02/14/2024
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 00:31 UNESCO counts 341 damaged cultural sites in Ukraine +++
Since the start of the war, 341 cultural sites have been damaged in Ukraine. UNESCO said that one of the most severely damaged buildings was the Transfiguration Cathedral in the Old Town of Odessa, which is a World Heritage Site. The cathedral was destroyed in 1936 under the Soviet ruler Josef Stalin and rebuilt true to the original between 2000 and 2002. The total damage to cultural and tourist structures is estimated at around $3.5 billion.
+++ 23:19 Estonian secret service warns of long-term conflict with Russia +++
The head of the Estonian secret service sees the danger that a Russian attack on a neighboring country could lead to a larger conflict with the West. “Russia has chosen the path of long-term confrontation with the entire West,” says Kaupo Rosin at the presentation of the foreign intelligence service’s annual report. “NATO could face a Soviet-style mass army in the next decade,” warns the intelligence agency. However, according to the report, a direct attack on Estonia this or in the “following years” is unlikely.
+++ 22:04 Russian cruise missile intercepted over Odessa +++
The Ukrainian Air Force says it prevented a Russian cruise missile from attacking the port city of Odessa. However, parts of the intercepted missile damaged two buildings, the military said. A Russian fighter jet fired the Ch-59 cruise missile over the Black Sea towards the city. No one was injured, the Odessa region administration said. According to this information, a high-rise building and a new building that was still uninhabited were damaged.
+++ 21:20 These NATO members meet the two percent target +++
Donald Trump’s statement that in the event of a possible Russian attack on NATO he would only protect those members who meet the two percent target caused outrage. But which countries does the ex-US President mean? As of now, in addition to the United States, only ten other countries reach the mark. Germany is not one of them. But all members who border on Russia.
+++ 20:56 Expert on danger from Russia: “How should such an army attack a NATO country?” +++
Europe and NATO argue about the risk of a Russian attack. Moscow certainly has ambitions of this kind, but it simply will not gain the ability to do so “in the next six to ten years,” explains Russia expert Gerhard Mangott. Nevertheless, Trump and his threats pose a danger.
+++ 20:25 Massive head injuries: 15-year-old Ukrainian attacked xenophobically in North Rhine-Westphalia +++
A 15-year-old Ukrainian was attacked in a xenophobic manner by an unknown person in Mettmann, North Rhine-Westphalia, and was seriously injured. The 15-year-old suffered massive head injuries, police said. But there is no danger to life. The unknown perpetrator managed to escape. The police state security took over the investigation. According to the information, the 15-year-old got into an argument with the unknown man in a kebab restaurant on Saturday evening. According to the police, the man initially “made xenophobic statements.” He then hit the 15-year-old in the head with an unspecified object and then fled. Emergency services alerted by witnesses took the 15-year-old to a hospital. It turned out that the young person was significantly more seriously injured than initially assumed. The police are looking for witnesses.
You can read all previous developments here.