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Ukraine war: Putin preparing for long haul, US intelligence says

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According to US intelligence, Vladimir Putin is preparing for a long war in Ukraine, with even a victory in the east potentially not ending the conflict.

The warning comes as fighting rages in the east, where Russia is attempting to seize territory. After Ukraine resisted attempts to take its capital, Kyiv, Moscow refocused its troops on capturing the Donbas region.

Despite this, US intelligence reports that its forces are stuck in a stalemate. Mr Putin still intends “to achieve goals beyond the Donbas,” according to Avril Haines, director of national intelligence, who testified before a US Senate committee on Tuesday, but he “faces a mismatch between his ambitions and Russia’s current conventional military capabilities.”

She went on to say that Putin was “likely” counting on US and EU support for Ukraine to dwindle as inflation, food shortages, and energy prices rose. As the war continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin may resort to “more drastic measures,” though nuclear weapons would only be used if Russia faced a “existential threat.”

At the same hearing, Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency Scott Berrier stated that Russia and Ukraine were “at a bit of a stalemate.”

Ukraine claims to have recaptured four settlements in the north-eastern Kharkiv region in recent fighting.

Ukraine’s armed forces claim to have reclaimed Cherkasy Tyshky, Ruski Tyshky, Rubizhne, and Bayrak from Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy claimed that Ukrainian victories were gradually pushing Russian forces out of Kharkiv, which has been bombarded since the conflict began.

“We should not create an atmosphere of excessive moral pressure, where victories are expected weekly, if not daily,” he said.

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Dozens feared dead after Russian bomb hits school

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The bombing of a school where villagers had sought refuge is tragically just one of many attacks this weekend as the war in Ukraine continues.

A sustained Russian assault has resulted in fierce fighting around Popasna in Luhansk in recent days. Serhiy Haidai, the local governor, said Ukrainian forces were retreating and that the town had been completely destroyed.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen leader and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced that his troops had taken control of the majority of the town.

Meanwhile, Russian-backed separatists in the neighbouring Donetsk region claimed that Ukrainian shelling hit the city of the same name and another town, Holmivskyi, on Sunday.

Both sides had previously stated that the other would suffer significant losses. According to the Ukrainian government, 400 enemy soldiers were killed, eight tanks and 28 other armoured vehicles were destroyed, a ship and a helicopter were destroyed, and 27 drones were shot down.

According to Russia’s military, its air force alone killed around 420 Ukrainian soldiers and disabled 55 military vehicles. It also claims to have shot down two attack planes and a helicopter near the port of Odesa, as well as destroying a warship with a missile. Since the Russian invasion began, the Ukrainian government has accused Moscow of targeting educational establishments, including schools and colleges, completely destroying more than 20 sites.

Daria Herasymchuk, a presidential advisor, called the invasion “a war against children.”

Officials said on Sunday that the Russian invasion has killed 225 children and injured 413 others, though these figures are likely to be higher because they do not include casualties in occupied areas or areas where hostilities are still taking place.

Children were suffering the most, according to Ms Herasymchuk, in the eastern Donbas region, where the government has requested international assistance to repatriate children from orphanages in Russian-occupied territory.

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Russia-Ukraine war: European Union likely to sanction Vladimir Putin’s alleged girlfriend Alina Kabaeva

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Alina Kabaeva, the alleged girlfriend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is named in the sixth proposed package of European Union sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Kabaeva, who has been romantically linked to Putin, was included in a proposed EU sanctions list, according to two European diplomatic sources.

At this point, names can be removed or added at the discretion of member states, and it is expected to be a point of negotiation when a new sanctions package is proposed, according to an EU Commission source. The EU has not yet given its approval to the draught proposal. “There are ongoing discussions. It won’t be easy, but we’ll have to wait and see “On Friday morning, one of the diplomatic sources said.

Kabaeva, who was born in 1983, was first linked to Putin when she was a medal-winning gymnast more than a decade ago. Putin, who is divorced, has denied ever dating her. Kabaeva and Putin are said to have met when she was a young gymnast competing in European competitions and at the Olympic Games. At the 2004 Athens Games, she won the gold medal in rhythmic gymnastics.

She was selected as one of the torch bearers when Russia hosted the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014, an event that occurred shortly before Russia illegally annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.Since the start of the Ukrainian conflict, the EU has increased its economic sanctions against Russia. Recently, the EU proposed a ban on Russian oil imports, which would have a significant impact on Russia’s economy, though Hungary, an EU member with close ties to Putin, is likely to sabotage any such plans.

