29.06.2023
Ukraine war in live ticker
+++ 03:51 Scholes: German secret services did not know in advance about the Wagner uprising +++
After the mercenary uprising in Russia, Chancellor Olaf Scholz sees the need for a debate on the effectiveness of German foreign intelligence. ARD says the German secret services “didn’t know about it beforehand”. According to media reports, when it was pointed out that the US secret services had known about Wagner’s plans several days before, the president replied: “We have to discuss everything together.” Regarding the performance of German intelligence services in the recent crisis in Russia, he says: “Our services in Germany always try to monitor the situation in Russia, of course.”
+++ 03:14 Vatican representatives and Kremlin advisers talk about refugees +++
A pontiff heads to Moscow to meet with Russian President Putin’s foreign policy adviser. It is primarily about humanitarian issues, says the diocesan archbishop, Cardinal Paolo Pessi, to the Russian news agency TASS. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi focused their talks on refugees, especially children. The meeting went well. He did not provide any further details. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier said the two representatives would discuss “the situation surrounding the conflict in Ukraine and, of course, possible ways to find a political and diplomatic solution.” “Russia greatly appreciates the Vatican’s efforts and efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis.”
+++ 02:21 Surovikhin’s role in the rebellion remains a mystery +++
The role of the Russian deputy supreme commander of the invasion forces in Ukraine in the mercenary uprising, Wagner, remains unclear. Sergei Surovikin sympathized with the rise of mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Churovikin supported Prigogine, but Western intelligence agencies are not sure he helped the uprising in any way, three insiders say. Shortly after the rebellion began, Surovikin publicly urged private militiamen to abandon their opposition to the military leadership and return to their bases to avoid civil war. “I urge you to stop,” Surovikhin says in a video on Telegram. During his message to the mercenaries, his right hand rested on a gun. The “New York Times” reported on Tuesday that Surovikhin allegedly knew about the Wagner uprising. The Kremlin dismissed the reports as speculation.
+++ 01:29 Ukrainian commander: strategic initiative taken +++
According to their commander, General Valery Zalushny, the Ukrainian Armed Forces “captured the strategic initiative”. “Ukrainian defense forces continue their offensive operations, we have made progress. The enemy is showing strong resistance and suffering significant casualties,” Zalushny writes in Telegram. He spoke to US Chief of Staff Mark Milley about weapons and demining equipment needed for a counter-attack. According to Ukrainian officials, large mined areas are hindering progress.
+++ 00:44 Poland buys Patriot air defense system from USA +++
Poland is expanding its defense capabilities and is buying up to $15 billion worth of modern Patriot air defense systems from the United States, according to the Pentagon. DSCA, the US agency responsible for arms exports, reports that the deal includes up to 48 rocket launchers and 644 rockets as well as radar and control components of the system. Patriots should be used to defend against high speed missiles and aircraft. Patriots also play a key role in defending Ukraine against Russian airstrikes. They also intercept Moscow’s tactical ballistic missiles and modern hypersonic missiles.
+++ 00:11 “Defenseless Colombian civilians attacked – Colombia’s president Pedro wants to send a note of protest to Moscow +++
Colombia’s President Gustavo Pedro announced an official note of protest from his country to Russia. Russia “attacked three defenseless Colombian citizens,” Pedro wrote on Twitter. In doing so, it violated internationally regulated laws of war. The attack destroyed the Ria Pizza restaurant in the city center, popular with journalists and soldiers. Among the injured were three Colombian celebrities – well-known writer Hector Abad, politician Sergio Jaramillo and journalist Catalina Gomez, who were having dinner at the restaurant with Ukrainian writer Viktoria Amelima.
+++ 23:18 Selenskyj reports arrest after “terrorist attack” on Kramatorsk +++
According to Ukrainian President Zelensky, a suspect has been arrested after a Russian airstrike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk. “Today, the Ukrainian Internal Intelligence Service (SBU) and special police forces arrested the person who coordinated this terrorist attack,” Zelenskyy said in his daily evening address. A Russian missile attack on a restaurant in Kramatorsk killed at least 11 people, including several children, and wounded 61 others.
+++ 22:27 Report: Russia’s Vice-President Surovikhin has reportedly been arrested +++
According to a report “Moscow Times“Arrested. The newspaper relies on two informants close to the Defense Ministry. The ministry has yet to officially comment on the information. Surovikhin was appointed commander-in-chief of Russian troops in Ukraine in October. Military setbacks in January saw him replaced by Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and demoted to his deputy.” Citing U.S. government sources, the New York Times said Surovikhin had known in advance of the Wagner uprising. There are also indications that other Russian generals may have Prigozhin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the New York Times report as “speculation.”
+++ 22:09 Kyiv’s parliament approves bonus for combatants – 2500 euros per month +++
Ukraine’s parliament is voting to return to a monthly bonus program under which soldiers, members of the security forces and police will receive an extra 100,000 hryvnia ($2,500) a month if they serve in a designated active combat zone. That’s a significant bonus in a country where the official average wage is less than 15,000 hryvnias (370 euros). Those serving outside active combat zones receive an additional 30,000 hryvnias ($800) per month.
+++ 21:43 Scholes: Nobody knows what will come after Putin +++
President Olaf Scholes sees Russian President Vladimir Putin suffering from a temporary mercenary uprising. “I think he’s weakened,” says Scholz on the ARD program “Maischberger”. This shows that there are “cracks” in autocratic power structures. Putin is not as firmly in the saddle as he always claims. Schales spoke of “The Butch, a Military Coup” by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. However, he did not want to speculate on whether these events would lead to Putin’s long or short term in office. But he expects long-term effects. Schales says he doesn’t think about whether a successful uprising is good or bad. No one knows what will happen after Putin. This is a dangerous situation.
+++ 21:12 The first shipment of Abrams tanks arrived in Poland +++
Poland receives first shipment of US-made Abrams tanks “The first tanks have already arrived on Polish soil, and this is an important day for the Polish army,” Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak told reporters. Given the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, Poland is massively upgrading its military: Warsaw has ordered a total of 366 Abrams tanks from the US, and according to Blaszczak, the first 14 have now arrived in the port city of Szczecin. More tanks will be delivered this year and a battalion of Abrams tanks will be formed, Blaszak said. He asserts that American tanks of this type are “the best tanks in the world.”
+++ 20:38 These three criminals are said to have been in Wagner’s mercenary force during the coup attempt +++
At least three of the Wagner mercenaries who tried to seize the city of Rostov-on-Don in a failed coup attempt on Saturday were convicted. This was reported by Reuters. The Kremlin last year allowed Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin to recruit thousands of mercenaries from prisons across the country. Six months of fighting in Ukraine pardoned by Putin through secret decree. Reuters identified the convicted criminals as 25-year-old Dmitry Chekov, who was convicted of four counts of theft and drug-related crimes, and Rostov resident Sergei Shirshov, 33, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for armed robbery. 2019, and May 31, 2019 – The elderly Roman Yamalutinov has been sentenced to prison at least twice since 2017 for driving under the influence, stealing a car and assaulting a police officer.
Read about the previous day’s developments here.
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