The day of the war at a glance: Russian troops target Donetsk – Melnyk recalled as ambassador

The day of the war at a glance
Russian troops target Donetsk – Melnyk recalled as ambassador

In eastern Ukraine, Russian troops are intensifying their attacks on the Donetsk region, according to Ukrainian sources. The Ukrainian President dismisses his ambassador to Germany. The former head of the Kremlin, Medvedev, is pleased that his country is being “seriously reckoned with” again. The 135th day of the war at a glance.

The Russian army is advancing in eastern Ukraine and, after capturing the Luhansk region, is increasingly focusing on the Donetsk region. The occupiers launched attacks from Lysychansk towards the west, said the Ukrainian governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Hajday. “We are making every effort to stop the Russian armed groups across the board.” However, according to Hajdaj, these are attacking from multiple sides and trying to penetrate deep into the neighboring area. The reports from the combat zones can hardly be checked independently.

Next in the Donetsk region, Russia is likely to have its sights set on the larger cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. It is Moscow’s declared goal to wrest the region completely from Ukrainian control. The city of Lysychansk, which was considered the last Ukrainian bastion in the Luhansk region, was captured by Russia last weekend.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff in Kyiv, there was shelling in other parts of the country, including Kharkiv and Chernihiv oblasts. Civilian infrastructure was also hit. However, enemy attacks were repeatedly repelled, it said. Ukrainian air, missile and artillery units fired on concentrations of Russian troops and ammunition dumps.

Moscow boasts destroyed Western weapons

According to Russia, it once again destroyed western weapons in massive attacks in eastern Ukraine. A hangar with US-supplied M777 howitzers was destroyed near the village of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region, ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. Accordingly, numerous Ukrainian soldiers were also killed there. Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers were also killed in artillery and rocket attacks in the Mykolaiv region in the south of the country, in the Dnipropetrovsk region around the city of Dnipro and other parts of the country, and military technology and some ammunition stores were destroyed, said Konashenkov.

Zelenskyi dismisses Ambassador Melnyk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed his country’s ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk. In addition to Melnyk, the Ukrainian ambassadors to Hungary, Norway, the Czech Republic, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were also dismissed, according to the Presidential Office. Reasons or a future use of the diplomats were not initially mentioned. Melnyk had made a name for himself as a harsh critic of the federal government. The 46-year-old was recently criticized for statements about the Ukrainian nationalist and anti-Semite Stepan Bandera.

The “Bild” and the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” had reported, citing Ukrainian sources, that Melnyk should be recalled and move to the Foreign Ministry in Kyiv. He could become deputy foreign minister as early as autumn, wrote the “Bild” newspaper. Melnyk has been ambassador to Germany since January 2015 – an exceptionally long time for a diplomat in one post.

Ammo replenishment secured for “Gepard” tanks

According to a media report, the federal government has secured a long-term supply of ammunition for the “Gepard” tanks promised to Ukraine. The Chancellery, together with the Ministry of Defense in Norway, have found a manufacturer who can produce additional ammunition for the anti-aircraft system, the “Spiegel” reported, citing government circles. There was initially no confirmation from the government. The additional ammunition from the Norwegian manufacturer should be tested next week at the Bundeswehr firing range in Putlos in Schleswig-Holstein.

London: Russian reserves have obsolete equipment

According to the British Ministry of Defence, the reinforcements of the Russian army in Ukraine are being sent out with outdated or unsuitable equipment. For example, a large part of the Russian reserves, which are being drawn together from all over the country, only have Soviet-type MT-LB troop carriers at their disposal. These vehicles are significantly weaker armored and armed than the BMP-2 armored personnel carriers that were used at the beginning of the war.

Meanwhile, Britain has launched a new program to train thousands of Ukrainians for the war against Russia. The British Ministry of Defense announced that a first group of up to 10,000 inexperienced volunteers from Ukraine had completed their first exercises. The military training, which lasts several weeks, is based on British basic training for soldiers and covers handling weapons, first aid on the battlefield, military tactics and martial law. Over the coming months, more than a thousand Brits will take part in the training, which will take place at various military bases around England.

Medvedev: Russia is being taken seriously again

Former Russian president and current deputy head of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, wrote on Telegram that the war had strengthened Russia’s international importance. “We are now seriously reckoning with Russia. As with the Soviet Union. And in some respects even more seriously, judging by the sanctions package.” Western countries in particular have strongly condemned the Russian attack. Some G20 leaders have questioned their attendance at a summit in November should Russian President Vladimir Putin appear there in person.

CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter doubted Putin’s recent warnings that Russia hadn’t really started the war in Ukraine yet. “For me, these are empty threats because Russia cannot afford further escalation,” said Kiesewetter. The British Ministry of Defense also raised doubts about the statements. Referring to the Russian offensive in Ukraine, Putin said: “Everyone should know that by and large we haven’t started anything serious yet.”

Scholz warns of ongoing energy shortages

According to the assessment of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, measures against energy shortages could also be necessary beyond the coming winter. “These days we are concerned with the security of our energy supply. It will be for the next few weeks, months and years,” said the SPD politician in a video message. The debate is exacerbated by the fear of an end to gas supplies from Russia. Annual maintenance work on the Nord Stream 1 Baltic Sea pipeline, which usually lasts ten days, is scheduled to begin on Monday. The concern is that Russia will not turn on the gas tap again after the maintenance.

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