Russian forces are intensifying their attacks on Ukraine over the Orthodox Easter weekend. The targeted destruction of the energy infrastructure is increasingly affecting the country despite Western aid, as ntv reporter Jürgen Weichert describes on site:
+++ 09:05 Today Ukraine honors those fighters who “have the hardest time” +++
In Ukraine, infantrymen are honored today on “Infantry Day”. “The infantry is the backbone of an army. In fact, it is the infantry who hold the positions. They are the ones who liberate the cities. They are the ones who have the hardest time,” said the Ukrainian General Staff. In fact, there are many reports from the front of fighters who have dug in under the most difficult conditions and are fending off constant Russian attacks despite the lack of ammunition. The infantrymen often live in the dark under poor hygienic conditions. On the surface it is extremely dangerous due to, among other things, the many swarms of enemy drones, the glide bombs and artillery attacks. Some soldiers have not had a vacation in over two years and have therefore not seen their families for a long time. Army chief Syrsky also remembered his fighters today: “Congratulations on Infantry Day,” he wrote in a video.
+++ 08:22 US troops against Russian aggression? Top Democrat names point at which scenario could occur +++
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in an interview with CBS News: “We can’t let Ukraine fall because if that happens, there’s a strong possibility that the United States will have to enter the conflict – not just with it with our money, but also with our soldiers.” Vladimir Putin wants to rebuild the Soviet Union and will threaten the USA’s NATO allies, says Jeffries. “Are we supposed to believe that given the ongoing aggression in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin will stop if we allow him to succeed in Ukraine? Of course not.” French President Emmanuel Macron had previously spoken again about the use of ground troops if the front collapsed:
+++ 07:43 After the Su-25 aircraft was shot down: Russia is said to still have many of the jets in its inventory +++
Ukrainian President Zelensky recently praised the 110th Mechanized Brigade for shooting down a Russian Su-25 aircraft. If this information is correct, it is a success for Kiev’s troops. However, Russia often still has large reserves of military equipment despite high losses. Ukrainian major Oleksiy Hetman tells the TV channel We-Ukraine that Moscow estimates it still has around 190 Su-25 jets. “This is a pretty good aircraft when it comes to doing damage to our troops,” Hetman said. The Su-25 is designed to support combat operations directly on the line of contact.
Russian Su-25 in the sky.
(Photo: picture alliance/dpa/TASS)
+++ 07:14 China supposedly wants to help end the war +++
China wants to work with France and the rest of the international community to end the war in Ukraine, reports the Kyiv Independent, citing statements by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the French media Le Figaro. Xi Jinping is currently on a visit to France. China officially presents itself as a neutral party in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, but is accused of massively supporting Moscow’s defense industry. In a column for Le Figaro, Xi Jinping claims he wants to work with France on the issue of Russia’s war in Ukraine “to strengthen communication and coordination to maintain peace and stability in the world.” He also writes that he remains committed to “territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit.”
Xi Jinping upon his arrival in Paris on Sunday.
(Photo: picture alliance/Xinhua News Agency)
+++ 06:33 Financial Times: Warning of “aggressive and concerted action” by Russia in Europe +++
European intelligence agencies have reportedly warned their governments that Russia is planning “violent acts of sabotage” across Europe as part of a “more aggressive and concerted action” against the West. The “Financial Times”, citing European intelligence officials, reports that Russia is actively preparing “covert bombings, arson attacks and damage to infrastructure” in Europe and is using its own forces and agents. Many experts have warned in recent years that the West – including Germany – has long been in a hybrid war with Russia:
+++ 05:54 Ukrainian Prime Minister makes surprising statement about weapons from US billion-dollar package +++
Speaking to CBC News, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says he cannot confirm the delivery of U.S. military aid to Ukraine after it was approved last month. Ukraine is still waiting for delivery as soon as possible. “We still cannot confirm that we have them in Ukraine, but we are waiting for these ammunition, for anti-aircraft systems and missiles, for other military equipment, especially long- and medium-range equipment,” said Denys Shmyhal. After the $61 billion package was passed at the end of April, Washington said the first deliveries should be made immediately:
+++ 04:58 Russian attack on village in Kharkiv kills a civilian +++
Russian forces shelled two villages in Kupiansk district of Kharkiv region on May 5, killing one civilian and wounding two others, local governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. The shelling of the village of Monachynivka led to a fire in a house, killing an 88-year-old woman and wounding a 34-year-old man. The woman’s body was found under the rubble after the fire was extinguished, Syniehubov says. A resident of the village of Kivsharivka was also injured in an attack. Details are currently being investigated, the governor said.
+++ 03:30 EU Commission is considering sanctions against Voice of Europe +++
The EU Commission is proposing to include the Voice of Europe news portal in the upcoming 14th round of EU sanctions against Russia, says European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova, European Pravda reports. Jourova says the news portal was used to interfere in the European elections. Earlier this month, the Czech government uncovered a Moscow-funded propaganda network that sought to influence European politics and turn public opinion against support for Ukraine. Prague named Viktor Medvedchuk, a Kremlin-linked former Ukrainian oligarch, and Artem Marchevskyi, a media executive who formerly worked at one of Medvedchuk’s TV channels, as those behind the operation. Their activities ran through the website Voice of Europe, where they promoted pro-Russian narratives and paid pro-Moscow politicians in the run-up to the European Parliament elections.
+++ 02:07 Ukraine: Russian forces attack energy infrastructure in Sumy +++
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on the energy infrastructure of the Sumy region overnight, according to the military administration of the Sumy region. The Ukrainian Air Force reported a drone attack around midnight. Shortly afterwards, local media reported that electricity and running water were out in parts of the region. Within an hour, the Sumy military administration said that Russia had carried out airstrikes on energy facilities and that restoration work was underway.
+++ 00:36 Armaments Forum in Brussels starts +++
More than 350 representatives of the European and Ukrainian defense industry and politicians will meet in Brussels on Monday morning. The aim of the armaments forum is closer cooperation in the Russian war of aggression. Ukraine is hoping for additional deliveries of air defense systems, weapons and ammunition. The EU Commission describes the forum as the first step towards implementing a defense strategy presented in March. In this way, Brussels wants to promote the European arms industry and make the member states more independent of the USA and other international arms suppliers. Ukraine should be closely involved in the plans.
+++ 23:30 Rheinmetall boss promises to deliver “hundreds of thousands” of grenades to Kiev +++
German weapons manufacturer Rheinmetall will deliver “hundreds of thousands” of shells to Ukraine in 2024, including prototype artillery shells with a range of 100 kilometers, says Rheinmetall boss Armin Papperger, Handelsblatt reports. “The artillery is the game changer,” says Papperger at an event organized by the Association of Business Journalists at the Düsseldorf Industrial Club.
+++ 22:17 Army group on the situation near Chassiv Yar: Russia is gathering up to 25,000 soldiers +++
Leading members of the Ukrainian military assume that Russia wants to advance to the strategically important Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine in the coming days. Russia has massed up to 25,000 soldiers in the Chasiv Yar area, Nazar Voloshy, spokesman for the Khortytsia army group fighting in the area, said on television, according to the Ukrinform news agency. He believes that the Russians want to take advantage of the window of opportunity until new Western weapons arrive in Ukraine. The situation on the front has worsened in the last week.
You can read all previous developments here.