April 22, 2024
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 06:27 Greens want to increase Europe’s arms production despite the US military package +++
Despite the release of billions in US aid for Ukraine, the Green parliamentary group is calling for European support to be further expanded and arms production to be massively increased. “The released US aid is a very important step for Ukraine. However, we in Europe must not make the mistake of resting on our laurels,” says the Green Party’s security policy spokeswoman, Sara Nanni, to the “Rheinische Post”. Because the blockade by a US Republican party has shown that the same thing could happen again with the next aid packages that are still due. “That’s why we in Europe must now lay the foundations so that we can support Ukraine on our own.” The essential element for this is the European Defense Industrial Strategy. “It’s about using market-based instruments to create planning for the defense industry and purchase agreements that enable the production of military equipment in large quantities. This is a big challenge, also financially, but we have to mobilize the existing industrial capacities even better,” said the Green Party politician.
+++ 06:00 Ex-commander calls for Russian missiles to be fired if they only fly towards NATO territory +++
At NATO level, a decision should be made to launch missiles in Ukrainian airspace towards Poland or Romania. This is what the Polish expert and former commander of the ground forces, Waldemar Skrzypczak, demands. according to Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. “The NATO narrative should be this: We warn Putin that any missile that flies in our direction will be shot down. We say we are protecting ourselves and shoot down missiles that fly in the direction of, for example, Poland or Romania,” said Skrzypczak. He makes it clear that NATO should not emphasize that it is helping Ukraine launch missiles in order not to discuss with Russia the alleged involvement of the West in World War III, but rather emphasize the protection of the territory of the alliance countries.
+++ 03:24 Russia fires ballistic and guided missiles into Ukrainian territory +++
The Ukrainian Air Force reported several Russian attacks with ballistic and guided missiles during the night. Among other things, three Iskander-M ballistic missiles were fired from the Belgorod region. Two X-59/X-69 guided missiles were fired from the Black Sea and were destroyed. In addition, three reconnaissance drones were shot down.
+++ 02:14 Ukraine spends more than half of its state budget on armaments +++
Global military spending has reached a new high of $2.44 trillion. According to a new report from the Stockholm peace research institute Sipri, the figures exceed last year’s spending for the ninth year in a row. Ukraine recorded the largest percentage increase in the top 10 group. Their military spending rose 51 percent to $64.8 billion, accounting for more than half (58 percent) of total government spending. This share was significantly higher than in Russia, where military spending accounted for 16 percent of total government spending last year.
+++ 01:13 One injured in attacks on the Nikopol area +++
A 47-year-old woman was injured in a Russian attack on the Nikopol district of the Dnipropetrovsk region. The head of the military administration announced this via Telegram. Russia attacked Nikopol eight times during the day, five times with drones and once with artillery. An administration building and several private houses were damaged.
+++ 22:31 Zelensky: Russia wants to take Chassiv Yar before May 9th +++
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia intends to capture and occupy the city of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine by May 9th. Zelenskyj said this in an interview with the US broadcaster NBC News, as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform. “Russia wants to mobilize 300,000 soldiers by June 1st. We are preparing for that. Russia expects to have occupied Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine by May 9th,” said the Ukrainian head of state. “I assume that we can hold our own, that the weapons arrive in time and that we can repel the enemy. Then we will thwart Russia’s plans for a full-scale counteroffensive in June,” Zelensky said. Chasiv Yar has been close to the front since the Battle of Bakhmut. As an important transport hub, the small town served as a base near the front to supply the fighting units.
+++ 21:56 NATO chief Stoltenberg: US military aid will not come too late for Ukraine +++
According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the expected US aid worth billions for Ukraine does not come too late for the country attacked by Russia. But the delay had real consequences for Ukraine, Stoltenberg told the US broadcaster MSNBC on Sunday. “The Ukrainians have been outgunned for months now (…). The Russians had much more ammunition and the Ukrainians were forced to ration their ammunition,” said Stoltenberg. “But it is not too late. Ukrainians have demonstrated enormous capabilities in defending their country.”
+++ 21:35 Explosion shakes Kharkiv +++
An explosion rocked the city of Kharkiv in the evening, injuring at least one person. This was said by the mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, as reported by the state news agency Ukrinform. “An explosion was heard in Kharkiv. It was believed to be a location on the outskirts of the city. At least one person was reportedly injured,” the report said.
+++ 21:15 Lindner calls the release of US military aid to Ukraine “extremely important” +++
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner calls the approval of further aid for Ukraine by the US House of Representatives as vital for the survival of the country invaded by Russia. The decision was “enormously important” for Ukraine, the FDP politician told the editorial network Germany (RND). “The financing of the state under war conditions is thus secured for this year,” he emphasized. “It was always clear that the European states – and certainly not Germany alone – could not have replaced a US failure,” Lindner made clear. In this respect, too, the release is good news. Lindner added that Germany is already providing half of Europe’s aid to Ukraine and is therefore in great demand. “We are already doing what is responsible and possible,” he said, referring to the recently promised delivery of a third “Patriot” air defense system.
+++ 20:52 US Senator Warner: Ukraine could receive US military aid next week – including ATACMS missiles +++
Ukraine is expected to receive US military aid – including ATACMS missiles – next week. This is what Mark Warner, Chairman of the US Senate Intelligence Committee, assumes. He hoped that “Congress will do its job and that these materials will be on the way by the end of the week,” the senator said in a broadcast CBS News.
+++ 20:23 Strack-Zimmermann: US aid for Ukraine should be a model for European states +++
After the release of billions in US aid for Ukraine, the chairwoman of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, criticized the lack of support from European states. “It’s great news for Ukraine that it is receiving this huge support from the United States. This should also be a model for the European states,” said Strack-Zimmermann to the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post”. “Apart from the Nordic and Baltic states, Europe is not supporting Ukraine with what is affordable. If we want Ukraine to win this war, all European states are called upon to do more and faster,” said the FDP politician. “Ultimately always relying on the United States is not worthy of Europe’s geostrategic situation and moral standards,” Strack-Zimmermann continued.
You can read all previous developments here.