live blog
Status: 01/16/2023 04:12 a.m
Russian and Belarusian units are starting a joint training maneuver today. CSU politician Hahn demands Leopard tanks for Ukraine. All developments in the live blog.
04:04 a.m
Belarus: Joint “defensive” air force exercises with Russian units
Russia and Belarus begin joint air force exercises in Belarus today. Minsk explains that the exercises are defensive. Unofficial military surveillance channels on Telegram report that several Russian warplanes, helicopters and military transport planes have arrived in Belarus since the beginning of the year – eight warplanes and four cargo planes on Sunday alone. Reuters could not verify these reports. The First Deputy State Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council, Pavel Muravejko, writes on Telegram that Ukraine provoked Belarus. However, one reacts cautiously. “We have the necessary forces and means to respond to any manifestation of aggression or a terrorist threat on our territory.”
4:03 a.m
CSU defense politician Hahn: Get Leopard 1 and 2 on the way
The defense policy spokesman for the Union parliamentary group, Florian Hahn, accuses the federal government of acting too slowly in the debate on tank deliveries to Ukraine. “Scholz must not hesitate any longer, but must get both Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 on the way,” said the CSU politician to the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. “Both models can help the Ukrainian armed forces in the fight against the mostly older Russian tanks.” Ukraine has long been demanding the delivery of German Leopard 2 main battle tanks, which are technically superior to Russian tanks. Great Britain announced on Saturday that it would make 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks available to Ukraine. Most recently, Poland and Finland signaled their willingness to provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks as part of a European alliance.