02/25/2024
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 02:33 Faeser promises to protect Russians critical of Putin in Germany +++
After the suspected murder of a Russian deserter in Spain, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser also warned of dangers for Russians living in Germany. “Anyone who opposes Putin’s regime is putting themselves in great danger,” the SPD politician told Bild am Sonntag. According to information from the newspaper, 1,900 Russian citizens have received protection in Germany since 2022 due to political persecution. “We are doing everything we can to ensure that these people are safe in Germany,” said Faeser. The federal and state security authorities are in close contact and are following up on every indication of possible threats.
+++ 00:50 Attack on farm: 20 pigs die +++
During attacks in the Kharkiv area, Russian troops caused a major fire on a farm in Lyman. According to the state emergency service on Facebook, more than 20 pigs died and 52 animals were evacuated to other areas. The fire covered an area of 600 square meters.
+++ 23:29 Kiev reports 54 air strikes on the second anniversary of the start of the war +++
On the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, the General Staff in Kiev reported a “difficult” situation at the front. A total of 69 combat operations were reported from the front lines during the day, according to the military’s daily situation report. In addition, 54 air strikes and 77 attacks from multiple rocket launchers were registered on Ukrainian positions and settlements. The fiercest fighting took place around the town of Avdiivka in the east, which Ukrainian troops had to abandon a few days ago.
+++ 22:07 Swiss minister: Ten peace plans for Ukraine, some still secret +++
At the planned international peace conference, there are apparently almost a dozen peace plans on the table. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis explainsthat there are currently around ten such plans, of which around six or seven are already public. The rest will be discussed in secret. Switzerland is currently organizing the conference and it should take place in the summer at the latest. Russia is unlikely to take part.
+++ 21:36 Air alarm during Baerbock’s Odessa visit – Minister in the shelter +++
During Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s visit to the Ukrainian city of Odessa, the authorities there raised an air alarm. The minister, the German ambassador Martin Jäger and the rest of the delegation then went to the air raid shelter of their hotel. After about a quarter of an hour, the alarm was lifted. Baerbock and the other residents of the hotel have now been able to leave the bunker again.
+++ 21:04 After taking Avdiivka: Russians apparently continue to advance +++
Russian troops appear to be continuing their advance after taking the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. According to unconfirmed video footage, Kremlin troops apparently raised Russian flags in the western towns of Lastochkyne and Sjeverne. Ukrainian troops recently gave up Avdiivka after months of fighting.
+++ 20:35 Rare Russian reconnaissance aircraft shot down: Zelenskyj comments +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls the recent downing of a Russian Beriev A-50 reconnaissance aircraft a result of “cooperation with partners.” According to information from Kiev, the aircraft, which was packed with expensive electronics and crewed by specially trained experts, was shot down the day before by Ukrainian air defense over southern Russia. Without this partnership, Ukraine would hardly be able to protect itself in certain areas, explains Zelensky. However, he does not provide details of this collaboration. However, the Ukrainian head of state countered speculation that Western weapons systems, possibly Patriot missiles, were used in the shoot down.
+++ 20:00 From now on Kyiv: Baerbock delivers a linguistic gift in Odessa +++
The federal government is changing the spelling of the Ukrainian capital in its official language: in the future we will no longer talk about Kiev – but about Kyiv. “We have completed what was long overdue: spelling your capital in the Ukrainian language,” said Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa. Ukraine had long requested a change to the German spelling in order to be closer to the Ukrainian name of the capital. According to the Ukrainian interpretation, the spelling “Kiev” is too similar to the Russian language.
+++ 19:16 Ukraine announces several security agreements +++
Ukraine and Italy have concluded a security agreement. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Such a contract has also been concluded with Canada. Canada will provide over two billion euros in military and financial aid this year, explains the president.
You can read all previous developments here.