Oorlog in Oekra�ne #972 - Iran zonder president

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Russia may launch massive missile strike on Ukraine — Defense Express

Satellite images of Russia's Olenya airfield in Murmansk Oblast suggest preparations for a massive missile strike on Ukraine, military portal Defense Express reported on May 19.

As of May 15, 12 Tu-95MS strategic bombers, 13 Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, one Tu-160, and two An-12 military transport aircraft were spotted at the airfield.

Defense Express highlights that Ukraine needs to monitor the Olenya airbase closely, as it is a key site for Russian Air Forces to launch massive missile strikes against Ukraine.

British and Ukrainian intelligence estimate that Russia still has approximately 40 Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 bombers in its strategic aviation and can use them for large-scale missile strikes on Ukraine.

This means that Russia has gathered a third of its combat-ready bombers of this type at the Olenya airfield at once.

Defense Express reports that deploying a third of the combat-ready Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 fleet at such a remote airfield may indicate that Russia is preparing for new strikes on Ukraine's critical infrastructure and is also trying to protect its most valuable aircraft from potential long-range kamikaze drone attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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India Confirms Participation in G-7 and Ukraine Peace Summits
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India will attend all significant summits promoting global peace, security, and development. He made this statement in reference to invitations to attend the G-7 meeting and the Ukraine Peace Summit that will take place next month.

In an interview, the Prime Minister emphasized India’s role in advocating for the Global South at these summits to influence global discussions and promote a vision for human-centered development in a peaceful and prosperous world.

“The level of participation will be the factor of timing, logistics, and parallel commitments,” Modi stated in response to a question on whether he will be attending the two multilateral meetings.

Coinciding with a major global gathering, the G-7 Summit in Italy June 13-15, Switzerland will host a Peace Summit for Ukraine June 15-16.

Modi views the invitations to both events as a recognition of India’s growing significance and contributions to international affairs.

He linked these invitations to India’s philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family), emphasizing India’s strong commitment to global engagement.

“India will be participating in all important summits that promote the agenda of global peace, security, and development,” according to Modi.

In March 2024, during a phone call with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s interest in strengthening trade and economic relations with India.

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Britain and Finland will become strategic partners in the fight against Russian aggression
Britain and Finland will sign a new strategic partnership agreement on Monday to strengthen ties and counter the "threat of Russian aggression", the British Foreign Secretary said. Source: Voice of America

According to a Foreign Office press release, both countries will declare Russia "the most significant and direct threat to European peace and stability."

The agreement will be approved by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen in London.

“As we stand together in support of Ukraine, including through military assistance and training, we are clear that the threat of Russian aggression once war has begun will not be tolerated,” Cameron said.

“This strategic partnership, based on our shared values, will enable the UK and Finland to intensify cooperation to strengthen European security, as well as seize new opportunities, from science and technology to closer energy ties,” he added.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the countries will work together to counter Russian disinformation, malicious cyber activity and support the recovery, reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine.

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Powerful explosions in Luhansk: Strikes on Russian training base reported

On May 20, a series of explosions were recorded in Luhansk occupied by the Russian army near the village of Yuvileine. The so-called Academy of Internal Affairs was hit, according to Tribune.

According to residents, there were about eight explosions, and only once was the Russian air defense system activated. The Russian occupiers were based on the territory.

HIMARS and missiles strikes
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are constantly striking at Russian military targets in the occupied territory of the Luhansk region.

In particular, after a strike on an oil depot in Luhansk on May 7, the Russians are experiencing serious fuel problems.

In addition, an oil depot in the town of Rovenky was hit on May 10, which resulted in a large fire.

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Explosion in Luhansk: Russian military base reportedly hit

Explosion rocks occupied Luhansk at Eduard Didorenko University, long used by Russian troops as a base
Radio Liberty reported the informtion, citing local Telegram channels and Artem Lysohor, head of the Luhansk regional military administration.

On May 20, an explosion occurred in occupied Luhansk. According to Radio Liberty's Donbas Realities project, the Luhansk State University of Internal Affairs named after Eduard Didorenko was struck. According to the project's sources, Russian troops have been based there for a long time.

Donbas Realities cites reports in local Telegram channels, according to which eyewitnesses saw military and artillery shells being brought into the area of the attack.

The head of the Regional Military Administration also reported a hit on the village of Yuvileine in the Luhansk city community, where the university is located.

"In local chats, Luhansk residents confirm that a military camp has been set up at the site of the hit in the middle of civilian buildings. Until 2014, an academy of internal affairs was operating in the area, which was then chosen by the Russians (as a base - ed.)," he said.

The "LPR" armed group accused the Ukrainian Armed Forces of the attack. The Ukrainian command has not yet commented on the situation.

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The village of Soloviove turned into a “cemetery” of Russian armored vehicles

^{Destroyed Russian BMP-1 near the village of Soloviove in the Donetsk region. May, 2024. Ukraine. Footage from the video of the 47th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine}

The Russian military has already lost more than two dozen armored vehicles with infantry near the village of Soloviove.

In early May, the Russian command set out to break through the Ukrainian military’s defenses near the village of Soloviove in the Donetsk region.

Soloviove is located in the Avdiivka direction, south of Ocheretyne. The settlement came under occupation in late April.

However, the Russian invaders cannot advance further than the village and are exposed to powerful attacks by the Ukrainian military.

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Over 260,000 Ukrainians swiftly update military data via Reserve+ app
As of today, 260,000 Ukrainians have updated their data for draft offices in Reserve+ mobile application, said Dmytro Lazutkin, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on May 20.

Lazutkin highlighted the immediate impact of the app, which was launched just two days ago, on May 18. "If we talk about the Reserve+ app, a service that was launched on May 18 and immediately caused a stir, about 260,000 Ukrainians have updated their data," he stated.

Read also: Not all draft updates lead to summon — General Staff

He noted that the app has been used 80 times more frequently for updating personal information than Administrative Services Centers. However, there is no complete data yet on how many people have visited local draft offices to update their information, as "the process is ongoing."

Lazutkin added that a total of 600,000 individuals eligible for military service, both within Ukraine and abroad, have logged into the app.

Read also: Ukraine tightens penalties on draft dodging as Zelenskyy signs new law

Mobilization bill in Ukraine
A new mobilization bill came into force in Ukraine on May 18. It requires men aged 18-60 to update their military registration data within 60 days - by July 16. The documents of persons liable for military service who have updated their data will have VIN codes (barcodes) pasted into them.

You can update your data in your e-cabinet, in the Reserve+ mobile application, directly in the Administrative Services Centers or draft offices.

This bill also stipulates obligation to carry military registration documents at all times, provides for new rules for serving summonses, reservations, restrictions for evaders, and more.

