03/22/2022
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++01:05 Ukrainian counterintelligence stops a possible attack on Selenskyj +++
According to its own statements, the Ukrainian counterintelligence prevented a possible assassination attempt on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A group of Russian saboteurs, led by a secret service agent, were arrested in the city of Uzhgorod in the border triangle between Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary, Unian agency reports. In addition to the attack on Zelenskyy in Kyiv, the task of the approximately 25 men would also have included the execution of a series of acts of sabotage in the government district and in other parts of the Ukraine. They wanted to pretend to be members of the territorial units of Ukraine and get to Kyiv that way. The information cannot be independently verified.
+++ 00:33 Biden: Russia is considering the use of chemical warfare agents +++
US President Joe Biden repeats allegations that Russia is considering using chemical weapons in Ukraine. Russia insists on the fabricated accusation that Ukraine has biological and chemical weapons. This is a clear sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin himself is considering using such weapons. Putin has his back against the wall and accuses Ukraine of false allegations. “They just launched the hypersonic missile because it’s the only thing they can get through with absolute certainty,” Biden said. US Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby does not directly confirm the use of the “Kishal” missile: “We have seen the Russians’ claim that they are using a hypersonic missile. We are unable to refute this claim, but we are also unable to independently verify them”.
+++ 23:58 Ukraine accuses the Russian army of kidnapping three Israelis +++
According to the government in Kyiv, three Israeli citizens have been kidnapped in the city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine, which is occupied by the Russian army. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Wereshchuk wrote on Facebook that it was an Israeli “publisher” and his wife and daughter. On March 11, Russian soldiers kidnapped Melitopol’s mayor Ivan Fedorov. The politician was released five days later – according to Kiev, in exchange for nine Russian soldiers captured by the Ukrainian army.
+++ 23:31 Russia blocks Euronews website +++
The Russian media regulator blocks access to the website of the European broadcaster Euronews. At the request of the public prosecutor’s office, the Roskomnadzor authority also blocked the channel’s Russian-language offering, Russian news agencies report. Since the start of the military operation in Ukraine, the Russian authorities have massively restricted access to online media. Among other things, the BBC website was blocked. On Monday, a court also banned Facebook and Instagram.
+++ 23:14 Zelenskyj: Ukraine will not fulfill any Russian ultimatums +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fundamentally rejects ultimatums from Russia. “Ukraine cannot fulfill the ultimatums of the Russian Federation,” he said on television. “You have to destroy us all. Then your ultimatum will be fulfilled automatically.” On Sunday, Russia asked Ukrainian troops in the besieged port city of Mariupol to lay down their arms and leave the city on Monday morning. Such a capitulation was categorically rejected by the Ukrainian leadership.
+++ 22:48 Poland’s central bank offers Ukraine up to one billion dollars +++
The National Bank of Poland (NBP) is offering up to $1 billion in support to the Central Bank of Ukraine. The NBP reports that this sum will be made available to the Ukrainians as part of a currency exchange transaction (swap line). In return, the NBP accepts Ukrainian hryvnia. With the offer, the Polish central bank takes into account the extraordinary situation due to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, which could also have a negative impact on the stability of the financial system in Poland.
+++ 22:25 Lindner: Agreement on energy price relief this week +++
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner assumes that the coalition will agree this week on relief for citizens in view of the high energy prices. “Yes, that’s very realistic,” says the FDP chairman on the ARD program “Hart aber fair”. Rapid implementation is important. His suggestion of a tank discount, which would be deducted directly from the fuel price that remains unchanged, also accommodates this. “I’m in favor of this discount because, in case of doubt, it can be decided directly (by the cabinet) without legislation, because the price at the pump remains the same,” says Lindner. “I would also like to talk about a tax measure – but it takes more time, it needs legislation.”
+++ 22:04 Ambassador Melnyk rages: “You Russian bastards will pay dearly for it” +++
After the Russian attack on a shopping center and several buildings in Kyiv, in which at least eight people died, the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, made drastic statements. He writes on Twitterthat his district in Kyiv was hit by the rocket fire: “You Russian bastards will pay dearly for it.” In an interview with the “Bild” newspaper, the diplomat said: “We live here. That’s why this murderous rocket attack hit my family right in the heart.” And further: “We are really angry!”
You can read about previous developments here.