April 13, 2024
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 07:02 According to the report, Putin plans to start up the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant +++
Russian leader Putin has told a representative of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that he wants to restart the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. This is reported by the “Wall Street Journal”. The six reactors of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear facility in Europe, have been shut down since September 2022. Putin did not give a date. A diplomat told the newspaper that Russia may want to restart the power plant in time for the 40th anniversary of the plant’s existence. That would be in December. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi speaks of a “significant escalation” of the nuclear danger in Ukraine.
+++ 06:31 “The front is holding at Chassiv Yar” +++
According to the ISW (see entry from 6:15 a.m.), the fighting near the city of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region continues, “but there are no confirmed changes to the line of the front.” Russian military bloggers had previously claimed that Russian invasion forces were advancing there. In his look at the front on Monday, Colonel Markus Reisner said that Tashasiv Yar was one of several sectors of the front where the Russians wanted to “break into at least Ukraine’s second line of defense.” “Ukraine’s defensive successes show that they are still able to defend themselves regionally. But the number of Russian vehicles shot down also shows that the Russians actually have something planned here.”
+++ 06:15 ISW: Ukraine’s ability to become self-sufficient in weapons is growing +++
According to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukraine’s ability to become self-sufficient in weapons is increasing. In your daily analysis the think tank points outthat Putin had admitted that the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities also wanted to destroy the Ukrainian defense industry – Putin made this statement at a meeting with Belarusian President Lukashenko on Thursday.
The ISW assumes that Ukraine can manage to maintain its defense against Russia and its longer-term national security needs with significantly reduced foreign military assistance. To achieve this, Ukraine needs increased support with air defense systems, as it cannot compensate for this deficiency. “The West’s provision of air defense systems and missiles to Ukraine is critical to Ukraine’s ability to defend its energy infrastructure and developing defense industry against Russian attacks.”
+++ 05:50 Zelenskyj: Support is slowing down +++
President Zelensky complains about his country’s continued lack of military support. “Unfortunately, some of the support is slowing down and we need to do everything we can to improve our own capabilities,” he said at a meeting of local and regional authorities in Chernivtsi, western Ukraine. The current problem area in Ukraine is the energy sector, which is the target of constant, serious Russian attacks and is already suffering from major power outages. Although the government in Kiev is trying to further expand anti-aircraft defense, the individual communities should keep an eye on the problems. “We have to prepare for the next heating season at all levels – in communities, at the authorities and in our energy companies.”
+++ 04:46 New EU agenda: Environmentalists criticize military focus +++
Environmentalists criticize what they see as a military-heavy EU strategy for the next five years. As can be seen from a sketch for the so-called strategic agenda, the areas of security, defense and competitiveness should become priorities of the international community. However, environmental and climate protection is only mentioned in passing. Greenpeace says the plan aims to use a military strategy to protect people from security threats. Political campaign manager Ariadna Rodrigo criticizes: “Putting billions into tanks, rockets and guns will do absolutely nothing to help communities across Europe struggling with drought, storms or crop failures.” More weapons did not make Europe a safer place for future generations.
+++ 03:48 Ukrainian General Staff counts 81 Russian attacks +++
The Ukrainian army registers at the front within 24 hours 81 combat operations. According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army, the Russian army carried out two rocket and 72 air strikes, as well as 116 attacks with rocket salvo systems on positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas.
+++ 02:39 Nouripour before Scholz trip: China wants to make Russia a cheap gas station +++
Green Party leader Omid Nouripour calls on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to act confidently before his trip to China. “China only takes its counterpart seriously if you formulate your own interests clearly and stand by your own values,” says Nouripour ntv.de. He assumes that Scholz will also address the tough and controversial topics. Nouripour cites China’s relations with Russia as examples. “It must not be the case that China supports Russia’s defense industry directly or indirectly through North Korea and Iran. This would also affect our security interests,” says Nouripour. The Chinese government is pursuing its own long-term goals with Russia. “Beijing has an interest in Russia becoming a cheap, relatively exclusive gas station for oil and gas.”
+++ 01:38 Ukrainian rescue workers rescue five puppies from the rubble +++
Rescue workers in Ukraine have rescued five puppies from the rubble of a destroyed building. The building burned in the northeastern city of Sumy, near the border with Russia. A post on the rescue service’s Telegram channel states that the “little ones” were not injured. “This rescue story reminds us of the importance of human compassion and the willingness to help anyone, no matter the circumstances,” they add.
+++ 00:37 London and Washington ban Russian aluminum +++
Washington and London have banned metals exchanges from accepting new Russian-made aluminum, copper and nickel and banned imports of the metals into the United States and Britain. The US Treasury Department says the London Metal Exchange and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange will no longer be able to accept new Russian aluminum, copper and nickel. Both the British and US measures would exempt existing holdings of Russian metal on these global exchanges, allowing them to continue to be traded and redeemed to minimize risk to market stability, London said. Russia uses the income from the metals to finance, among other things, the war against Ukraine.
+++ 23:19 Washington: China is a key factor for Russia’s army +++
According to US government circles, Russia is receiving support from China in expanding its defense apparatus. Beijing is the key factor in revitalizing the Russian military, which has otherwise suffered “significant setbacks” since the invasion of Ukraine began, a senior US official tells reporters. “Without the contribution of the People’s Republic of China, Russia would have difficulty sustaining its war effort,” he continued.
+++ 22:17 Johnson calls for more commitment to Ukraine +++
If Russia defeats Ukraine it will be a “turning point in history”, says former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In the Daily Mail he criticizes Western countries for not providing Ukraine with the weapons it needs to defeat Russia. “Every week that we don’t do the obvious – and give Ukrainians the weapons they need – is a week that Putin gets closer to his heinous goal of tormenting a European country to death.”
+++ 21:48 Ukrainian troops receive periods of rest from everyday life at the front +++
Despite the massive pressure from Russian forces on the front lines in Ukraine, the Ukrainian military has found ways to offer its soldiers opportunities to relax. “The planned rotation of the units that have been deployed in the combat areas since the beginning of the all-out invasion continues,” the General Staff in Kiev said on Facebook. Opportunities had been found to alternately withdraw brigades from the fronts and give them a break.
You can read all previous developments here.