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U.S. Approves $100 Million Equipment Maintenance Support for Ukraine
The U.S. State Department approves $100 million worth of services for sustainment support of various U.S. systems for Ukraine.

According to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, under Foreign Military Sales, the services will also include related equipment.

The Agency informed Congress of the possibility of implementing this program on May 16, 2024.

“The Government of Ukraine has requested to buy equipment and services for sustainment support of vehicles and weapon systems,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated.

The request was made under the Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement (CLSSA) or the Simplified Non-Standard Acquisition Program (SNAP), as well as other related elements of logistics and program support.

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Russian Tank Convoy Blunders into Ukrainian Minefield

During the offensive, the Russians sent their own tank convoy of six vehicles on the Ukrainian minefield.

The video was released by the Russian side.

The footage shows one of the episodes of the offensive, during which the command launched a tank unit into a minefield, without warning them about the threat.

The author of the video with the call sign “Chelyabinsk,” who seems to have coordinated the work of two tank platoons from the command post, sent a convoy along a well-trodden dirt road through the field towards the Ukrainian positions.

However, the invaders had problems with anti-tank mines and the Ukrainian ATGM crew: the roads were densely mined, according to other military officials.

“Kuzya, the driver is 300 [wounded], the triplex is broken,” the invaders were informing “Chelyabinsk”, while reporting about the consequences of blowing up the tank on a mine. In response to this, the commander only ordered them to drive blindly, using cameras.

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Spain supplies Ukraine with second batch of Leopard tanks and 155-mm ammunition
Margarita Robles, Minister of Defence of Spain, announced the delivery of the second batch of Leopard tanks and other military aid to Ukraine on 20 May.

Source: Robles during the 22nd meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine’s Defence (Ramstein format), as reported by European Pravda

Details: In her speech Robles confirmed Spain’s commitments to "continue to provide the aid Ukraine deserves and needs with utmost urgency" due to the critical situation in the combat zone.

She announced the delivery of the second batch of Leopard tanks to Ukraine which will be conducted at the end of June, as well as of 155-mm artillery ammunition and new batch on anti-aircraft Patriot, anti-drone systems, optical-electronic system etc.

Robles stated that Ukraine would receive a new military aid package within the contribution of the Spanish defence industry.

She added separately that Spain had an intention to sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine in the future.

Background: Back in March the media reported that Madrid was preparing a batch with 19 Leopard 2A4 tanks for Kyiv. Robles did not officially disclose neither the quantity nor the type of tanks Ukraine would receive.

At the previous Ramstein meeting Robles announced the supply of supplementary 155 and 120 mm ammunition to Ukraine, a set of long-range anti-aircraft interception missiles for Patriot air defence systems and other armament.

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Lavrov Roars: Peace Isn’t Their Goal
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s outspoken Foreign Minister, claims that the upcoming major peace conference on Ukraine, set to be held in Switzerland, is not about peace at all.

With dozens of countries set to attend, the conference promises significant diplomatic engagement.

However, China remains unresponsive to the invitation, and Russia was never invited. Countries from South America, Africa, and the Middle East have confirmed their attendance.

“A Waste of Time”
Lavrov didn’t mince words when discussing the conference, labeling it a waste of time.

“We can hardly believe that grown people are engaging in this nonsense. They are wasting their time,” he said, according to the Russian state news agency Tass.

Switzerland, known for its neutrality, has received 50 registrations from individual countries, with about half of them from outside Europe, Swiss President Viola Amherd announced on Wednesday. So far, over 160 delegations have signed up, according to NTB.

“Hostile Steps Against Russia”
Diplomatic sources indicate that the talks in Lucerne will primarily focus on reducing the risks posed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, Lavrov sees a different agenda.

“The goal is not to achieve peace. It is rather to turn as many countries as possible against Russia, ensuring further hostile steps against us. Our partners in the global south understand this,” Lavrov thundered.

He pointed to the presence of American-made, long-range ATACMS missiles in Ukraine as evidence that the West is not interested in serious peace talks.

“They want to settle things on the battlefield. And we are ready for that – always,” Lavrov asserted.

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The announced Marders will be delivered to Ukraine by the end of September

The General Director of the German concern Rheinmetall, Armin Papperger, announced that the delivery of the previously declared 40 Marder 1A3 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine will take place between May and September this year.

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Dutch Government Sends Advanced YPR Armored Vehicles with RCWS to Ukraine

^{The Dutch YPR-765 IFV with a RCWS, which is being prepared for shipment to Ukraine. May 2024. The Netherlands. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands}

The Dutch government prepared for Ukraine a batch of YPR armored vehicles, which were equipped with remote weapon stations.

The Dutch Defense Ministry said that they are transferring this equipment at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

YPR infantry fighting vehicles are equipped with RCWS remote weapon stations.

They allow the crew to control the weapon from inside the vehicle. YPRs will be able to provide battlefield fire support more effectively.

Remotely controlled weapons provide the shooter with additional safety.

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5 years of Zelenskyy's presidency: Pain points Russia pressing on and risks for Ukraine's government

RBC-Ukraine analyzes what Ukraine faces in the sixth year of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's presidency and how Russia will try to spin the situation soon.

When five years ago, on May 20, 2019, Volodymyr Zelenskyy walked into the Verkhovna Rada for his inauguration and high-fived his supporters gathered outside the parliament, he had a different vision of his five years as president. In addition to the current internal Ukrainian turmoil, his term included the COVID-19 pandemic considered the most difficult challenge for 2020 - and then the full-scale Russian invasion, which made all previous problems seem insignificant.

If the Russian invasion had not happened, Ukraine would now be preparing for the inauguration of a new head of state. But because of the great war, Ukraine is now thinking not about elections, inauguration, or reformatting the parliament, but about the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region, problems in the energy sector, and, of course, mobilization.

To these objective difficulties are added the ones that have been pulled out of the air. For several months now, Russia has been trying to swing the theme of Zelenskyy's alleged illegitimacy as President after May 20, the end of his five-year term. The day before, in Beijing, Vladimir Putin made it clear in plain text that from now on, Russia would be pushing the illegitimacy theme even more actively.

Ukraine's military and political leadership had long warned that the end of May and June would be difficult for Ukraine, even by its usual standards. The pressure on the frontline and strikes in the energy sector are compounded by the unpopular topic of mobilization through social media and the infection of Ukrainians with the illegitimacy thought virus.

Obviously, according to Russian calculations, all of this together should lead to an explosion of discontent in Ukraine, a change or at least a weakening of the government, and, as a result, defeat at the front.

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Tusk: Poland signs contract with European Investment Bank to join Sky Shield Initiative
The Polish government signed a contract with the European Investment Bank (EIB) worth 300 million euros (around $326 million) to construct its part of the pan-European air defense, according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Tusk said in April that Poland is interested in joining the European Sky Shield Initiative, which currently includes 21 countries. The initiative aims to create an Iron Dome-style air defense system covering several European NATO member states.

