02/05/2024
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 06:29 Governor: Two drones shot down over Russia +++
Russian air defense forces are said to have destroyed two drones over the Bryansk region. This is reported by the Kyiv Independent, citing local governor Alexander Bogomaz. No injuries or damage were reported. Reports of drone attacks on Russian territory have recently increased.
+++ 06:05 Speaker of the US House of Representatives opposes aid package +++
In the US, the Senate has introduced a bill for a $118 billion aid package. According to House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, the proposal will be “dead” once it reaches the House. “This bill is even worse than expected,” writes Johnson on
+++ 05:43 Zelenskyj sees stalemate at the front +++
Due to delays in the delivery of military equipment, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sees the current situation on the front as a dead end. “As far as the war on the ground is concerned, there is a stalemate, that’s a fact,” because “there have been delays in equipment, and delays mean mistakes,” Zelensky tells the Italian Channel Rai1 in an interview. At the same time, he points out that the Russian army is not in a position to advance significantly and that it has been stopped.
+++ 04:42 Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations: Missing helicopter crashed +++
A Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations Mi-8 helicopter crashed into a lake in northern Karelia with three crew members on board, the ministry said on Telegram. The ministry had previously reported that it had lost contact with the helicopter. During a training flight over Lake Onega, the Mi-8 helicopter of the North-Western Aviation Rescue Center lost communication. According to the TASS news agency, the helicopter’s emergency transmitter was not activated.
+++ 02:40 US Senate puts together 118 billion aid package +++
In the US, the Senate has introduced a bill for a $118 billion aid package. In addition to the $20.23 billion for border security at home, this includes, after months of discussions, $60.06 billion in support for Ukraine and $14.1 billion for Israel’s security. The bill also includes $10 billion in humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Ukraine. In addition, $2.44 billion is earmarked for the US Central Command and the US deployment in the Red Sea, as well as $4.83 billion for supporting US partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
+++ 01:33 German Major General: We are observing Zelensky’s falling out with his commander in chief +++
Major General Christian Freuding takes a critical look at the reports of a rift between President Volodymyr Zelensky and his commander-in-chief Valeriy Zalushny. “We can’t look behind the scenes,” says Freuding. “But of course we are observing these discussions between the military and political leadership. And of course we hope that Ukraine maintains the unity that has made it strong in defending its country in recent months and years. Such a discussion is indeed also a hallmark of a democratic state. But in the long term it is not conducive to defense efforts.”
+++ 00:23 Bundeswehr general: Kiev needs more soldiers +++
According to Bundeswehr Major General Christian Freuding, Ukraine must recruit more soldiers in order to be successful in repelling the Russian attack. “Ukraine will certainly have to mobilize more soldiers – simply because of the casualty numbers, as far as we can see,” said the head of the Ukraine Situation Center in the Ministry of Defense to the Germany editorial network. Another reason Freuding cites is the need to regenerate troops, some of whom have been at the front for 24 months. The type and extent of mobilization is currently being discussed in Ukraine.
+++ 23:23 Second anniversary of the war: EU plans 13th sanctions package +++
According to diplomats, the EU Commission is not planning any additional import restrictions in its 13th sanctions package against Russia. The priority is to quickly achieve unity among the member states so that the package can mark the second anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine on February 24th, say EU diplomats. Hundreds of names of companies and people should be added to the sanctions list, but no large company names should be included. A 14th sanctions package should follow.
+++ 22:25 Zelenskyj admits considerations of large personnel swaps +++
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj says he is considering replacing several leading Ukrainian representatives. It’s about the leadership of Ukraine, Zelensky told the Italian television station RAI when asked about a possible replacement of military commander-in-chief Valeriy Zalushny. A new beginning is necessary. It is about replacing a number of leading representatives of the state, not just in the army.
+++ 22:00 Future of the Ukrainian army chief: USA wants to stay out of it +++
The US government does not want to get involved in a possible conflict between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his army chief Valery Zalushny. “This is not something the US government should get involved in one way or another,” US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on CBS. “It is the sovereign right of Ukraine and the right of the President of Ukraine to make his personnel decisions.” Washington has already told Ukraine this. For weeks there has been speculation about the imminent dismissal of the Ukrainian commander-in-chief by President Zelensky.
You can read all previous developments here.