May 5, 2024
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 06:42 ISW: Kiev could swap space for time +++
After the Russian capture of the town of Arkhanhelske in Donetsk, which is 15 kilometers from Avdiivka, Ukraine continues to fail to stabilize the front in this sector (see entry at 00:27). The area between Sieverne, Orlivka and Berdychi, initially planned as a new defensive line, is now under Russian control. The attempt to stop the Russians at Otscheretyne also failed. According to experts at the US think tank ISW The Russian attackers can now choose whether to advance further west towards the district town of Pokrovsk or move north to increase the pressure on the strategically important Chasiv Yar near Bakhmut. “Ukrainian forces may have decided to trade space for time as they wait for U.S. aid to arrive on the front lines in the coming weeks – an appropriate decision for an underfunded force at risk of being outflanked,” writes the ISW continues.
+++ 06:10 Hundreds protest in Wiesbaden against Netrebko’s appearance +++
Several hundred people protested in front of the Hessian State Theater in Wiesbaden during a performance by Russian-born soprano Anna Netrebko as part of the May Festival. In the evening, around 400 demonstrators gathered for around five hours. Critics accuse Netrebko of supporting Putin for many years. In 2012 she signed a petition for his return to the office of president – even though the Kremlin had already taken harsh action against opposition members after elections a year earlier. In December 2014, the singer appeared in front of the flag of the so-called New Russia – a proclaimed union between the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” and the “Luhansk People’s Republic”.
+++ 05:40 White House: Ukraine plans counteroffensive for 2025 +++
According to US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Ukraine is planning a new counteroffensive in 2025. Sullivan explains this in an interview with “Financial Times”. After Kiev received $61 billion in US military aid, Ukraine will be able to “hold the line” and “ensure resistance to Russian attack” by 2024. Despite the new US aid package for Ukraine, Washington still expects “short-term progress from Russia” on the battlefield. In 2025, Ukraine wants to “continue to regain the territory that the Russians took away from them.” According to the newspaper, Sullivan’s comments are a clear indication of how the White House sees the war evolving if President Joe Biden wins the November election.
+++ 04:59 CDU party conference: Günther expects a decision on compulsory military service +++
The Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther, is expecting a decision by the CDU federal party conference to reintroduce compulsory military service: “We need compulsory military service in order to recruit enough personnel for the Bundeswehr in the long term,” the CDU politician tells the Funke newspapers. Compulsory military service must be reinstated quickly – by 2030 it will be too late. Almost every second vacancy in the Navy can no longer be filled. “We will work at the party conference to ensure that the CDU speaks out in favor of compulsory military service in its basic program,” announces Günther.
+++ 03:57 Italy’s Defense Minister criticizes Macron: “Aggravates tensions” +++
Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto rules out sending troops to Ukraine in an interview with the Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera”. French President Emmanuel Macron had previously said that he would consider sending troops in the event of a Russian breakthrough on the front. Crosetto says he doesn’t understand the purpose of Macron’s statements, adding that the discussion about the possible stationing of Western troops in Ukraine “increases tensions.” The Italian position does not change: “We have always said that Ukraine needs all possible help, and we do that, but we have also always ruled out direct intervention by our armed forces in the conflict,” says the minister.
+++ 02:29 Poland’s foreign minister does not rule out troops for Ukraine +++
Russian President Vladimir Putin is not reckless enough to attack a NATO country, says Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski in an interview with BBC World. When asked to what extent Russia was a threat to Poland, Sikorski said, according to a transcript of the Polish broadcaster RMF24, he doesn’t believe that Putin is so reckless as to attack a NATO country, but Putin is so reckless as to attack Ukraine. “And with that he became a war criminal.” Sikorski also emphasizes that Poland will not rule out anything when it comes to sending troops to Ukraine. This particularly contributes to the fact that Putin is not clear about the West’s reaction. “We will not put our cards on the table,” Sikorski told the BBC. “We’ll let President Putin think about what we’re going to do.”
+++ 00:27 Russian troops take Archanhelske +++
According to media reports, Russian troops are continuing to advance in eastern Ukraine. The Russian military has occupied the settlement of Arkhanhelske, the Ukrainian news agency Unian reported, citing the well-known military Telegram channel “DeepState”. Russian military blogs had already reported the capture a few hours earlier. So far there has been no official reaction from Kiev to the reports about the loss of another town. Arkhanhelske is located about 15 kilometers north of Avdiivka.
+++ 23:18 Zelensky praises anti-aircraft defense after Russian air strikes +++
Despite a series of strikes, Ukrainian President Zelensky praises his own air defense after heavy Russian air strikes. “Today our defenders of heaven had a lot of work all day,” Zelensky said in his daily video address. There was shelling in Kharkiv, Odessa and the Donetsk region. “I would especially like to highlight the 110th Mechanized Brigade for shooting down another Russian Su-25 over the Donetsk region today,” Zelensky said. There is currently no independent confirmation that the fighter jet was shot down.
+++ 22:20 Russia expert Mangott: Russia wants to liquidate Zelensky +++
“Putting Zelenskyj on a wanted list is intended for internal use,” writes political scientist Gerhard Mangott on Platform The Russian judiciary had previously put out a wanted notice for the Ukrainian president.
+++ 21:49 Odessa region: Several people injured in rocket attack +++
According to Ukrainian authorities, Russian missiles are also hitting the south of the country. A man and two women were injured in the Odessa district, the regional administration explains. Civilian infrastructure was damaged in the attack.
+++ 21:29 Kharkiv is under fire again +++
Russia is attacking the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv again in the evening, according to the regional administration. Meanwhile, the air force is warning of new Russian missile attacks from the east and the use of guided bombs in the Kharkiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions.
You can read all previous developments here.