On May 20, Tusk announced that "in a few days," he and other European prime ministers would present the project of building an Iron Dome over Europe, adding that "the idea of pan-European air defense" is not a dream, but "a practical plan."

The loan from the EIB will cover the development of the satellite and reconnaissance systems, an essential part of the project, according to the Polish prime minister.

"We will take advantage of these European opportunities because (...) Europe's security depends largely on Poland's security," Tusk said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was the first to propose Iron Dome construction over Europe in August 2022.

The proposal was made amid intensified Russian attacks against Ukraine and increased concerns about European limited capabilities of air defense.

In December 2022, Scholz expressed hope that the initiative would be developed in the next five years.

The European Sky Shield Initiative is expected to use medium-range IRIS-T, long-range Patriot, and exoatmospheric Arrow 3 anti-ballistic systems.

Iron Dome is an air defense system initially designed by Israel. The system can operate under adverse weather conditions and respond to multiple threats simultaneously.

It can also intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells launched from 4 to 70 kilometers (nearly 3 to 44 miles) away.

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Op maandag 20 mei 2024 23:41 schreef oheng het volgende:
RIA: The government has suspended the ban on gasoline exports untill june 30.
Maar de prijzen zijn gestegen.

Nog meer vreemd economisch nieuws:
RIA: The Bank of Russia launched a campaign to exchange small change for paper money

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The Libyan House of Fatwas declared jihad against the Russian Afrika Korps
The Libyan House of Fatwa issued a fatwa declaring jihad against Russian forces, particularly the Afrika Korps, calling it a religious obligation of the Libyan people, especially the revolutionary brigades. Source: Libya Observer

In a statement, the Shariah and House of Fatwa Research Council expressed concern about Russian intervention in Libya, noting the arrival of Russian military forces and weapons in preparation for the deployment of the so-called "Africa Korps" in Libya and neighboring countries.

The council said Russia's armed presence on Libyan territory constituted an occupation and "an invasion by an aggressive infidel state."

He called on everyone with resources, weapons or authority to support the revolutionary brigades in driving out the occupiers and those who support them. However, he noted that defensive jihad against Russian forces should not lead to the replacement of one occupier with another.

The statement also underlines the position of Western countries, including the United States, regarding the Russian presence and its cooperation with the Libyans in the resistance, considering it deceptive and unreliable.

Many Russian weapons and mercenaries arriving in Libya do not stay put, but are used in Russian Afrika Korps operations in the Sahel and Sudan. The activities of the Afrika Korps are limited to supporting junta regimes in exchange for contracts for the extraction of gold and minerals. The Russian approach does not provide long-term solutions to conflicts in Africa or development assistance, making it less attractive to legitimate African leaders than support from the US and EU.

However, despite the growing Russian military presence in Tobruk, without a large navy and air defense presence, it does not pose a direct threat to NATO - for now.

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Poland arrests nine suspects over alleged Russian sabotage plot
Prime minister Donald Tusk says detained are accused of ‘beatings, arson and attempted arson’

Poland has arrested nine members of an alleged Russian spy ring in connection with alleged sabotage plots, prime minister Donald Tusk said on Monday.

“We currently have nine suspects detained and indicted, who have been directly implicated in the name of Russian (intelligence) services in acts of sabotage in Poland,” Tusk told private broadcaster TVN24.

“These are Ukrainian, Belarusian and Polish citizens,” Tusk said, suggesting some may have been recruited from criminal circles.

Those detained are accused of “beatings, arson and attempted arson,” according to Tusk, who said the Russian plots concern not just Poland, but also Lithuania, Latvia and possibly Sweden.

An international investigation is under way, he said.

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Lithuanian border guard to be given heavy weaponry
Lithuanian border guards are to be equipped with heavy weaponry, the country’s interior minister announced on Monday.

Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defense will contribute to equipping the border guard, interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė said as she accompanied the prime minister, Ingrida �imonytė, on a tour of the country’s border posts on Monday.

The interior minister declined to specify what sort of weapons the border guard would receive, but said the move came in response to the war in Ukraine.

The head of the State Border Guard Service explained, however, that they would be primarily anti-personnel weapons.

“The weaponry we plan to acquire in the first phase will not require special training,” Rustamas Liubajevas said. “It will be intended for use against soldiers.” He added that it would also be suitable for use against certain technical equipment.

Prime Minister �imonytė said in a statement issued by her chancellery that the “inflow of illegal migration across the Lithuanian-Belarusian border and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine show that all the means we use to protect the state borders have to be constantly updated and strengthened.”

The prime minister went on to point out that border guards are the first people in any country to “greet those who are not expected.”

Lithuania shares a 650-km border with Belarus.

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Medvedev says Zelensky is 'legitimate military target'
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, told the state-run TASS media outlet on May 20 that President Volodymyr Zelensky is a "legitimate military target."

Medvedev, who previously served as Russia's president from 2008 to 2012, has regularly used bellicose language in an attempt to intimidate the West and Ukraine.

In February, Medvedev threatened that Russia would use nuclear weapons against the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and Ukraine if Moscow lost control of all of the territory of Ukraine it currently occupies.

"(Zelensky) already heads a political regime hostile to Russia, which is waging war on us," Medvedev said.

"And the leaders of countries waging war are always considered a legitimate military target."

Medvedev had previously portrayed himself as a liberal but has become one of Russia's most aggressive pro-war hawks since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. He has increasingly played the role formerly filled by the late politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky, famous for his flamboyant and aggressive rhetoric.

Zelensky reportedly avoided several assassination attempts at the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) also said earlier in May 2024 that it had uncovered a network of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) agents who were planning to assassinate Zelensky and other high-ranking officials in Ukraine.

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Russian war veteran attacked by neighbor over prosthetic leg noise, hospitalized

A Russian war veteran, celebrated by some as a hero for his role in defending against perceived threats from "NATO," "Banderites" (a derogatory term for Ukrainians), and alleged "biolaboratories," was hospitalized after a confrontation with a neighbor in Vladivostok.

The dispute, which stemmed from noise made by his prosthetic leg, ended in violence.

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When A 70-Year-Old Russian BTR-50 Attacks Ukrainian Troops, It’s Bad News For The Whole Russian War Effort
BTR-50s are only slightly better than the golf carts some Russian troops ride in

The thinly-protected, 1950s-vintage BTR-50 might not be the worst vehicle the Russian army has sent in a direct assault on Ukrainian positions, but it’s probably the oldest.

