09/25/2022
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 02:53 Around 750 arrests during protests in Russia +++
More than 700 people are arrested in Russia during protests against the ordered partial mobilization. The human rights portal ovd.info reported in the evening of 747 arrests in a total of 32 cities across the country. It is only about the men and women who are known by name, there could be significantly more people in custody, it is said. The Russian police are using brutal force against the banned anti-war protests, as videos on social networks show. Eyewitnesses also report the use of stun guns.
+++ 01:15 no arms delivery – Selenskyj “shocked” about Israel +++
In an interview with French reporters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expresses incomprehension at Israel’s refusal to supply his country with missile defense systems. “I don’t know what happened to Israel. I’ll be honest and frank – I’m in shock because I don’t understand why they couldn’t give us air defense,” he said. Zelensky had requested the weapons shortly after the war began in February. Zelensky’s comments are sharper than they were in March, when he chided Israel for its reluctance to supply arms. At that time, Israel made a non-binding statement and said it would help Ukraine as best it could. Israel has condemned the Russian invasion but is reluctant to strain ties with Moscow. In neighboring Syria, Russia holds a position of power. Israeli forces frequently attack pro-Iranian militias there.
+++ 23:59 Russia considers expansion of the UN Security Council conceivable +++
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is open to changes to the composition of the UN Security Council. The most powerful body of the United Nations must adapt to the realities in the world and be expanded in favor of countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia, says Lavrov at the general debate of the UN General Assembly in New York. In Moscow’s view, Brazil and India in particular are worthy candidates for becoming permanent members because of their important global role, he adds. However, he expresses reservations about changing the decision-making processes in the body: “We are also concerned about the efforts of countries that are undermining the prerogatives of the Security Council,” said Lavrov. The topic of expanding the UN Security Council has picked up speed at least since US President Joe Biden’s speech to the General Assembly on Wednesday. Read what else Lavrov said here.
+++ 22:53 Selenskyj calls on Russians to desert +++
In his evening video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explicitly addresses Russians and calls on them to refrain from partial mobilization. “Running from this criminal mobilization is better than being maimed and then having to stand trial for taking part in a war of aggression,” he says in Russian. At the same time he offers that Russian soldiers could voluntarily go into captivity. There they would be treated in a civilized manner. With a view to the high penalties for deserters in Russia, Zelenskyy says that nobody will know under what circumstances the soldiers give up.
+++ 22:15 Lavrov accuses West of “grotesque” fear of Russia +++
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claims that Western countries are “grotesquely” afraid of Russia. “Official Russophobia in the West is unprecedented, the extent is grotesque,” he said at the UN general debate in New York. The states did not shy away from “destroying Russia”. Lavrov also accuses the US of wanting to make the entire world its backyard through sanctions.
+++ 21:35 UN Security Council is to hold mock referendums +++
The UN Security Council is to deal with the sham referendums in Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine. According to diplomats, the meeting of the most powerful body in the United Nations has been requested by the United States and Albania and is scheduled to take place in New York on Tuesday afternoon local time (9 p.m. German time). Ukraine had previously requested a meeting to this effect in a letter to the Council. Since Friday in Ukraine, mock referendums have been held in the four Russian-occupied areas of Cherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhia on accession to Russia. UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently described a possible annexation of the areas as a violation of international law.
+++ 21:02 Russia confirms queue of cars at the border with Georgia +++
The Russian authorities confirm a “significant” increase in cars coming from Russia at the border with Georgia after the announcement of partial mobilization. “There is a significant influx of private vehicles,” explains the interior ministry of the Russian border region of North Ossetia. “Around 2,300” vehicles were waiting to cross a border crossing, it said. The statements are the first official confirmation from a Russian authority of an increase in departures. On Thursday, the Kremlin dismissed reports that Russians capable of military service were fleeing as “false”.
Cars are queuing to enter Georgia from Russia.
(Photo: IMAGO/SNA)
You can read earlier developments relating to the Ukraine war here.