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Ukraine war: Zelensky plea as Russians seek Mariupol endgame

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Russian forces have launched an all-out assault on the Azovstal steelworks, the last Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol, according to Ukrainian officials.

According to the commander of the Azov regiment, Ukrainian forces inside the plant are fighting “difficult bloody battles” for the second day. After days of sustained attacks, Russian forces are said to have entered “the territory of the plant.”

Around 200 civilians, including children, are believed to be sheltering inside. The BBC was unable to independently verify reports of a Russian attack on a steel plant.

“I am proud of my soldiers who are making superhuman efforts to contain the enemy’s pressure… the situation is extremely difficult,” Azov commander Denis Prokopenko said in a brief video message posted on Telegram.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a new appeal to the United Nations to assist in the rescue of those still alive. “To us, everyone is significant. We request your assistance in rescuing them “In a phone call, Mr. Zelensky informed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Mr. Guterres was thanked by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko for a successful UN-led and Red Cross-led evacuation of more than 100 people from the steelworks earlier this week, but he asked the UN to “assist in the removal of all the wounded from Azovstal.”

On Wednesday, 344 evacuees from various south-western cities, including Mariupol, arrived in the relative safety of Zaporizhzhia, a south-eastern city still under Ukrainian control, according to Ukraine’s deputy prime minister.

Irina Vereshchuk thanked the UN and the Red Cross for their assistance in a Telegram post, saying: “Women, children, and the elderly from Mariupol, Manhush, Berdiansk, Tokmak, and Vasylivka are among them… We will now provide them with emotional and psychological support during this trying time.”

The evacuations were confirmed by Osnat Lubrani, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine.

“While this second evacuation of civilians from Mariupol and beyond is significant, much more must be done to ensure that all civilians caught up in fighting are able to flee in the direction of their choice,” she said in a statement.

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Volunteers deliver emergency contraception pills during the Ukraine conflict

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As reports of rape rise, charities are working to get emergency contraception into Ukrainian hospitals.

Nearly 3,000 packets of morning-after pills have been delivered to areas of the country hardest hit by the Russian invasion. The pills were provided by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), and volunteers are delivering them.

Caroline Hickson, a member of the group, says that when it comes to distribution, timing is crucial. “[The morning-after pill] is effective in preventing pregnancy for a window of five days,” she told.

“If you’ve been a victim of gender-based violence, it’s critical that you get help as soon as possible, because becoming pregnant as a result of rape is extremely traumatic.”

Medical abortion pills, which can be used up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, have also been sent by the organisation.

Ms Hickson explained that the pills are available to assist women in a variety of situations, including those who are having consensual sex but believe it is not the right time to start a family.
“Emergency contraception was available in Ukraine prior to the war, but supply chains have been disrupted, and it’s critical for women to have access to this,” she said.

Because there are so many people displaced across Ukraine, it’s difficult for aid workers to determine how many supplies are needed in which areas.

Last week, Ukrainian troops pleaded for food and medicine for Mariupol, which has been cut off from humanitarian aid by Russian troops.

The IPPF has been collaborating with the UN Population Fund and the International Medical Corps to bring tablets into Ukraine.

“The UN agencies, civil society organisations, and the Ministry of Health have come together to identify the needs, and they’ve been communicated to all of us working in support,” Ms Hickson said.

Emergency contraception is included in UN kits sent to women and girls involved in conflicts around the world.

In Ukraine, they’ve done the same thing, as well as sending supplies for family planning and childbirth.

The BBC has discovered evidence of Ukrainian women being raped by invading soldiers in villages just outside of Kyiv during the war.

Similar stories have been reported by other media outlets from Bucha, a city north-west of Kyiv.

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Biden proposes $33 billion to assist Ukraine in its war

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President Biden has requested $33 billion (£27 billion) in military, economic, and humanitarian aid for Ukraine, despite insisting that the US is not “attacking Russia.”

Mr. Biden stated that approval of the deal by US lawmakers was “critical,” as it would aid Ukraine’s defence. More than $20 billion in military aid, $8.5 billion in economic aid, and $3 billion in humanitarian aid are included in the proposal.

On Thursday, Mr. Biden said, “It’s not cheap.” “However, if we allow aggression to prevail, it will be more costly.”

Despite the fact that the US has already pledged assistance to Ukraine, the proposals represent a significant increase in aid. President Biden stated that the United States has provided ten anti-tank weapons for every tank Russia has deployed in Ukraine.