And while it’s safer for Russian troops to ride in a 70-year-old BTR-50 with its 10-millimeter-thick armor than to ride in, say, a brand-new Chinese golf cart, it’s still an ominous sign for Russia that more BTR-50s are appearing on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine as Russia’s wider war on Ukraine grinds toward its 28th month.

“Without mechanized units fully equipped with proper combat vehicles like tanks, achieving swift and decisive penetration of defenses will be very challenging,” Ukrainian analysis group Frontelligence Insight explained. “This limitation is likely to result in slower and more limited advances, hampering the overall progress of Russian forces.”

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Ukrainian Teenager Critically Injured After Stabbing Attack in Germany
A 15-year-old Ukrainian refugee was critically injured in a stabbing attack in Dortmund, Germany, on the evening of May 19th. The boy was walking with friends in the Nordstadt district when they encountered another group.

According to German newspaper Bild, an interaction with two girls sparked a confrontation between the teenagers. The situation escalated when a young man from the opposing group pulled out a knife and stabbed the Ukrainian boy’s neck before inflicting a further stab wound to his upper body.

The teenagers managed to escape the scene. The victim walked for a kilometer before collapsing, with paramedics arriving to find him in a critical condition. Emergency medical personnel fought for his life on the street before transporting him to a local hospital. Fortunately, authorities report his condition has since stabilized.

German police are currently investigating the incident as attempted manslaughter. The attacker remains at large, and a search is underway.

In April, a Russian national was accused of murdering Ukrainian soldiers undergoing rehabilitation in the country. Earlier this year, an attack in D�sseldorf resulted in the deaths of two young Ukrainian men, basketball player Volodymyr Yermakov and his friend Artem Kozachenko. In September 2023, in the German city of Einbeck, a man attacked children from Ukraine because they were speaking Ukrainian.

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Germany’s initiative to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense has raised almost a billion euros
The German initiative to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense has raised almost a billion euros.

The German Foreign Ministry announced this on the occasion of the visit of the head of the department, Annalena Baerbock, to Kyiv on Tuesday, May 21.

The German Foreign Ministry noted that the purpose of the Minister’s visit was to assure the Ukrainian side that, despite the deteriorating situation in the combat zone, Germany and Europe would continue to stand firmly on the side of Ukraine and would not stop supporting it.

“The global initiative to strengthen air defense, which the Foreign Minister recently launched together with Defense Minister Pistorius, should also be considered in this context,” the German Foreign Ministry stated.

The Ministry said that almost a billion euros have already been raised to provide additional assistance to Ukraine’s air defense.

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Russia's Cutting-Edge Icebreaker Faces Delay After Ukraine Factory Bombed
Russia has boasted it will have the world's most powerful icebreaker vessel by the end of the decade but the project has been hit by delays exacerbated by Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it has been reported.

Russia's first deputy prime minister, Denis Manturov, said that the "one of a kind" vessel Rossiya, intended for year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route, one of several routes in the Arctic, would be built by "approximately by 2030," Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported Monday.

But this is three years later than the original deadline of December 2027 as the vessel's construction faces cost overruns and delays that follow damage to a Ukrainian site, which was supposed to supply some of the components.

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Russian oil tankers stand idle for months due to sanctions
Dozens of Russian oil tankers have been idle for three to six months. US sanctions against Russian oil have been effective.

On the sanction list, Russia’s Sovcomflot owns 21 of the 40 ships under sanctions, while a UAE company controls the remaining vessels. SCF Primorye is the only one removed from the sanctions list.

Since October last year, dozens of vessels carrying Russian oil have remained under sanctions for violating the price cap. Many of them have been inactive for 3 to 6 months, Bloomberg reported.

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Tucker Carlson became an anchor on Russian television

It has become known that the scandalously famous American journalist Tucker Carlson has started hosting his show on Russian television.

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has suddenly started hosting his own program on Russia 24. The name is banal – TUCKER.

This first episode of the program talked about ticks and Lyme disease.

Journalist Carlson during the broadcast communicates with an expert on the spread of the disease.

Video of the broadcast. The host of the program Tucker Carlson. TV channel Russia 24.

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Moldova, EU sign pact on security, defense
Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean and the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, signed a Security and Defense Partnership on May 21, Borrell said on X.

Moldova became the first country to sign such a document with the EU, which is designed to "enhance the country's resilience."

Chisinau has moved closer to Europe amid worries that the Kremlin is attempting to carry out a destabilization campaign in the country.

Russo-Moldovan relations have soured since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with fears that Russia's aggression may spill over via Transnistria, a Moldovan territory where Russian troops have been stationed since the early 1990s.

"It (partnership) will allow to jointly address common security challenges, make our engagement more effective, and explore new areas of cooperation," Borrell said.

The partnership will function as an umbrella mechanism for all interactions between Moldova and the EU, including the spheres of cybersecurity, countering disinformation, and defense, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry said.

The document does not have the status of an international treaty and is based on political commitments.

Moldova and France signed a bilateral defense deal in March, days after Moldova's intelligence agency warned that Russia would seek to destabilize the country as it prepares for a presidential election and a referendum on EU membership.

President Maia Sandu will run for re-election in October. Sandu has put the country on a decisively pro-EU course, helping to secure Chisinau's membership candidacy and accession talks.

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Russia has tightened restrictions on travel abroad for those with access to state secrets
Persons with access to state secrets in the Russian Federation are now required to notify the FSB and the SVR of their intention to travel abroad no later than a month before departure, according to Vladimir Putin’s decree. Source: portal of legal information of the Russian Federation

Read also: In Russia they are going to deprive access to state secrets for dual citizenship

The decree applies to senators, State Duma deputies, judges, deputies of legislative bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation, heads of municipalities and lawyers who have access to top secret information or information of special importance.

According to the bill, an employee who violates the conditions for traveling abroad may be deprived of access to state secrets. For those who have access to top secret information or information of special importance, a violation threatens liability up to and including criminal liability.

Let us recall that due to fears that foreign states may try to gain access to state secrets during the most intense crisis in relations with the West in the last sixty years, the Russian Federation is tightening the rules for traveling abroad for its officials.

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Russia Fails in Rival UN Bid on Nuclear, Other Weapons in Space
A Russian-drafted UN Security Council resolution that called on all countries to prevent “for all time” the placement, threat or use of any weapons in space failed on Monday, May 20.

A Russian-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution that called on all countries to prevent “for all time” the placement, threat or use of any weapons in outer space failed on Monday (20 May) with the 15-member body split over the move.

The draft failed to get the minimum nine votes needed: seven members voted in favor and seven against, while one abstained. A veto can only be cast by the United States, Russia, China, Britain or France if a draft gets at least nine votes.

Russia put forward the text after it vetoed a US-drafted resolution last month that called on countries to prevent an arms race in outer space. The Russian veto prompted the United States to question whether Moscow was hiding something.

