, in a Russian missile attack on a restaurant in Kramatorsk.
+++ 22:27 Report: Russia’s Deputy Chief of Staff Surovikin is said to have been arrested +++
Russia’s deputy chief of staff has been arrested, according to a Moscow Times report. The newspaper cites two informants close to the Defense Ministry. The ministry has not yet officially commented on this information. Surovikin was appointed supreme commander of Russian troops in Ukraine in October before being replaced by chief of staff Valery Gerasimov in January after criticism of military setbacks and demoted him to deputy. The “New York Times” reported, citing US government circles, that Surovikin would have known in advance about Wagner’s uprising. There are also hints that other Russian generals may have supported Prigozhin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the New York Times report as “speculation”.
+++ 22:09 Kiev parliament approves bonuses for fighters – 2,500 euros per month +++
Ukraine’s parliament votes to return to a monthly bonus scheme, under which soldiers, members of the defense forces and police are paid an additional 100,000 hryvnia ($2,500) a month if they serve in a designated active combat zone. That’s a significant bonus in a country where the average official salary is just under 15,000 hryvnia (370 euros). Those serving outside active combat zones will receive an additional 30,000 hryvnia ($800) per month.
+++ 21:43 Scholz: Nobody knows what comes after Putin +++
Chancellor Olaf Scholz sees Russia’s President Vladimir Putin beaten by the temporary mercenary revolt. “I think he’s weakened,” says Scholz in the ARD program “Maischberger”. This shows that autocratic power structures “have cracks”. Putin is not as firmly in the saddle as he always claims. Scholz spoke of a “putsch, a military coup” by Wagner’s boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. However, he doesn’t want to speculate whether events will mean Putin will remain in office longer or shorter. But he expects long-term consequences. Scholz says he doesn’t think about whether a successful uprising would have been good or bad. Nobody knows what will come after Putin. It was a dangerous situation.
+++ 21:12 First shipment of Abrams tanks arrived in Poland +++
Poland received a first shipment of US-made Abrams tanks. “The first tanks have already arrived on Polish soil, it’s an important day for the Polish army,” Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told reporters. In view of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, Poland is massively upgrading its army: Warsaw has ordered a total of 366 Abrams tanks from the US and, according to Blaszczak, the first 14 have already arrived in the port city of Szczecin. More tanks will be delivered this year and a battalion of Abrams tanks will be formed, Blaszczak said. American tanks of this type are “the best tanks in the world”, he emphasizes.
+++ 20:38 These three criminals would be among Wagner’s mercenaries during the attempted coup +++
At least three of Wagner’s mercenaries who tried to take over the city of Rostov-on-Don in Saturday’s failed coup attempt were convicted criminals. This reports Portal. Last year, the Kremlin allowed Wagner’s boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, to recruit thousands of mercenaries from prisons across the country. Those who fight in Ukraine for six months are pardoned by Putin by secret decree. Portal identified the convicted criminals as 25-year-old Rostov resident Dmitry Chekov, convicted four times of robbery and drug-related crimes, and 33-year-old Sergei Shirshov, sentenced to seven years in prison for armed robbery. in 2019, and Roman Yamalutdinov, dated May 31, 2019, sentenced to prison at least twice since 2017 for drunk driving, stealing a car, and assaulting a police officer.
You can read about the previous day’s developments here.