1:36 p.m
President of Georgia: “The end of Russian visas is another provocation”
Pro-Western Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili today branded the decree signed by President Vladimir Putin, which lifts visa requirements for Georgians traveling to Russia and allows Russian companies to resume flights to Georgia, as “another Russian provocation”. In recent months, the President has repeatedly spoken out against any rapprochement between Moscow and the Tbilisi government led by the Georgian Dream party.
12:40 p.m
Moscow will withdraw from the Conventional Arms Treaty in Europe
Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched the parliamentary procedures to formally withdraw from the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, from which Moscow has suspended participation since 2015. This is reported by Russian authorities. The treaty had been in effect since 1990 and was amended in 1997 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but Moscow complains that the NATO countries have not ratified the amendments.
12:22
Putin lifts travel restrictions to and from Georgia
A decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin abolished visa requirements for Georgian citizens wishing to travel to Russia, lifted the recommendation for Russian citizens not to travel to Georgia and lifted the ban on Russian airlines flying to Georgia. This was reported by the Russian authorities.
11:58
Kyiv: “Employees cannot leave Enerhodar at the Zaporizhia plant”
Russian soldiers prevent employees of the occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant from leaving the nearby frontline town Enerhodar. This was reported by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. “In Enerhodar, the Russian occupying forces organized an evacuation for family members of employees of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, but the employees themselves are not allowed to leave the city,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement.
Russian-backed authorities ordered the evacuation of thousands of civilians along the southern front. Enerhodar, where most of the nuclear power plant employees live, is among 18 settlements whose residents were evacuated over the weekend. The displaced have been relocated to the southern cities of Berdyansk and Kyrylivka, while others have been taken to Russia’s Rostov region, the Ukrainian military said.
11:56 a.m
Drones against Russian training camp: 14 soldiers wounded
Yesterday evening, a military training area in the Voronezh region of Russia was attacked by two drones, injuring 14 soldiers. This was reported by Ukrinform, citing the Telegram Baza channel.
“Two UAVs filled with explosives flew to the site for military exercises and exploded. At least 14 soldiers were injured. “According to preliminary information, there are no deaths,” the statement said.
11:53 a.m
NATO: “More troops are needed. Regional plans on the table”
“Today we will discuss the development of regional plans. These are geographically specific plans that describe how we will defend the most important and relevant locations of our Alliance against the two threats described in NATO’s Strategic Concept and Military Strategy, i.e. Russia and terrorist groups: For the preparation of the regional plans is an expanded NATO Forces Module will require more highly operational troops across the Alliance.” So said NATO Military Committee President Admiral Rob Bauer as he opened the Military Committee at the Chiefs of Defense Staff meeting just held in Brussels.
11:06
NATO: “Russia’s Goliath falters thanks to Kiev and aid”
“Today’s discussions will primarily focus on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.” Russia is in the 15th month of what is said to be a three-day war. Goliath staggers. And that’s because, with the support of 50 nations around the world, Davide has demonstrated immense resilience and tactical brilliance.” NATO Military Committee President Admiral Rob Bauer said as he addressed the Military Committee at the Chiefs of Defense Staff meeting which just took place in Brussels.
10:23
Intelligence GB: ‘The May 9 parade is not what it seems’
The Victory Day Parade in Moscow’s Red Square highlighted the magnitude of material and strategic communications challenges faced by the Russian military and its leadership as a result of the invasion and war in Ukraine over the past 15 months. The British secret service writes about this today in its daily report published by the defense of London. In fact, over 8,000 units would have paraded in Red Square, but most of them belonged to “auxiliary forces, paramilitaries and cadets from training institutes”.
“Only the railroad troops and military police contingents belonged to the operational formations of the regular armed forces.” And the only tank in the parade was an old T-34 as part of a “ceremonial unit”. “Despite heavy casualties in Ukraine,” the report said, “Russia could indeed have deployed more armored vehicles, but authorities likely refrained from doing so to avoid internal criticism of an alleged prioritization of parades over combat.”