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Russia jails hypersonic missile scientist for 14 years for treason
Anatoly Maslov is among a string of prominent Russian scientists to have been charged with treason in recent years.

Russian physicist Anatoly Maslov has been convicted of treason, according to the press service for courts in the city of Saint Petersburg.

On Tuesday, he was sentenced to 14 years in a penal colony. Maslov, 77, who protests his innocence, is among a string of eminent Russian scientists to have been charged with treason in recent years.

He and a number of the others had conducted theoretical work in areas relevant to the development of hypersonic missiles – cutting-edge weapons capable of carrying payloads at up to 10 times the speed of sound to punch through air-defence systems.

Maslov was accused of sharing top-secret data related to Russia’s hypersonic missile programme with Germany.

Alexander Shiplyuk and Valery Zvegintsev, two other scientists from the same Siberian institute, all specialists in hypersonics, who have also been arrested since 2022 on treason charges, are awaiting trial.

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‘Code 9.2’: The secretive Ukrainian drone unit tasked with dropping mines into Russia
Near the Russian border, Kharkiv region, Ukraine
CNN — Dusk brings an urgent race to hide before dark.

The “Code 9.2” drone unit, from the 92nd assault brigade, are moving into a new launch position from where they are about to conduct a rare and potent mission: flying drones into Russia and dropping mines onto key roads inside enemy territory.

Twilight provides a moment of opportunity to set up new equipment and unload their Humvee before dark makes these complex tasks impossible. They can only hope the grey, fading light shields them from the endless stream of Russian drones that fly overhead, looking for something to strike.

A Starlink dish, a longer range drone antenna, dozens of battery packs, and two huge “Vampire” quadcopters are dumped into trenches and bunkers, set up, and in use within 30 minutes. It is only when the dark has set in that their work can begin.

And immediately the threat is apparent. Before operators Andrey and Artem can leave the bunker to begin work, a noise sends them rushing back in for cover.

“Sssshhh,” Andrey hisses. “Orlan.” The only way to protect yourself from being seen by an Orlan – a spotter drone that can also have thermal cameras enabling it to see in the dark – is to hide. And to silently listen for it to pass. “They will be flying all night,” he says.

The horizon is peppered with flashes – distant explosions. Across its center twinkles the Russian city of Belgorod, now repeatedly hit by Ukrainian strikes. Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed his week-old offensive into Kharkiv region in Ukraine is partially aimed at creating a buffer zone along the border to protect a population whose safety was never in doubt when he launched his invasion in February 2022.

The bunker is quickly turned into an operations hub, the team finding it hard to adjust to the silent open fields of their new home, after months of fierce battles around Bakhmut.

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Ukraine Vows to Take Responsibility For Any Russian Missiles Intercepted By NATO
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an exclusive interview with Reuters in Kyiv on May 20, expressed frustration over the prolonged decision-making process of Western allies regarding military support for Ukraine.

The President emphasized the urgent need for increased direct involvement from partners in the war, particularly in intercepting Russian missiles over Ukrainian airspace and permitting the use of Western weaponry deeper in the Russian territory. He stressed the necessity to expedite aid and redefine “red lines” of engagement in the war.

Describing the current battlefield situation as “one of the most difficult” since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Zelenskyy highlighted recent incursions by Moscow’s troops into northeastern Ukraine, which have further strained Kyiv’s defenses.

“A very powerful wave (of fighting) is going on in Donbas… No-one even notices that there are actually more battles in the east of the country, specifically in the Donbas direction: Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, Chasiv Yar,” the President emphasized.

However, he stated that the situation north of Kharkiv was now “under control.”

Zelenskyy suggested that the armed forces of neighboring NATO countries could aid Ukraine by intercepting incoming Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory, bolstering Kyiv’s defense capabilities in the face of overwhelming odds.

“I immediately relayed the signal to Poland, other countries, and the United States; I personally informed the leaders of these countries. We are ready to sign all documents stating that if a Russian missile is shot down over Ukrainian territory, they will not be held responsible if it falls or explodes.”

With Russia deploying around 300 planes within Ukrainian borders, Zelenskyy underscored the urgent need for additional aircraft to effectively defend Ukrainian airspace, highlighting Ukraine’s anticipation of the delivery of F-16 fighter jets.

“But it is what it is: one big step forward, but before that two steps back. So we need to change the paradigm a little bit,” the President Zelenskyy concluded.

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90% of the electronics imported by the Russian Federation come from China. This gives it the opportunity to produce tanks and ammunition at a record pace, - Blinken
China provides enormous support to the defense and industrial base of the Russian Federation in the form of supplies of microelectronics. This gives Russia the opportunity to quickly produce weapons that are then used in the war against Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stated this during hearings in the Senate of the US Congress, writes Ukrinform, Censor.NET reports .

According to Blinken, there has been no record of China transferring weapons to Russia, as Iran and North Korea do . However, the PRC supplies the Kremlin with dual-purpose goods, including microelectronics.

Blinken noted that 70% of all machines imported by Russia come from China. In addition, according to him, 90% of microelectronics also comes to Russia from China.

The head of the US State Department noted that the Russian Federation will direct Chinese dual-purpose goods to the development of its military industry.

"A lot of that goes into building up the defense industrial base, and as a result we see Russia producing tanks, artillery ammunition at a record pace," Blinken said.

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Update from Ukraine | Ruzzian ship was Hit - Ukraine Military | Ruzzian General detained

21 May: GAME CHANGER! Russian Tank Assault DEMOLISHED WITH ARTILLERY BARRAGE | War in Ukraine

Vladimir Solovyov falls for a joke about Eli Copter

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To give some context.

After the discovery of the crashed Iranian helicopter, several meme were created with about Eli Copter (or Eli Koptar) being a Mossad agent who piloted the Iranian president helicopter and crashed it in the mountain. This meme was relayed by an "official" Hamas telegram channel (not understanding the pun). The Hamas post was than read on air by a French commentator for a 24/7 news channel (the pun also work in French, and we can hear the announcer reacting in the background when the name is read and the clip is cut short).

Finally, our good old rusky clown took the French clip as fact and went on a tirade about how Iranian president was assassinated.

Funny how a simple word pun can show how stupid Russian propaganda really is, basing their fascist theory and basically anything but facts.

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Russian banks began to close branches en masse after a collapse in profits
Falling profits are forcing Russian banks to reduce the network of their branches in the country. In total, 101 offices were closed in April , Maxim Osadchiy, head of the analytical department of the BKF, told RIA Novosti, citing data from the Central Bank. According to him, by May 1, the number of branches dropped to 24,347, mainly due to Sberbank, which liquidated 49 branches at once.

