07/19/2023
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 00:57 Selenskyj is looking for support in Africa +++
After the end of the grain deal, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is trying to get Africa on his country’s side. He gave an interview to a number of African media, reports Zelenskyj in his daily video address. “We (…) spoke in particular about the situation with grain exports and the Russian aggression against global food stability,” he says. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is less harshly criticized in Africa than in western industrial nations. African states are not taking part in the sanctions against Russia. “An explosion in prices would inevitably lead to political and migration crises, especially in African and Asian countries. Obviously, the Russian leadership is now trying to provoke these crises,” emphasizes Zelenskyy.
+++ 23:40 “People’s Republic” militias are said to have committed war crimes in Izyum +++
When the Ukrainian city of Izyum was occupied, militias commanded by Russia from the self-proclaimed “People’s Republics” of Luhansk and Donetsk were apparently involved in serious human rights violations. This is the conclusion of the UK Center for Information Resilience, like the “Guardians” reported. In an investigation, the organization names four units that allegedly abused civilians and prisoners of war and killed some during the six-month occupation. The units were billeted in schools and kindergartens and received orders from Moscow to set up checkpoints and guard Ukrainian prisoners.
+++ 22:16 US military: Ukrainian counter-offensive by no means failed +++
The US military rejects the idea that Ukraine’s counteroffensive has failed. This is by no means the case, explains Chief of Staff Mark Milley: “It’s far from a failure. I think it’s much too early to make such an assessment.” There will be many more fights. “And I stand by what we said before: It will take a long time. It will be difficult. It will be bloody.” Various scenarios for the Ukrainian advances have been predicted. On paper, however, it is different than in reality, in which complex minefields, barbed wire and Russian trenches have to be overcome. “Real war is unpredictable.”
+++ 21:54 Maljar: Ukraine regains the initiative at Kupjansk +++
Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar believes that “the enemy offensive towards Kupyansk is currently unsuccessful”. In this area, Russia has greatly increased its troops. “The fighting continues, but the initiative is already on our side,” she wrote on Telegram. According to Ukrainian information, Russia is said to have moved “more than 100,000 men, more than 900 tanks, more than 555 artillery systems and 370 MLRS” in the direction of Lyman-Kupyansk. The region was liberated during Ukraine’s surprise counter-offensive in the Kharkiv region in September 2022.
+++ 21:24 South Africa is looking for ways not to have to arrest Putin +++
South Africa is looking at ways to avoid arresting Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in August. The country is hosting the upcoming BRICS summit. Their heads of state are expected to attend, including Putin. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against the Russian President for war crimes. As a member of the ICC, South Africa would therefore be obliged to arrest Putin if he appeared at the summit. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has therefore asked the ICC not to have to arrest Putin, as this would be tantamount to “a declaration of war,” according to a document published by a local court. Ramaphosa commented on a lawsuit by the opposition, which wants to force him to arrest Putin if he enters the country.
+++ 21:00 African Union regrets Russia’s withdrawal from grain agreements +++
The African Union (AU) regrets Russia’s decision to phase out the agreement to export Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea. “I regret the suspension of the Black Sea Grains Initiative, which the African Union supported very early on,” AU Commission President Moussa Faki Mahamat wrote on Twitter. He urges all parties involved to “resolve the issues to allow the resumption of safe transportation of grain and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia to regions in need, including Africa.”
Read the events of the previous day here.