Ukraine war in the live ticker: +++ 00:59 OSCE investigates kidnapping of Ukrainian children +++

Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 00:59 OSCE investigates kidnapping of Ukrainian children +++

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is to investigate the kidnapping of Ukrainian children in the Russian war of aggression. A group of 45 OSCE States, in consultation with Kiev, launched a process to investigate the allegations on the ground. The Ukrainian government accuses Moscow of illegally deporting thousands of children from occupied Ukraine to Russia. In December, the OSCE Human Rights Office classified such reports as credible. Moscow denies war crimes and stresses that the children were taken to safety before the war.

+++ 23:41 Ukrainian athletes should stay away from competitions with Russians +++
Athletes of Ukraine are officially instructed to boycott competitions in which athletes from Russia or Belarus participate. This decision was made by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Cabinet Minister Oleh Nemchinov announced on Ukrainian television. The decision applies to all competitions, including the qualifying competitions for the 2024 Olympic Games. Should athletes nevertheless take part in competitions in which athletes from Belarus or Russia also compete, this could result in the respective federations being stripped of their national status. This is the Ukrainian government’s response to recommendations by the International Olympic Committee to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete as neutral participants.

+++ 22:19 US military: More than 7000 Ukrainians trained +++
The US says it has trained more than 7,000 members of Ukraine’s armed forces since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine began. The training took place at various locations in Germany and abroad, including in Germany, says US Department of Defense spokesman Pat Ryder in Washington. Just in the past few days, 65 Ukrainians in the state of Oklahoma have completed their training on the Patriot air defense system and are now back in Europe.

+++ 21:57 Berlin “deeply concerned” about the arrest of a US reporter in Moscow +++
The federal government is “deeply concerned” about the arrest of US journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russia. “The work of foreign correspondents accredited in Russia must be possible unhindered and without intimidation,” said a spokesman for the Federal Foreign Office at the request of the German Press Agency. “Journalism must not be criminalized.” A court in Moscow accuses Gershkovich of espionage and issued an arrest warrant against him. The journalist, who is a US citizen, had also researched Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to the court, the reporter is initially in custody until May 29. Born in 1991, Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The “Wall Street Journal” rejected the allegations against his employee, who did his job.

+++ 21:10 USA: Russia is trying to get new weapons from North Korea +++
According to the US government, Russia is still trying to procure weapons and ammunition from North Korea. “We have new information that Russia is actively trying to acquire additional ammunition from North Korea,” US National Security Council communications director John Kirby said in Washington. At the center of these efforts is an arms dealer by the name of Ashot Mkrtychev. Through him, Russia is trying to mediate a secret arms deal with North Korea. This would allow Russia to obtain more than two dozen types of weapons and ammunition from North Korea. In return, Russia offers North Korea food.

You can read earlier developments in the Ukraine war here.

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