The Tomsk region suffered the most, losing 12 bank offices. Next come Tatarstan (-10) and St. Petersburg (-9). However, if we take the first four months of this year, the undisputed leader in the anti-rating was the Stavropol Territory, where 64 bank branches were closed. In total, credit institutions liquidated 171 offices during this period.

It is noteworthy that for the entire 2023, only one bank branch was opened in Russia. However, such structures were actively created in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Thus, Promsvyazbank, TsMRBank, IS Bank and RostFinance opened 296 of their branches there, Osadchiy said. In total, as of May 1, 503 bank branches operate in these regions.

Profits of 20 Russian banks from the top 50 fell sharply in the first quarter of 2024. In particular, for Pochta Bank it fell by 31.2 times (to 190 million rubles), Zenit Bank - by 7.5 times (to 174 million), HKF Bank - by 5.5 times (to 815 million). The profit of Alfa Bank decreased by more than three times, to 8.5 billion rubles, VTB and Sovcombank - by 2.8 times, to 35.2 billion and 11.4 billion rubles. respectively.

Credit institutions explained the drop in business margins by sanctions, rising rates and payments of excess profit tax, also known as the “war tax.”

The profitability of the banking business in Russia is falling: over the last year, banks increased assets by 20%, and the overall growth in quarterly profit was only 2% (the figure increased to 899 billion rubles), noted the director of the group of rating financial institutions of the NKR, Yegor Lopatin.

Despite this, it is the growth of assets of credit institutions that “will become one of the key drivers of banks’ profits,” however, the figure may be lower than in 2023 and amount to 3.1 trillion versus 3.3 trillion rubles, the NKR predicted.

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Russia is using rare 130 mm artillery against Ukraine
Images have appeared online showing that the Russian invaders in Ukraine have begun using the relatively rare Soviet 130-millimeter artillery piece M-46 in battles against the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is quite an interesting development, because Russia has settled into the 152.4 mm standard a long time ago.

The M-46 artillery gun was developed in 1946-1950. It started service with the Soviet forces around 1951 and was produced until 1971. At its time, the M-46 was one of the longest-range artillery weapons in the world, with even a standard round flying for about 27 km. Even today most howitzers cannot match that range. For comparison, the British M777 155mm howitzer used by the US, Ukraine, Australia and several other countries has a range of 23.5 km with standard ammunition.

But now the M-46 is an old weapon. The caliber of the M-46 is 130 millimeters, which is not the standard of the Russian ground forces. Russia now officially relies on its 152.4 mm guns, for which ammunition is continuously produced at a mass scale.

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Swedish commander: Putin aims to control Baltic Sea, has his eye on Gotland Island
Russian President Vladimir Putin may be seeking dominance over the Baltic Sea and has his eye on the Swedish island of Gotland, Micael Byden, the supreme commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, said in an interview with the German media network RND published on May 22.

A day earlier, Russia unveiled its plans to unilaterally change the maritime border with Lithuania and Finland in the Baltic Sea. Moscow intends to appropriate inland sea waters in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland and near the cities of Baltiysk and Zelenogradsk in Kaliningrad Oblast, according to a decree prepared by the Russian Defense Ministry.

"I am confident that Putin even has both eyes on Gotland. Putin's goal is to gain control of the Baltic Sea," Byden said.

"Who controls Gotland controls the Baltic Sea."

Gotland, Sweden's largest island, is located about 330 kilometers (around 200 miles) north of the Russian exclave Kaliningrad, the headquarters of Russia's Baltic Fleet, and is strategically important for the defense of the Baltic Sea region.

If Russia seizes control of the island, it could threaten NATO countries from the sea, according to Byden.

"This would signify the end of peace and stability in the Nordic and Baltic regions," the Swedish military chief says. "The Baltic Sea should not turn into Putin's playground where he intimidates NATO members."

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sweden has reinforced Gotland with permanent troops and additional forces that can be deployed temporarily if the risk level escalates.

Sweden officially joined NATO on March 7, almost two years after it applied to join the alliance in a direct response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and in a reversal of 200 years of formal military neutrality.

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Eagles flying to nesting locations in Ukraine modify their routes to avoid areas where hostilities take place. The birds deviate up to 250 kilometres from the usual route, which may have a negative impact on their reproductive rates.

According to The Guardian, a group of UK scientists arrived at these conclusions in a study published in the scientific journal Current Biology.

Using GPS data, the scientists examined the journeys of 19 greater spotted eagles flying through Ukraine to the south of Belarus in March and April 2022. The resulting routes were compared to those recorded earlier – from 2018 to 2021.

Scientists discovered that after the commencement of the full-scale war, the birds travelled an average of 85 kilometres more than usual. One eagle diverted from the path by 250 kilometres.

Because of this tendency, travel duration has climbed to an average of 55 hours. Furthermore, male birds' flight speeds (they fly from East Africa) were slower than before the outbreak of the full-scale war.

Previously, 90% of eagles made stops in Ukraine, but by 2022, only 32% did. As a result, the birds likely used more energy to reach their nesting places.

"It’s kind of like if you were to run a marathon but you had no water breaks. And at the end, someone asks you to run an extra seven or eight miles," explained study co-author Charlie Russell.

According to scientists, the greatest deviations from the direct route happened in areas with higher hostilities. However, not all birds behaved the same.

For example, despite the fierce combat, an eagle named Borovets continued to fly across Kyiv. However, eagle Denisa altered its course and flew within a kilometre of explosions and fights on the outskirts of the capital.

Deviations from the regular paths may cause delays in reproduction since eagles will most likely need additional time to recover. It can also have an impact on their offspring's chances of survival, as prey may become less accessible when the chicks hatch.

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Drone operators of the 3rd Assault Brigade destroyed the enemy Tyulpan ACS in the Kharkiv region

The operators of the unmanned systems battalion and the Lumiere group unit of the 3rd Assault Brigade destroyed an enemy 2S4 Tyulpan 240mm self-propelled mortar in the Kharkiv region.

The Battalion’s press service reported on this.

The enemy self-propelled mortar was detected by a reconnaissance drone, after which it was hit by an attack drone.

After further reconnaissance, the operators performed control hits and re-attacked the Tyulpan with FPV.

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Sanctioned Russian oligarch threatens legal action over Luxembourg’s �14.3 billion assets freeze

Russian billionaire and Alfa Group co-founder Mikhail Fridman is challenging the Luxembourg government’s freeze on �14.3 billion of his assets and plans to take his case to international arbitration, Russian state-affiliated business daily Vedomosti reported on Tuesday.

Two sources told Vedmosti that the Russian billionaire, whose net worth is estimated to exceed �12 billion, intends to initiate legal action after the authorities in Luxembourg failed to respond to requests to unfreeze Fridman’s assets submitted by his representatives in February.

