May 9 casts its shadow: Zelenskyj warns the Ukrainians to be careful +++ 150 million dollar aid package from the USA for Ukraine +++ The most important developments on the war in Ukraine in star-Ticker.
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On May 9, Russia will celebrate liberation from the Nazis and a speech by Vladimir Putin is expected. It is expected that the President will explain how to proceed in Ukraine. On the same day, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyj invited Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Kyiv.
The reports on the war in Ukraine on the weekend of 7./8. May:
10.13 a.m .: London: Sanctions make it difficult for Moscow to replace military equipment
According to British intelligence, Western sanctions are making it more difficult for Moscow to replace damaged military equipment. Russia’s most capable and advanced units and weapons suffered significant damage in Ukraine, the UK Defense Ministry said in an update.
For example, at least one T-90M tank, one of Russia’s most modern tanks, was destroyed in combat. It will take considerable sums of money and time to restore the strength of the Russian troops after the war, sources in London said. In addition, the current sanctions would make it more difficult to obtain replacements because they would restrict Russia’s access to important microelectronics.
9.50 a.m .: Poland’s border guards: More than 3.2 million entries from Ukraine
Since the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine, more than 3.2 million people have fled to safety in neighboring Poland. This was announced by the Polish border guard on Twitter. On Friday, 24,500 people crossed the border into Poland.
19,000 people crossed the border towards Ukraine on Friday. According to the authorities, the majority of these were Ukrainian citizens. They mostly travel to areas that the Ukrainian army has recaptured. There is no official information on how many of the war refugees stayed in Poland and how many traveled on to other EU countries.
9.49 a.m .: Over 90,000 Ukrainian children have already been accommodated in German schools
Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression, more than 90,000 students from Ukraine have been accommodated in German schools. “This is a tremendous achievement, for which I am very grateful,” said Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) of the “Rheinische Post”. According to the report, the German Teachers’ Association estimates that there are currently up to 50,000 school-age Ukrainian children in Germany who are not yet attending classes.
The Ukrainian children and young people not only need security, but also a perspective, said the education minister. They received this through rapid integration into kindergarten and school as well as supplementary offers in their language.
Only a gigantic steelworks still defies the fall of Mariupol
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9.35 a.m .: Russia declares other Navalny allies to be “foreign agents”
Russia has declared other Kremlin critics “foreign agents”, including two exiled confidants of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and a well-known rapper. The Justice Department on Friday added eight more names to the list, which now includes more than 160 people and media. The two Navalny allies Vladimir Milov and Lyubov Sobol are now also considered “foreign agents”.
Individuals and organizations classified as such are required by law to disclose their sources of funding and to specifically identify all of their publications. The most important Kremlin critic, Navalny, was arrested in January 2021 and sentenced to nine years in prison for embezzlement in March.
Rapper Alisher Morgenshtern, popular in Russia, was also included in the list. He had sparked outrage among Russian war veterans in October 2021 when he explained in an interview published on YouTube that he “didn’t understand” why Russia celebrated Victory Day over Nazi Germany on May 9.
7.31 a.m .: NATO Secretary General warns Russia against using nuclear weapons
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned Russia against using nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war. “Our message is clear: if nuclear weapons were used, there would only be losers on all sides,” Stoltenberg told the “Welt am Sonntag”. “A nuclear war cannot be won and should never be waged, including in Russia.”
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has indicated since the war began that he was prepared to use Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons in the conflict. According to Stoltenberg, however, NATO has no indication that Russian nuclear weapons have been raised to a higher level of readiness since the beginning of the war on February 24.
7.04 a.m .: Kiev military: Hardly any movement at the front, storm attempts in Mariupol
According to Ukrainian sources, it was comparatively quiet at the front last night. “On May 6, eight enemy attacks were repelled in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, destroying three enemy tanks, eight artillery systems, seven military armored vehicles, one car and three units of engineer equipment,” the Ukrainian General Staff said in its situation report. There have been storm attempts primarily around the Azovstal steelworks.
According to the report, Russian activity on other front sections, which had been heavily contested in recent weeks, was primarily limited to military reconnaissance and artillery shelling. For example, in the Izyum region, from where Russia is planning a major advance towards Kramatorsk to encircle the Ukrainian units in the Donbass, drones were used to identify the defensive positions.
The city of Kharkov and the towns in front of Donetsk were targets of artillery attacks. The Russian Air Force was also in action. Ground attacks, however, were not reported. This information could not be verified independently.
5:00 a.m.: “This is your life”: Selenskyj appeals to the Ukrainians
Because of fears of air raids on Russia’s Victory Day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on his country’s citizens to be particularly disciplined. “I ask all of our citizens – and especially these days – not to ignore the air alert,” said the head of state on Friday in his evening video address. “Please, this is your life, your children’s life.”
Ukrainians should strictly follow the orders of the authorities and adhere to local curfews. Zelenskyy said it was forbidden to enter forests occupied by the Russian military because of the danger of mines.
12:28 a.m .: Biden pledges $ 150 million aid package – funds have been exhausted
US President Joe Biden has approved more billions in military aid for Ukraine to defend against the Russian war of aggression. An additional package is to provide the country with more artillery ammunition, radars and other equipment, Biden announced on Friday. A $150 million (around €142 million) package has been approved, the US State Department said.
At the same time, the US President warned: “With today’s announcement, my administration has almost exhausted the funds that can be used for the deployment of security support by the evacuation authorities to Ukraine.” He called on the US Congress to release further requested billions in aid.
12:23 a.m.: Rescue of soldiers from the Azov Valley with the help of international mediators
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine is looking for ways to save its soldiers from the embattled Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol. “Influential mediators, influential states” are involved, Zelenskyj said in a video speech on Friday evening. He did not give details. “We are also working on diplomatic options to save our military that still remains on Azovstal.”
In previous evacuations, only civilians, mostly women, children or the elderly, were allowed to leave the plant in the direction of Ukrainian-controlled areas.