March 8, 2024
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 01:26 Russia criticizes NATO maneuvers as destabilizing the world situation +++
Russia accuses NATO of destabilizing the situation in the world due to its “Steadfast Defender” series of maneuvers. During the exercises by the armed forces of the NATO countries, a scenario of an armed confrontation with Russia is being played out. This is what the Secretary of the Russian National Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, said on Thursday in Magas in the North Caucasus, according to the Interfax news agency. “There’s no doubt that this is exacerbating tensions and destabilizing the situation in the world,” he says.
+++ 00:26 President of Moldova warns about Putin in Paris +++
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, calls on Europe to take a united stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is trying again to destabilize your country, says Sandu in Paris. In the French capital she signed a defense and cooperation agreement with President Emmanuel Macron. Sandu warns that Putin must be stopped in Ukraine. Otherwise the front will move further. “Closer to us, closer to you,” said Sandu. “Europe must therefore act as one. Aggression must be repelled with a strong force.”
+++ 23:58 Investigations against SpaceX because of Russia’s Starlink use +++
House Democrats are conducting an investigation into Elon Musk’s SpaceX. This is reported by the “Washington Post“The investigation will therefore examine whether the company has taken appropriate security measures to prevent Russia from using the Starlink satellite internet service in the war against Ukraine. As it is said, MPs Jamie Raskin and Robert Garcia are calling on SpaceX to report complaints about to report possible illegal purchases of Starlink terminals in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. The use of Starlink by Russia represents “a serious threat to the security of Ukraine, the lives of Ukrainians and the national security of the USA.” Ukrainian Intelligence officials had previously said that Russian forces had used the company’s terminals in eastern Ukraine, potentially violating U.S. sanctions.
+++ 22:58 German security authorities have been keeping an eye on the risk of interception for a long time +++
According to Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, the German security authorities have been aware of the increased risk of Russian eavesdropping for a long time. However, with appropriate precautionary measures, the SPD politician still sees room for improvement. Immediately after the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, her ministry and the security authorities warned against such wiretapping attacks, cyber attacks and disinformation, said the minister. A recording of a meeting between Air Force officers was recently published in Russia. The federal government has set up a working group on hybrid threats. Another countermeasure is more personnel in espionage and cyber defense at the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. “We focused a lot more attention on it there, and we’ve already been able to uncover a lot,” says Faeser.
+++ 21:58 Rotation at the front: Zelensky signs decree +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signs a decree according to which some conscripts will be transferred to the reserve in the spring of 2024. This reports “Kyiv Independent”. The decree applies to those whose terms of service expired during martial law and were extended beyond the usual period. Ukraine is currently making increased efforts to accelerate mobilization in 2024 and to ensure more rotation at the front, as some of the soldiers have been deployed without interruption since the Russian attack in 2022. Basic military service in Ukraine is compulsory for men between the ages of 18 and 27 and usually lasts at least one year.
+++ 21:30 Several dead after Russian attack on Sumy +++
According to official reports, several people are killed and injured in a Russian missile attack on the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences to the relatives in his evening speech. It is still unclear how many victims there are. According to Ukrainian media reports, a hospital and a school were damaged in the afternoon attack. “The Russian state will definitely be held responsible for this evil,” says Zelensky.
+++ 9:30 p.m. Governor announces compulsory evacuations near Kupiansk +++
The governor of Kharkiv Oblast, Oleh Syniehubow, announces a forced evacuation of communities near Kupiansk. How he up Telegram announced that all residents from 57 settlements should be brought to safety. “We must protect families with children from Russian terror against civilians in the Kharkiv region,” he said. Kupiansk is a strategically important city in Kharkiv Oblast that was temporarily occupied by Russian troops in 2022. Kupiansk had recently come under increased attack from the Russians.
+++ 21:10 British deliver thousands of drones to Ukraine +++
The British Ministry of Defense announces the delivery of more than 10,000 drones to Ukraine. During a visit by Defense Secretary Grant Shapps to Kiev, his ministry explained that London was spending a further 125 million pounds, the equivalent of around 146 million euros, on “state-of-the-art drones” that would help the Ukrainian army defend itself against Russia. This means that the total British spending on drones for Ukraine rose to 325 million pounds. The British drones are to be delivered to Kiev throughout the year.
You can read all previous developments here.