According to Vedomosti, Fridman considers his assets, which were frozen following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, to have been “expropriated” and is demanding compensation from the grand duchy.

The Luxembourg authorities have six months to respond to his claim, after which Fridman will be entitled to take his claim to the UN Commission on International Trade Law or the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, an institution for international arbitration.

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Russia Removes Controversial Baltic Sea Border Change Proposal from Government Website
A draft bill proposed by the Russian Ministry of Defense, that called for a unilateral change to Russia’s borders with Finland, Estonia, and Lithuania in the Baltic Sea, has been removed from the Russian government’s website.

However, an archived copy of the bill’s description, as proposed by the Defense Ministry, is still available on the archive.is website.

Earlier, The Moscow Times reported that the text of the bill, which they reviewed on May 21, proposed changes to the borders near Baltiysk, Zelenogradsk, and the eastern Gulf of Finland. These changes would have allowed Russia to claim the corresponding waters as its internal seas.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the proposal by the Ministry of Defense to change Russia’s Baltic Sea border is not politically motivated.

“There’s nothing political here, although the political situation has changed significantly since then. You see how tensions are escalating, what a level of confrontation, especially in the Baltic region. Of course, this requires our relevant departments to take appropriate steps to ensure our security,” Peskov said, according to Russian media.

Peskov suggested journalists seek comment directly from the Defense Ministry.

In response to the bill, Lithuania called the move a provocation after the news broke, and the Finnish Foreign Ministry stated that it expects Russia to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which governs changes to territorial waters.

Additionally, Sweden is securing the island with permanently stationed units and temporarily bringing additional forces there if the danger situation increases.

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In Occupied Areas, Russia Pushes Ukrainian Youth To Sign Contracts To Fight Ukraine

^{Russian soldiers stand near a mobile recruiting center with a board containing information about payments in Rostov-on-Don, Russia.}

Residents of Ukraine's largely Russian-occupied Luhansk region report an intense effort by Russian officers to recruit male students at universities and institutes for contract service in the Russian armed forces.

"They say that if I sign a contract and don't get mobilized, I'll have better chances of surviving" Russia's war against Ukraine, said a 20-year-old Luhansk student who gave his name as Anton.

With no end in sight to a war in which more than 315,000 Russian men have been killed or wounded since the full-scale invasion of February 2022, by U.S. estimates, Russian President Vladimir Putin's government seems intent on maintaining or boosting troops numbers.

Eager to avoid a repeat of a 2022 mobilization that prompted hundreds of thousands of people to leave Russia, it's looking to contract soldiers to fill the ranks and help increase the size of the armed forces to 1.32 million in 2024. In December 2023, then-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu set a "top priority" target of 745,000 contract personnel by the end of 2024, state news agency TASS reported.

Russian recruitment and conscription efforts are not limited to Russian territory. While it is illegal under international law, the military is also targeting men in the five Ukrainian regions Moscow baselessly claims as its own: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, Kherson, and Crimea.

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Ukrainian Navy Conducts Training with Finnish-Donated Uisko-Class Boats

^{Uisko-class landing craft donated by Finland. Photo credits: Ukrainian Navy}

Uisko-class landing craft donated by Finland were used by the Ukrainian Navy during the training.

The relevant photos were published on the official page of the Ukrainian Navy on X.

The boats were used by Ukrainian marines in landing exercises on unprepared coastlines.

The exercises were aimed at preparing units for the amphibious assault.

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Ukraine's budget received about EUR 50B thanks to Solidarity Lanes - European Commission
The EU's Solidarity Corridors have helped export Ukrainian goods to the European and global markets for two years and generated about EUR 50 billion in income for Ukraine's economy.
Transport Commissioner Adina Valean said this on the second anniversary of the creation of Solidarity Lanes -- alternative logistics routes via rail, road and inland waterways, Ukrinform reports.

"Two years ago Solidarity Lanes reshaped the logistic routes across Eastern Europe to keep Ukraine and Moldova's economies functioning and to prevent a global food crisis. Until today, they have generated about EUR 50 billion in income for Ukraine's economy. At the same time, they are strengthening Ukraine's economic ties with the EU, with imports worth around EUR 107 billion to date," Valean said.

According to the European Commission, to date, Solidarity Lanes have helped Ukraine export more than 136 million tonnes of goods, such as grain, ores and steel, and import more than 52 million tonnes of essential merchandises, including fuel, vehicles, fertilizers as well as military and humanitarian assistance.

Initially established to bypass Russia's Black Sea blockade of Ukraine's grain exports, today the Solidarity Lanes cover trade across all sectors. They allow Ukraine and Moldova to export all types of goods to world markets while also ensuring crucial imports reach Ukraine

On May 22, 2022, the European Commission, in collaboration with Ukraine and Moldova, created the Solidarity Lanes to help improve the EU–Ukraine–Moldova transport routes in response to Russia's illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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Why is the steering wheel Chinese?! Russian PM jabs domestic carmaker over foreign parts.
Mikhail Mishustin wasn’t impressed during a business expo tour.

So much for Moscow’s “no-limits” partnership with Beijing.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin isn't impressed with the use of Chinese car parts in Russian-made vehicles.

While viewing new models of Volga cars at a business expo in Nizhny Novgorod, Mishustin asked, “Friends, I understand everything but where was this steering wheel made? [Is it] Chinese?”

“We want it to be Russian,” he added, as seen in a video posted on the Russian government’s Telegram channel.

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Zelenskyy to visit France, urging NATO to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine – Politico
The Ukrainian president will seek more support from the West, the publication notes

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit France in June, where he will urge NATO countries to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, Politico reported, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the Ukrainian leader's intentions.

According to the sources, Zelenskyy may visit France as early as next month. According to them, the Ukrainian leader is expected to participate in events commemorating the anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy.

This trip will allow Zelenskyy to meet with world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, to promote his country's interests, journalists say.

The sources told the publication that Zelenskyy's plans could change. However, if all goes according to plan, the president will seek more support from the West and urge NATO to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, similar to how the US and Britain responded to Iran's attack on Israel.

The publication notes that Zelenskyy will also demand that the United States and European countries seize Russian assets to help finance "Ukraine's defense and eventual reconstruction.

Politico also reports that Zelenskyy plans to visit Italy for the G7 summit, which will be held June 13-15.

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Parliament votes to set up temporary commission for fortifications
UKRAINE, May 22 — Ukrainian parliament, Verkhovna Rada, voted to establish a temporary special commission to research the construction of fortifications and engineering barriers on the frontline, and allocation of funds for fortifications.

MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said the Verkhovna Rada voted for corresponding draft law No. 11282 in the first reading. This commission will work for a year and must submit a report to the parliament within six months.