10:18
Minister Kuleba: “It is not the last Ukrainian counter-offensive”
“Don’t think of this counter-offensive as the last, because we don’t know what will come of it. If we manage to liberate our territories with this counter-offensive, then in the end you will say: Yes, it was the last one, but if not, it means that we must prepare for the next counter-offensive.” This was stated by the Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba in an interview with Bild. When asked what demands he would make of Germany, Kuleba replies: “From a tactical point of view, of course, these are weapons, because to win the war you need weapons, weapons and even more weapons.” Germany has many, and a lot depends on it Germany off. Because you have a very developed defense industry, with Rheinmetall being, so to speak, the titan of the defense industry in Europe and probably around the world. We need artillery ammunition, especially at long ranges. We need armored vehicles, we need anti-aircraft systems, all this is in Germany and was supplied by Germany. And Germany can offer even more.”
09:50
Kiev: Azov regiment advances to Bakhmut
The Azov regiment of the Ukrainian army is advancing on Bakhmut, the city in eastern Ukraine that has been under siege for months. This was reported by the public broadcaster Suspilne, citing the commander of Azov, according to which “in Bakhmut the fighters of the third brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces, attacking Russian positions, advanced 2.6 kilometers over the past two days and defeated two companies.” of the 72nd Brigade of the Russian Federation».
09:49
Kuleba: “Medvedev should drink less vodka”
“Medvedev should drink less vodka before he goes to Telegram.” This is how Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba commented on the public invitation by Deputy President of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev to assassinate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “That’s all I can say about it,” he says in an interview with Bild. “I don’t think it’s worth commenting on,” he continues, noting that Medvedev “plays a certain role in the chosen mode of Russia’s strategic communications.” “If the Russians could kill President Zelenskyy,” emphasizes the head of Kiev diplomacy, “they would definitely try.” And he states: “We make quick and intelligent decisions and are better than many expected.” What personal As far as risk goes, Kuleba explains that he doesn’t see himself as a primary target. However, “in some places I prefer to only drink sealed bottled water”.
09:38
The Pope: Let us pray for the martyr Ukraine
At the end of the general audience, the Pope invited prayers to Our Lady dedicated to her this month of May for peace in “tormented Ukraine”. “When praying the Rosary, remember above all the women and children affected by the war,” the Pope urged.
08:17
Moscow: “Enemy drone shot down in Kursk region of Russia”
“An enemy drone” was shot down by Moscow air defense forces in the Kursk region of Russia on the border with Ukraine. The governor of the region, Roman Starovoyt, wrote on Telegram that “debris fell on the village of Tolmachevo.” “No one was injured,” but a gas pipeline and a house were damaged.
07:34
UK ready to add Wagner group to ‘terrorist organizations’ list
Britain is ready to officially add the Wagner militia group to the list of terrorist organizations alongside al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS). The Times quotes a British government source and speaks of a measure to put further pressure on Russia. The decision is “imminent” and should be formalized in the coming weeks, the source adds. Likewise, the 331 French MPs unanimously voted in favor of a resolution calling on the European Union to add the Wagner Group to its list of terrorist organizations. These actions would make it a criminal offense to belong to the group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, to attend its meetings, to promote its support, or to wear the group’s logo in public. There are also financial sanctions against the group, which is having difficulty raising funds, the Times continues. The resolution passed by the French Parliament, on the other hand, aims to “strengthen the legal instruments against the Wagner group”. Inclusion in the EU list would affect all stakeholders, the banks, that enable its activity,” said Benjamin Haddad, an MP from President Emmanuel Macron’s party and one of the authors of the text. The resolution is not binding, but sends “a political and symbolic message,” Haddad said.
07:32
USA: We will continue to train 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers
The United States continues to train “a few thousand” Ukrainian soldiers at the Grafenwoehr military camp in Germany. This was stated by Pentagon spokesman General Patrick Ryder. “We will be able to maintain this support in training Ukrainians as long as there is demand,” Ryder said, adding that US officials continue to discuss combat and tactical requirements with Ukrainian partners. According to the Pentagon spokesman, further training will depend on how many units the Ukrainian armed forces can send abroad for exercises. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced in late April that the US would begin training Ukrainian forces on US-made Abrams tanks in the coming weeks.
07:32
Blinking: Kiev has what it takes to reclaim territories
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he believes Ukraine has the resources it needs to take back Russian-held territory through a counteroffensive. “They have everything they need to continue to be successful in retaking territory that has been forcibly taken from Russia over the past 14 months,” Blinken said at a joint press conference with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. “It’s not just a question of weapons, it’s a matter of training,” Blinken added. “We have to make sure that the Ukrainians can keep the systems that we provide them and it is of course important that they have the right plans here too in order to be successful.”