News Trending War

Ukraine war: mothers on the way to rescue their children from Russia 

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Sasha Kraynyuk, 15, quickly recognised the child wearing a Russian military uniform after carefully studying the photo that Ukrainian investigators gave him.

The Z-mark of Russia’s war, coloured in the red, white, and blue of the Russian flag, is inscribed on the right sleeve of the teenager seated at a school desk.

However, the boy’s name is Artem, and he is Ukrainian.

13 kids, including Sasha and Artem, were abducted from their own school in Kupyansk, northeastern Ukraine, last September by armed Russian soldiers wearing balaclavas. “Quickly!” yelled as they were herded onto a bus, after which they vanished for weeks without being seen.

The children, all of whom have specific needs for schooling, were only ultimately permitted to contact home from a location considerably farther within Russian-occupied territory.

Their relatives had to travel arduous distances of thousands of kilometres into the nation that had declared war on them to retrieve them. So far, only eight of the kids have been brought back from Perevalsk, and Artem was one of the last to be picked up by his mother this spring.

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International Relations News Trending

Polish inquiry into “Russian influence” infuriates the EU

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After Polish lawmakers established a new commission that might prevent persons with ties to Russia from holding public office, the EU threatened to take action against Poland.

The committee, which was approved by Poland’s parliament last week, will look into alleged Russian meddling between 2007 and 2022. However, detractors assert that the panel, which will be predominated by members of the administration, is meant to criticise opposition leader and former prime minister Donald Tusk.

Didier Reynders, the EU’s justice commissioner, stated that the panel was of “special concern.”

Anyone found guilty of acting under “Russian influence” will be subject to a 10-year ban from managing public finances, effectively preventing them from holding public office.It will look at gas agreements made with Russia in particular since the government claims they made the nation unduly dependent on Moscow.

According to sources, the 10-member panel might present its initial report as early as September and is predicted to be controlled by lawmakers from the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS).

The EU Commission “will analyse the legislation and will not hesitate to take measures if it is needed,” Mr. Reynders told reporters in Brussels.

Without actual access to justice, including the ability to challenge an administrative decision before an impartial court, he continued, “it is impossible to agree on such a system.”

MPs from the opposition Civic Platform Party are concerned that the probe, which will focus on their party’s final period in office from 2007 to 2015, will try to undermine support for Mr. Tusk, who was prime minister at the time.

Despite not being a member of parliament, Mr. Tusk is now the party’s chairman and leader. He is anticipated to run against Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in elections later this year.

Krzysztof Brejza, the parliamentary leader of Civic Platform, referred to the new committee as a “Soviet-style idea” and charged that the administration had “organised a witch hunt against Donald Tusk and eliminated him” prior to the election.

Mark Brzezinski, the US ambassador to Poland, expressed his concern that the commission would “reduce voters’ ability to vote for those they want to vote for” on Monday. However, Mr. Morawiecki has defended the bill and charged Mr. Tusk with harbouring a secret.

Nothing should be feared, Mr. Morawiecki remarked, adding: “Why is this valued opposition of ours, especially Mr. Tusk, so terrified of a commission to verify Russian influence?

An ongoing dispute between Warsaw and the EU over judicial reforms resulted in the suspension of billions of euros in aid to Poland in January. Additionally, PiS has been charged with curtailing other civil liberties, including as press freedom, and opposition lawmakers claim Poland risks becoming an authoritarian state if the government is re-elected.

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Germany falls into recession as inflation hits economy

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Germany has entered into a recession in the first quarter of the year due to persistent inflation, according to updated growth data. The country’s economy contracted by 0.3% between January and March, following a 0.5% contraction in the previous three months.

The halt in Russian gas supplies after the invasion of Ukraine also had a significant impact on Germany. High inflation, with an April rate of 7.2%, has led to reduced household spending on various goods and weaker industrial orders. The revised figures indicated declines in household and government spending, as well as a drop in car sales after the reduction of government grants for electric and hybrid vehicles. Private sector investment and exports showed some improvement but were insufficient to prevent Germany from entering a recession.

Although the recession was less severe than expected, analysts predict weak economic performance to continue in the second quarter of 2023. The Bundesbank anticipates modest growth in the April to June quarter, driven by an industry rebound offsetting stagnant consumer spending.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects Germany to be the weakest among advanced economies, with a predicted contraction of 0.1% this year, while upgrading its forecast for the UK to a growth of 0.4%.

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News Trending War

Ukraine says it downed Russian cruise missiles aimed at Kyiv

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Ukrainian officials claim that their air defences successfully shot down 15 Russian cruise missiles that were launched overnight towards the capital, Kyiv. No casualties were reported. Senior Kyiv military official, Serhiy Popko, believes that the missiles were launched by four bombers from the Caspian sea region.

The missile attack occurred just hours before Russia’s Victory Day holiday, which commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has compared the Ukraine war to Adolf Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union.

