live blog
Status: 02/26/2023 04:36 a.m
The Bundeswehr Association complains about the sluggish modernization of the troops – despite the announced billions in investments in defense. Ukraine reports stable power supply. All developments in the live blog.
4:36 a.m
Army Inspector: Special assets are not enough
According to Army Inspector Alfons Mais, the 100 billion euro special fund for the Bundeswehr will not be sufficient for full equipment. However, the lieutenant general is making progress in the procurement process. “I see a lot of pressure to move forward with the replacement purchases at the highest speed. We have not yet handed in the Leopard tanks and are rightly considering how we can replace them as soon as possible,” Mais told dpa.
In addition to replacing material that was handed over to Ukraine, the “material growth towards full equipment” is important, emphasized Mais. However, the special fund will not be enough for this.
Immediately after the Russian attack on Ukraine, Mais had criticized the years of neglect in the operational readiness of the Bundeswehr with unusual sharpness. The Bundeswehr is “more or less blank,” he wrote, causing a stir.
4:26 a.m
Why arms deliveries are viewed with skepticism in East Germany
The debates about arms deliveries to Ukraine are mostly met with rejection in East Germany. But that cannot be explained solely by pro-Russian sentiment, says political scientist Sarah Pagung.
1:14 a.m
Warning of Russian sabotage in Germany
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) has warned of the high risk of Russian disinformation, espionage and sabotage in view of the ongoing Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. “The cyber security situation has worsened as a result of the war. Attacks by pro-Russian hackers have increased,” Faeser told the newspapers of the Funke media group. The danger from state-controlled espionage and sabotage activities also remains high. The federal and state governments would have to fight off cyber threats together and “constantly develop their skills,” said Faeser.
1:08 am
Ukraine reports stable power supply
According to Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, the power grid in his country is now stable. No new power outages are to be expected. “There will be no more electricity restrictions unless there are attacks from Russia on our infrastructure facilities,” the minister posted on Telegram. According to Halushchenko, his engineers have managed to maintain the power grid for the third week in a row and there are even reserves. This is important right now, because in the winter months the temperatures in Ukraine are often below zero.
12:06 a.m
Despite special assets: Bundeswehr Association sees hardly any improvements
One year after the announcement of 100 billion euros in investments in the Bundeswehr, the head of the Bundeswehr Association, André Wüstner, draws a critical balance. “Since then, nothing has noticeably improved for the soldiers,” he told the “Bild am Sonntag”. This is hardly possible in the short time. “Nevertheless, more speed is needed,” says Wüstner. “Whether in terms of material, personnel or infrastructure, this legislative period needs a real change that can be felt in the troops, otherwise it would be the turning point,” said the head of the Bundeswehr Association.
Wüstner currently considers the troops to be neither fully operational nor ready to defend themselves. “The Bundeswehr was not like that at the beginning of the war in Ukraine. It is currently fulfilling the assigned tasks, but that is nothing compared to what we will have to bring to NATO in the future,” said Wüstner. The material deliveries to the Ukraine created further gaps. “I doubt whether we can fulfill the commitments to NATO from 2025 if we don’t finally accelerate. Germany has pledged around 60 aircraft, 20 ships, 20,000 soldiers and 7,000 vehicles.”
12:03 a.m
EU imposes sanctions on Wagner mercenaries
The European Union imposes sanctions on the Russian mercenary group Wagner. The EU announced that eleven individuals and seven organizations with connections to the Wagner Group had been placed on the sanctions list. The group’s activities endanger international peace and security because it does not operate within a legal framework.