Live ticker British Secret Service
Ukraine puts pressure on Russia in key areas
“Information that some men were immediately served with call-up notices”
In Russia, more and more people are taking to the streets to protest against Putin’s regional mobilization. Christoph Wanner reports from Moscow that reservists were quickly called up.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, the Ukrainian army is increasingly threatening the Russian aggressors. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil has meanwhile pledged further support to Ukraine and warned against escalation. More on Live Ticker.
DAccording to British intelligence experts, the Ukrainian military is now putting pressure on the Russian aggressors, which Moscow considers vital to its war goals. This emerged from the Defense Ministry’s daily intelligence update in London on Friday.
The defense line the Russians have retreated to after recent territorial losses in the country’s northeast is already crumbling. The British took the fact that the Ukrainians had already established a bridge on the eastern bank of the Askil River in the Kharkiv region as a sign of this. The Russians really wanted to consolidate the river into a strong defensive line.
A little further south, in Donetsk Oblast, fighting continued during Ukrainian attacks in the town of Lyman on the east bank of the Seversky Donets River, according to the British. Russian invasion troops captured the city in May.
All Improvements in Live Ticker:
12:03 pm – Switzerland appoints Russian ambassador
Switzerland condemns “referendums” on the inclusion of Russian-controlled territories into the Russian Federation. “The so-called referendums in parts of Ukraine partially occupied by Russia are taking place in conditions that are illegal and contrary to international law,” the government said. Switzerland does not recognize the results. The foreign ministry summoned the Russian ambassador on Thursday and explained Switzerland’s position to him.
11:47 am – Freedom panel finds war crimes in Ukraine
An independent commission appointed by the United Nations has concluded that war crimes are being committed in Ukraine. The commission briefed the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that experts came to this conclusion after examining evidence from four regions of the country. Investigations focused on Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Sumy. There, the commission investigated a total of 27 crime incidents and spoke to more than 150 victims and witnesses.
11:19 am – Heavy traffic on the Russian-Kazakh border
According to officials, the number of people who want to leave their country from Russia on the Kazakhstan border is also increasing. Kazakh border guards report that four of the 30 border crossings are particularly busy, but do not provide any statistics. A witness, who declined to be named, told Reuters that traffic had been stuck at the border since Thursday morning. Many of the people here are elderly men. Russian border guards carried out extensive and lengthy searches.
10:56 am – According to Berlusconi, Putin was pushed into the war
Conservative Italian politician Silvio Berlusconi tried to defend Russian President Vladimir Putin. The former Italian prime minister said in a statement late Thursday that he had been “pushed” into war against Ukraine by ministers, his party and public opinion to install a new government in Kiev.
Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party is part of a right-wing coalition expected to win Sunday’s parliamentary elections. Berlusconi, a personal friend of Putin, admitted that the Russian president invented the term “special measures” to cover up the attack on Ukraine.
Forza Italia party leader Silvio Berlusconi during a speech on Thursday
Credit: Getty Images / Antonio Masillo
10:46 am – Russian financial institutions are losing billions
According to the Central Bank, Russian financial institutions have lost the equivalent of about 25 billion euros due to the war in Ukraine. Central banker Maxim Lyupomutrov says this is an “acceptable” price. The government has plans to get Russian banks through the crisis.
10:06 am – Companies from Germany reduce data flow to Russia
Companies from Germany practically do not process any data in Russia. That’s the conclusion of the Bitcom Industry Association’s current representative survey of companies from all sectors with 20 or more employees, published in Berlin. In the study, not a single company reported transferring personal data to Russia, for example, to be processed there by external service providers.
09:53 am – More than 186,000 Ukrainian children in German schools
The number of Ukrainian students in German schools continues to grow. Federal states reported 186,235 children and youth from Ukraine were in schools in the 37th calendar week ending Sunday, the Education Ministers’ Conference (KMK) announced late Thursday in Berlin. Compared to the previous week, the number rose to 7017.
8:57 am – SPD leader warns of World War III
After Russia’s partial mobilization in the war against Ukraine, SPD leader Lars Klingbiel emphasized the importance of Germany’s integration with its partners. “We will continue to support Ukraine. At the same time, it is clear that World War III must be prevented,” Klingbeil said Editorial Network Germany.
A well-coordinated action by the West is important in this situation — a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the unity in the Western alliance remains and will remain, Klingbeil said. Regarding arms deliveries, he stressed: “We will continue to coordinate daily with our partners on what the next steps are to help Ukraine.” The Kremlin announced Wednesday that 300,000 reservists would be invited.
08:20 – Call for the release of those who left the country of Russia
After partial demobilization in Russia, debate erupted over the acceptance of conscientious objectors and fugitives. Coalition and opposition politicians voiced their support for easy admission. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Fesser (SPD) explained that refugees would normally receive protection in Germany.
07:57 – Sham polls begin in the occupied territories
A pro-Russian administration in the occupied territories of Ukraine has launched a fake referendum on joining Russia. Voting began Friday in the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhia, Luhansk and Donetsk, the Russian-backed administration said. The referendums are rejected by Ukraine and the West and are considered illegal under international law. With this, Russia seems to be preparing to annex parts of Ukraine.
Current situation in Ukraine
Source: Infographic World
“Kick-Off Politics” is WELT’s daily news podcast. The most important topic and dates of the day analyzed by WELT editors. Subscribe to the podcast Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or directly through an RSS feed.
. “Amateur alcohol specialist. Reader. Hardcore introvert. Freelance explorer.”