Despite his fiery rhetoric, he stated that the United States was not attacking Russia. He insisted, “We are assisting Ukraine in defending itself against Russian aggression.” A spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Western military support for Ukraine threatens “the continent’s security.”

President Biden is requesting that Congress authorise a massive sum of money for Ukraine, more than twice what the US has already spent on military and humanitarian aid. The US president wants to show that he is unfazed by vague threats of nuclear retaliation and a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin that retaliatory strikes could be launched against countries that intervene in Ukraine.

He dismissed those remarks, saying they reflect Russia’s desperation over their abject failure to accomplish what they set out to do.

He explained to Americans why this money was needed – at a time when many are struggling with rising living costs – by saying that it was not cheap, but that doing nothing was even more expensive.

A new plan to allow US authorities to not only freeze but also liquidate the assets of Russian oligarchs is risky, and it has alarmed civil liberties groups in the United States. In Congress, however, it is likely to receive bipartisan support.

It will not, however, begin to cover the cost of the additional funds the White House wants to devote to Ukraine’s war efforts.

The White House said in a statement that the package will “establish new authorities for the forfeiture of property linked to Russian kleptocracy, allow the government to use the proceeds to support Ukraine, and further strengthen related law enforcement tools.”

This week, the Canadian government proposed legislation that would allow it to seize and sell Russian assets.

Under pressure to broaden its sanctions, the ruling Liberals are pushing for the seizure of “any type of property,” including money, digital assets, and virtual currency.

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The Ukraine conflict will result in the largest price shock in 50 years

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The World Bank has warned that the conflict in Ukraine will result in the “largest commodity shock” since the 1970s.

According to a new forecast, the conflict’s disruption will result in massive price increases for goods ranging from natural gas to wheat and cotton. According to Peter Nagle, a co-author of the report, the price hike is “starting to have very large economic and humanitarian effects.” “Households all over the world are experiencing a cost-of-living crisis,” he said.

“We’re especially concerned about the poorest households because they spend a larger percentage of their income on food and energy, making them particularly vulnerable to this price spike,” the World Bank’s senior economist added.

According to the World Bank, energy prices are expected to rise by more than 50%, increasing household and business bills.

The most significant increase will be in the cost of natural gas in Europe, which is expected to more than double. Prices are expected to decline next year and in 2024, but they will still be 15% higher than last year.

According to the World Bank, “the largest 23-month increase in energy prices since the 1973 oil price hike,” when tensions in the Middle East sent prices soaring, occurred between April 2020 and March this year.

Similarly, oil prices are expected to remain high into 2024, with a barrel of Brent Crude, the benchmark measure, expected to average $100 this year, resulting in widespread inflation.

Russia produces about 11% of the world’s oil, the third largest share, but “disruptions resulting from the war are expected to have a lasting negative effect,” according to the report, as sanctions force foreign companies to leave and access to technology is limited.

Although Russia currently supplies 40% of the EU’s gas and 27% of its oil, European governments are working to wean their countries off of Russian supplies. This has aided in the rise of global prices by increasing demand for supplies from other countries.

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Ukraine war: Russia aiming for full control of south, commander says

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According to a senior Russian commander, Russia wants to take full control of southern Ukraine as well as the eastern Donbas region.

State media quoted Maj Gen Rustam Minnekayev as saying that achieving this goal would allow Moscow to build a land bridge to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. He also stated that it would allow Moscow access to the separatist region of Transnistria in Moldova, which is backed by Russia.

Transnistria is a small region on Ukraine’s western border. Although it is unclear whether Gen Minnekayev’s remarks were officially sanctioned by the Kremlin, they were widely reported in Russian state media outlets such as Interfax and Tass.

Russian defence officials told the BBC’s Steve Rosenberg that they were “looking into” the general’s remarks, which, if true, would provide the first glimpse into Russia’s possible plans for the coming weeks. Meanwhile, a senior EU official told Reuters that Russia is likely to intensify its attacks in eastern Ukraine and along the southern coast in the coming days, adding that the next two weeks could determine the outcome of the war.

Moldova summoned Moscow’s ambassador in response to the remarks, which the country’s foreign ministry described as “deeply concerning.”

Transnistria is a small Russian-speaking breakaway region that borders Ukraine on the west. It declared independence after the Soviet Union fell apart in a bloody conflict, but it is not recognised internationally and remains part of Moldova officially.

