Chemical souls: Russian embassy in London responds
In a vitriolic press release, the Russian embassy in Britain denounced the “accusations of the British media” about the possibility that the Russian army and the Donestk People’s Republic are “using unknown chemicals against the formations of the Azov battalion of the Ukrainian army in Mariupol “. These allegations, the embassy notes, “are strictly intended to create the necessary propaganda effect and are not substantiated by any documentary evidence”. “The Russian Armed Forces have and cannot have chemical warfare assets” as “Russia destroyed all its stockpiles of chemical weapons in 2017 and fully complied with its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CAC)”, which the United States has not done, “which poses a real military threat”.
Australia increases sanctions against Russia
Kamaz trucks, shipping companies Sevmash and United Shipbuilding Corp, Ruselectronics… fourteen Russian state-owned companies have been targeted to reduce Russia’s ability to “continue to finance Putin’s war”, according to the press release from Minister of Affairs Marise Payne. The Australian Government reiterates its continued support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for the people of Ukraine. We again call on Russia to immediately withdraw its armed forces from Ukraine,” she wrote.
Yesterday, a day like any other in Ukraine
“Today’s battle reports are not significantly different from the previous ones,” President Zelensky said late last night in his address to the Ukrainians. According to him, Russian troops are intensifying their activities in eastern and southern directions, rocket fire and artillery fire continues, new columns of material are brought in. To feed their “reserves”, “the Russians are trying to recruit residents of the south of our country,” he criticizes.
Moscow doesn’t want to be “slowed down” by the Americans or NATO
After announcing that the US would send heavy equipment to Ukraine, Russia has said it will consider US and NATO vehicles carrying weapons on Ukrainian territory as legitimate military targets. Any attempt by the West to inflict significant damage on the Russian military or its separatist allies in Ukraine will be “seriously suppressed,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with the agency. “Attempts to delay our special operation, to inflict maximum damage on Russian contingents and formations of the DPR and LPR (Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics) will be severely suppressed,” he added.
50 days
Today marks the 50th day of fighting, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the night of February 23-24.
New aid from the United States
In Washington, US President Joe Biden has promised his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky a massive new $800 million military aid, including heavy equipment that the United States has so far refused to deliver to Kiev for fear of further escalating tensions with Moscow and considered to be parties to war.
And this while Russia threatened to attack command centers in Kiev and accused Ukraine of attacking its territory.
Among such equipment Zelensky mentioned “artillery systems, armored personnel carriers, helicopters”. in a video late last night.
Moscow threatens to hit ‘decision-making centers’
The Russian army threatened on Wednesday with an attack on command centers in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, which Moscow has provisionally given up, and accused Ukraine of shooting and sabotaging Russian territory.
“If such events continue, strikes will be carried out by the Russian army on decision-making centers, including in Kiev, which the Russian army has not done so far,” the spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Russian cruiser on fire
It is one of the greatest material setbacks Russia has suffered since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. The cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the Black Sea fleet, was “severely damaged” by an explosion of ammunition and, according to Kiev, by missile attacks, Moscow said.
“Neptune missiles protecting the Black Sea have caused significant damage to this Russian ship,” said Maxime Marchenko, Ukraine’s governor of the Odessa (south) region.
“He burns with intensity. Utilities. And with these rough seas, it’s impossible to know when they’ll be able to get help,” an adviser to the president said, assuring “510 crew members” were on board.
“Due to a fire, ammunition on board exploded,” and the crew was completely evacuated, the ministry said, adding that an investigation is underway to determine the origin of this fire.
