23.05.2024
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 06:13 Study: Natural gas supply secured even without Russian imports +++
According to a study by the economic research institute DIW, a ban on the import of Russian natural gas into the EU would not endanger gas supplies in the EU. Even if gas demand in the EU remained high until 2030, a complete abandonment of Russian natural gas would be possible, the study says. “Gas demand could be met by pipeline imports from other countries and LNG without expanding infrastructure in almost all scenarios,” the authors write. Supply could also be ensured in Central and Eastern European EU countries that are very dependent on Russian natural gas, such as Austria and Hungary. “Security of supply does not stand in the way of further EU sanctions against Russia,” says the investigation.
+++ 05:50 Romania skeptical about Patriot delivery +++
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is cautious about a possible delivery of a Patriot system to Ukraine. Such a move must be approved by the Supreme Council of National Defense and must not endanger Romania’s air defense, he says. Iohannis emphasizes that this issue will not be discussed publicly, but in camera with military experts and the Supreme Council, Romanian news channel Digi24 reports. The delivery of a Patriot system is associated with numerous logistical and legal problems. “Even if Romania eventually makes some concessions, it must receive something in return. Otherwise nothing will happen.”
+++ 05:22 Poland considers launching Russian missiles near its border +++
Poland is considering involving its air defenses in shooting down Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory, Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski tells Ukrinform. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier in an interview that Western allies, including Poland, could intervene more directly in Ukraine’s defense by shooting down Russian missiles. Wronski responded to Zelensky’s remarks in a comment to Ukrinform, saying that the Polish government is discussing the technical and legal aspects of such an approach. “This issue is being considered from a legal and technical point of view,” Wronski says.
+++ 04:40 Ukraine apparently shoots down Russian fighter jet +++
Ukrainian troops say they shot down a Russian SU-25 fighter jet near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. “According to available information, Ukrainian troops destroyed a Russian SU-25 attack aircraft,” the General Staff said. The Soviet-built SU-25, nicknamed the “Frogfoot” by NATO, is a heavily armored ground attack aircraft that provides air support to Russian ground forces. The aircraft helps Russia carry out intensive attacks on several sectors of the Eastern Front, which includes much of the Donetsk region.
+++ 03:02 Sweden gives Ukraine military aid worth 6.5 billion euros +++
Sweden is giving military aid to Ukraine, which is attacked by Russia, for a further 6.5 billion euros, spread over three years. This was announced by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks people for the help. “This is really tangible and will strengthen not only us, not only Ukraine, but the entire European area from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea,” Zelensky said in a video message. “The cause of Ukraine is the cause of Sweden,” says Kristersson in a video on the social network X.
+++ 01:54 Kadyrov offers Putin more troops +++
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov offers Russian President Vladimir Putin additional troops for the war in Ukraine at a meeting in the Kremlin. Tens of thousands of “well-trained and equipped fighters from the reserves” are ready to fight for Russia in Ukraine if an appropriate order is given, writes Kadyrov. A total of 43,500 soldiers have already served in Ukraine, including 18,000 volunteers.
+++ 00:43 Zelenskyj continues to collect commitments for peace summits +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj continues to collect commitments for the planned peace summit in Switzerland in mid-June. “Today I spoke to the heads of state and government of Chile, Albania, Austria and Mozambique,” he reports in his video message. “Four more countries at the summit – I thank them.” It is already known that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be traveling to the meeting. From Austria, Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) will take part in the meeting on 15/16. The Chancellery in Vienna confirms that the event will take place near Lucerne in June. Nehammer calls the conference an important step towards making peace possible again.
+++ 23:34 Zelenskyj asks the West for help against Russian glide bombs +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is asking the West for help against attacks with glide bombs. They are the most important tool in Russian air strikes. “Ukraine needs systems and tactics that enable us to protect our positions, our cities and our communities from these bombs,” he said in his nightly video address. Russia is increasingly using the bombs, which have been supplemented with a control system. They can be dropped relatively safely by Russian pilots and are difficult to combat.
+++ 22:06 Ukraine releases first prisoners for deployment at the front +++
Ukraine is releasing its first prisoners to fight in the military’s war against Russia. A court in the western city of Khmelnytsky has ruled that two inmates convicted of theft can be released on parole to join the country’s National Guard. The court approved the two men’s requests for release, it said in a released statement. The release comes under a new rule that allows prisoners who are prepared to fight in the war to be released on parole. According to Kyiv, more than 3,000 prisoners have applied for release since the law was passed.
You can read all previous developments here.