A conversation about lacking fortifications along the frontline in Ukrainian society started after the Armed Forces withdrew from Avdiivka on February 17, and reports about soldiers having to dig trenches under Russian fire started to come in. With the beginning of the Russian new ground offensive on May 10, the Kharkiv Oblast government was criticized for insufficient fortifications near the state border.

On May 3, the Ministry of Defense announced that the construction of the fortification is “nearing completion” in five directions, including in Kharkiv Oblast. Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said that fortifications were constructed in Vovchansk, Kupiansk, and Luhansk directions, noting that the construction work continues.

The head of the Vovchansk military administration, Tamaz Hambarashvili, said that the fortifications had been built before the current offensive, but perhaps “not so tightly” because of Vovchansk’s proximity [~3 miles — ed.] to the state’s border.

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FT: EU countries push for visa-free travel suspension, other sanctions against Georgia over 'foreign agents ' law
Estonia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Sweden are among several EU countries pushing for sanctions against Georgia in response to its government's passing of the controversial "foreign agents" law, the Financial Times (FT) reported on May 22, citing official sources.

Concerns about Georgia's democracy have reached a fever pitch after the ruling Georgian Dream party passed the foreign agents law, which requires organizations that receive foreign funding to be labeled as "foreign agents" and mirrors repressive Russian legislation used to crack down on Kremlin regime critics.

The country has been rocked by protests which grew out of opposition to the controversial law, and have now begun to morph into a larger sign of discontent against the government and the direction the country is heading.

According to the FT, sanctions could include the suspension of visa-free travel to the EU. The issue will reportedly be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers next week.

Another option on the table is the freezing of EU funds, officials familiar with the matter told the newspaper.

Even before the law was revived after a failed attempt to pass it in 2023, EU and U.S. officials warned that Georgia's democratic institutions were weakening and that the country was under the control of the oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who only holds the title of honorary chairman of Georgian Dream.

Georgia received EU candidate status in December 2023, but a report by the EU's Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) the following month said that the country had made limited progress in its required reforms and was at risk of drifting toward Russia.

The U.S. is considering a package of military, trade, and visa liberalization incentives for Georgia if it reverses the trend of democratic backsliding and abandons the controversial law, Politico reported on May 20, citing a draft bill to be introduced in Congress in the coming days.

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Romanian President outlines condition of sending Ukraine Patriot system
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis stated that supplying a Patriot system to Ukraine must be approved by the Supreme Council of National Defense, and must not compromise Romania's air defense.

He emphasized that this issue will not be discussed in public, but instead privately with military experts and the Supreme Council, Romanian news channel Digi24 reported on May 22.

Iohannis said that supplying a Patriot system comes with numerous logistical and legal complexities.

"Even if Romania finally makes some concessions, it must receive something in return. Otherwise, nothing will happen," Iohannis said.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu later noted that despite the challenges in providing a Patriot system to Ukraine, it is still possible.

Romania signed a deal in 2017 to obtain Patriot systems but so far only has one that is operational.

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine needs 25 Patriots to protect the country from Russian attacks, but Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he is for now focused on securing seven to protect Ukraine's largest cities.

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Translation: So, its here, sash (short from sasha, alexandr). Thats what problems baba yaga is causing to us. Here were standing bmp-3. We had good forest here, with nets. We were able to hide bmp here. Right here were bmp, then baba yaga arrived, made 3 drops. One got stuck in net, thats why we were able to run away with guys, 2nd hit ammo. Vehicle were torn apart, total detonation. And 3rd one were dud. Now i'll show you what problem its carrying. Shaped charge. Like that. So, we do need thermal sights. We have prepared lookout posts, so it wont go to our rear, wont burn our vehicles and to save our guys.

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He says there were two hits... One of those split that car in two parts which ended up on different sides of the building. They actually thought at first that the car exploded...

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Russian media reports dozens of explosions in center of Belgorod
In the center of the Russian city of Belgorod, two series of dozens of explosions were heard, according to RIA Novosti.

A missile danger was declared in Belgorod and the Belgorod region.

A correspondent for the Russian edition reported that a series of explosions were heard in the city center.

Fifteen minutes later, he reported another series of twenty explosions.

On May 16, the Russian army dropped three air bombs on the Belgorod region.

Yesterday, May 22, residents of the Belgorod region complained of shelling. Some residential buildings have been damaged.

Residents of the city of Murom in the Belgorod region were asked to leave the city for several days.

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Op woensdag 22 mei 2024 23:15 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
Shhhhht. Reps bad, Dems good, remember.

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Op donderdag 23 mei 2024 19:58 schreef oheng het volgende:
Ik durf het bijna niet te zeggen, maar er is w��r een generaal gearresteerd.

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Poland discusses possibility of shooting down Russian missiles, no decisions yet - FM
From a technical and legal point of view, Poland is considering the possible involvement of its air defence systems in shooting down Russian missiles near the country's borders, but no decisions have been made in this regard.
This was stated by Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski in a commentary to Ukrinform, commenting on the words of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba about the possibility of using Polish air defence systems to shoot down Russian missiles over the territory of Ukraine.

"This issue is being considered from a legal and technical point of view, but there are no decisions in this matter," Vronsky said, adding that the Ukrainian side had approached the Polish side with this kind of initiative.

He said that talks on this issue in Poland arose after a Russian missile violated the country's airspace in March this year, staying in it for 39 seconds. According to him, the discussions revolve around whether Polish air defence systems could shoot down such missiles over the territory of Ukraine and what the legal consequences of such a step could be.

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France to open plant for production of 155mm shells in Belgium
France plans to open a new plant for the production of 155mm artillery shells in Belgium.

A military observer for The Insider reported on this.

The plant will be opened next week by KNDS Mecar in Belgium, a subsidiary of the French company Ouest-France.

In the long run, this will provide a significant increase in the production of artillery shells, which are now so much needed by both Ukraine and European militaries.

It should be noted that the Petit-Roeulx-les-Nivelles plant will specialize in producing the artillery shells.

They will be filled with explosives at other enterprises in Belgium and France.

Despite the opening, the plant’s full operation will begin no earlier than 2025, excluding the increase in production rates.

In addition to expanding the production of 155-mm shell casings, France is also expanding the production of special modular artillery charges used to fire artillery shells.

Modular propellant charge manufacturer Eurenco plans to increase production of propellant charges for artillery to 500,000 units per year.

According to the order, the French company will launch production and produce up to 1,200 tons of artillery powder per year at its facilities in Bergerac, for which over �500 million have been invested.

Militarnyi previously reported that a new gunpowder production line for the needs of the EU and Ukraine was being built in the French city of Bergerac.

The plant’s new production line should start operating in early 2025, and almost immediately, the Ukrainian military should receive the first “fruits” of its production.