As part of a truce agreement, a small detachment of around 1,500 Russian troops has been stationed in the region since 1995. On Friday, Gen Minnekayev, deputy commander of Russia’s central military district, spoke at a military event in the Sverdlovsk region.

“Control of Ukraine’s south is another route to Transnistria, where there are also reports of oppression of the Russian-speaking population,” Gen Minnekayev said.

Before launching the invasion on February 24, Mr Putin made similar claims about alleged discrimination against Russian speakers in Ukraine, but without providing evidence. Ukraine’s defence ministry slammed Gen Minnekayev’s remarks as “imperialism” by Russia.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the country’s president, responded to them in his regular overnight address. “The Russian invasion of Ukraine was only meant to be a start; they want to take over other countries,” he claimed.

He previously stated that Russia planned to stage a series of phoney independence referendums in occupied territories in order to establish a series of pro-Russian breakaway states.

“You should know this is not to help you if they ask you to fill out some questionnaires or leave your passport data somewhere,” he warned.

“If an order from Moscow is given to stage such a show, it will be used to falsify the so-called referendum on your land. This is the situation. Take care.” In the coming weeks, referendums are planned in Kherson and occupied areas around Zaporizhzhia, according to a spokesperson for the Ukrainian defence ministry.

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Moskva, a Russian warship, has sunk in the Black Sea

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According to Russia’s defence ministry, a Russian warship that was damaged by an explosion on Wednesday has sunk. According to a ministry message, the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Moskva, was being towed to port when it sank due to “stormy seas.”

The 510-crew missile cruiser, which led Russia’s naval assault on Ukraine, was a symbol of the country’s military might. Kyiv claims that its missiles struck the warship. According to the United States, it was also hit by Ukrainian missiles. Moscow has denied any attack and claims the ship sank due to a fire.

According to Russia, the blaze caused the warship’s ammunition to explode, and the entire crew was later evacuated to nearby Russian vessels in the Black Sea. After initially stating that the warship was afloat, the Russian defence ministry announced late Thursday that the Moskva had been lost.

The 12,490-tonne warship is the largest Russian warship sunk in combat since WWII. “The vessel lost its balance while being towed… towards the destination port due to hull damage caused by a fire that broke out after ammunition exploded. The ship sank due to the rough seas” according to the Russian Defense Ministry. According to Ukraine, the warship’s captain was killed on board.

This is a significant and humiliating defeat for Vladimir Putin, who has insisted on numerous occasions that his “special military operation” in Ukraine is proceeding as planned.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Russian state media are not focusing on the loss of the Black Sea fleet’s pride.

The authorities claim the ship sank in stormy seas after fire and explosions on board caused significant hull damage. Morning TV bulletins limited themselves to briefly reporting the statement issued by the authorities, who claim the ship sank in stormy seas after fire and explosions on board caused significant hull damage.

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Estonia’s, Latvia’s, Lithuania’s, and Poland’s presidents are travelling to Ukraine

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Estonia’s, Latvia’s, Lithuania’s, and Poland’s presidents are travelling to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “On our way to Kyiv, a city that has suffered greatly as a result of the Russian war since my last visit,” Estonian President Alar Karis tweeted.

On Wednesday, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausda stated that he would be “heading to Kyiv with a strong message of political support and military assistance.”

The trip also includes Polish President Andrzej Duda and Latvian President Egils Levits.

The visit was supposed to include German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier “to send a strong signal of European solidarity with Ukraine,” but he said on Tuesday that he was not welcome in Ukraine.

“I was prepared to do this,” he said, “but apparently, and this is something I must note, this was not wanted in Kyiv.”

After an unidentified Ukrainian diplomat told the German newspaper Bild that he was not welcome in Kyiv at the moment, Steinmeier spoke out.

President Zelenskyy has criticised Steinmeier’s historical support for Western-Russian rapprochement.

The German president has been a vocal proponent of the “Wandel durch Handel” (Change through Trade) theory, which contends that strengthening commercial ties can help spur democratic reforms.

Berlin had been hesitant to send weapons to Ukraine due to historical reasons, but in response to the conflict, it has now sent anti-tank weapons, missile launchers, and surface-to-air missiles.

Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, paid a visit to Kyiv last week after promising to provide Ukraine with more than $130 million in advanced weaponry. Johnson’s surprise visit was described by Downing Street as a “show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people,” with his one-on-one meeting with Zelenskyy focusing on long-term support and new financial and military aid.

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