Ukraine’s air force accused Russia of attempting to kill as many civilians as possible on Victory Day. The missile attack comes after Ukraine reported that Russia had launched its biggest drone attack of the war on Sunday night, killing one person and injuring five.

In Moscow, there is a sense of nervousness due to a series of recent explosions, drone attacks, and sabotage, including an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin, for which Moscow blamed Ukrainian drones, while Kyiv denied involvement.

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News Trending War

Ukraine war: Russia accused of using phosphorus bombs in Bakhmut

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Ukraine has accused Russia of using phosphorus munitions to attack the city of Bakhmut. Drone footage released by Ukraine’s military shows the city ablaze as white phosphorus appears to rain down on it. The use of white phosphorus weapons is not banned but is considered a war crime when used in civilian areas.

Russia has been accused of using such weapons before. Moscow has been trying to capture Bakhmut for months, despite its questionable strategic value, and thousands of Russian troops are said to have died in the assault. White phosphorus causes severe injuries and burns at 800 degrees Celsius, making it difficult to remove and causing extreme burns on human flesh.

Though Russia is a signatory to a convention that bans the use of incendiary weapons in civilian areas, the chemical does not fall under the treaty as its primary purpose is to create a smokescreen to hide military operations.

The commander of the Wagner paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said his forces would withdraw from Bakhmut on 10 May in a dispute over ammunition supplies. However, Ukrainian officials claim that Wagner is redeploying fighters towards Bakhmut to capture the city before Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on 9 May.

The fighting comes amid reports that Ukraine is preparing a large-scale counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia region, which is largely controlled by Russia. The Russian-installed governor of the region has ordered the evacuation of villages near the front line. Russia regards the area as its own territory after illegal annexation and self-styled referendums last year.

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News Trending War

Ukraine war: Zelensky visits The Hague after new strikes in Ukraine

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There have been reports of explosions in several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa, a day after Russia accused Ukraine of carrying out a drone attack on the Kremlin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently in the Netherlands, where he is expected to address the International Criminal Court’s investigation into alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Mr. Zelensky denied his country’s involvement in the attack on Putin, stating that they are only fighting to defend their own territory. During his visit, Mr. Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to discuss his request for more military support from the Netherlands.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had previously stated that supplying fighter jets to Ukraine was not out of the question but would be a significant step. Following Russia’s accusation of a drone attack by Ukraine on the Kremlin, Russia threatened to retaliate at their discretion. In response, Ukraine reported air raids in several cities, and Russia launched strikes on Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, causing 21 fatalities.

Some commentators have suggested that the alleged drone attack on the Kremlin was staged by Russia as it is unlikely for two drones to penetrate multiple layers of air defense and detonate over the heart of the Kremlin. They believe that Russia may have orchestrated the attack to mobilize societal support and prepare for wider conflict.

However, some experts dispute this theory, stating that Russia would not want to appear vulnerable by staging an attack on the Kremlin, which may lead to questions about the efficacy of their air defenses and Putin’s protection.

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News Trending War

Ukraine’s Zelensky holds first war phone call with China’s Xi

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Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky announced that he had a significant and lengthy conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the phone, marking their first communication since the beginning of the Russian conflict. Zelensky expressed optimism that the call, coupled with the appointment of an ambassador to Beijing, will positively impact the relationship between the two nations.

China acknowledged the conversation and emphasized their commitment to peace, though they have previously maintained a neutral position regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Notably, President Xi visited Russia recently, indicating a close relationship between the two nations.

During a recent meeting, Ukrainian President Zelensky referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as his “dear friend” and presented a 12-point peace plan, but did not promise to supply Russia with weapons. Following the meeting, Zelensky invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Kyiv for further discussions, as they had not been in contact since the start of the war in February 2022. In a statement regarding their recent phone call, Xi emphasized China’s commitment to peace and stated that they would not take advantage of the crisis for profit or simply watch from afar.

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News Trending War

Ukraine war: Russian warplane accidentally bombs own city

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A Russian Sukhoi-34 fighter jet accidentally dropped a bomb on the city of Belgorod, which is near the Ukrainian border. The explosion caused extensive damage, including a 20m (60ft) crater, and blew a car onto the roof of a nearby shop. The regional governor ordered the evacuation of a damaged nine-storey block of flats as a precaution.

Three people were injured and several buildings were damaged. The Russian defence ministry acknowledged that one of its Su-34 fighter bombers had accidentally discharged aircraft ordnance at 22:15 local time on Thursday. Video footage on social media showed the blast’s impact, lifting a vehicle onto the roof of a supermarket while traffic was passing by.

The Russian defense ministry’s statement was a bureaucratic way of acknowledging that the fighter jet had accidentally fired a weapon, without specifying which one. The bomb landed at an intersection near the city center, next to residential buildings. Although two women were injured and taken to the hospital, the governor expressed relief that no one was killed in the incident, especially given the potential for greater harm with a bomber hitting a busy residential district. The governor conveyed his gratitude on social media for the absence of fatalities.

The CCTV footage of the incident indicates that local residents had a lucky escape. The video shows several cars passing a crossroads before an object falls to the ground nearby. Although there is no immediate explosion, the ordnance detonates approximately 18 seconds later, blowing up a section of the road and catching one of the passing cars, which sends a parked car flying into the air and landing on the roof of a supermarket.

Although the incident is embarrassing for the Russian military, the acknowledgement of an accident suggests that officials do not expect it to negatively impact public opinion of the Russian government’s ongoing military operations. In times of war and conflict, accidents can happen, sometimes with catastrophic consequences, as demonstrated by a Sukhoi fighter jet crash in the Russian city of Yeysk last October, which killed at least 13 people.

The military has initiated an investigation into the incident, according to reports. A former military pilot was quoted by pro-government news site Moskovsky Komsomolets, suggesting that the conclusions of the investigation would not be made public, but lessons would be learned.

Maintenance workers started repairing the damaged intersection in Belgorod by the morning, and the mayor stated that most of the repair work would occur over the weekend, with the road to be resurfaced on Monday. The regional governor acknowledged that Belgorod’s residents had a difficult night but would manage to get through it.

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News Trending War

Evan Gershkovich: US journalist arrested in Russia appears in court

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A US journalist named Evan Gershkovich, who was working for the Wall Street Journal, has had his appeal against pre-trial detention rejected by a court in Russia. Mr. Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg and charged with spying.

He appeared in court in Moscow for the first time, standing in a bullet-proof glass enclosure wearing jeans and a blue checked shirt, and gave a brief smile but did not address the reporters present. His lawyer and the US ambassador to Moscow, Lynne Tracy, were also in attendance. This was the first public sighting of Mr. Gershkovich since his arrest.

The same court in Russia that convicted and sentenced Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza for treason on Monday rejected the appeal of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was detained on charges of spying while working for the Wall Street Journal.

Media was allowed to attend the hearing before being asked to leave and return later. The US ambassador to Moscow, Lynne Tracy, who was present at the hearing, said that she had met Mr. Gershkovich for the first time on Monday and that he was in good health and strong despite the circumstances. Ms. Tracy called for Mr. Gershkovich’s immediate release, describing the charges against him as baseless.

More than 40 countries, led by the US, issued a joint statement at the UN on Monday demanding Mr. Gershkovich’s release and condemning Moscow’s treatment of the media. Mr. Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of espionage.

According to Russian authorities, Evan Gershkovich was attempting to obtain classified defence information for the US government, a charge that he denies. His arrest is the first time since the Soviet era that Moscow has accused a US journalist of espionage.

Gershkovich was reportedly covering the Russian mercenary group Wagner in Yekaterinburg when he was detained. The Wall Street Journal has been providing legal support to Gershkovich, and US officials, including President Joe Biden and bipartisan senators, have condemned his detention.

His case is now being handled by the US special envoy for hostage affairs. The James Foley Legacy Foundation reported in 2022 that at least 65 Americans were being unfairly detained abroad.

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News Trending War

Ukraine conflict: President Zelensky condemns beheading video

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The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has urged world leaders to respond after a video emerged showing a Ukrainian soldier allegedly being beheaded by a Russian serviceman. The Ukrainian security service is investigating the incident as a “war crime”, while the Kremlin has called the video “awful” but said that its authenticity and the identity of those involved must be verified.

The graphic video, filmed on a mobile phone during the summer months, shows a man wearing a yellow armband, commonly used by Ukrainian soldiers, being beheaded by a man in military uniform wearing a white band, which is used as identification by Russian soldiers. The men can be heard speaking Russian, but it is unclear whether they are Russian soldiers or Ukrainians who speak Russian.

The graphic video shows a man with a yellow armband being beheaded by a man wearing a white band around his leg. The victim’s body armour has a trident mark, which is the state symbol of Ukraine, and also features what appears to be the Punisher symbol, a comic-book character. The location and date of the video remain unclear, as there are few visual clues to identify it.

However, it appears to have been filmed during the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia, where white and yellow armbands have been used as identification by opposing sides. The leaves in the video suggest that it may have been filmed in late spring or summer of last year. The video began circulating on Telegram after a pro-Kremlin blogger shared it with his followers.

After a pro-Kremlin blogger shared the video on Telegram, it spread to Twitter, and the authenticity of the video was called into question by the Kremlin, which said it needed to be verified. The EU foreign affairs spokeswoman emphasized that Russia must comply with international humanitarian law, and perpetrators of war crimes must be held accountable. Another video has also been circulating, showing a destroyed military vehicle and two bodies without heads or hands, which may suggest an alleged beheading. The victims appear to have been fighting on the Ukrainian side, and at least three soldiers can be seen standing over the bodies in the video.

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