Day 324 since the beginning of the war: Ukraine continues to hold positions in Soledar. Poland demands more than 14 Leopard tanks for Kyiv. All information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Poland: Ukraine needs more than 14 Leopard tanks
1.21 am: Poland is urging Ukraine to get more than 14 Leopard main battle tanks from a coalition of western states. “Poland will demand the creation of larger military units that will be of military importance in the defense of Ukraine,” Polish ambassador to Germany Dariusz Pawlos told Funke media group newspapers, according to a preliminary report. “Such a formation, equipped with professional equipment, will be able to establish a serious blockade against Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
Former NATO commander calls for fighter jets for Ukraine
12:30 a.m.: Former NATO commander-in-chief in Europe James Stavridis advocates the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine. In the ZDF program “Maybrit Illner” Stavridis says: “I do think that Ukraine needs combat aircraft. Specifically, he advocates making Kyiv MIG29s from Poland and F16s from the USA available. MIG29s could be delivered directly, the Ukrainians knew how to operate them.”Ukrainian pilots could then be trained on the F16 “via a second, more complicated wire that takes more time.” “It’s a relatively simple aircraft that’s easy to learn.” The delivery of The former US admiral called Western tanks to the Ukraine “of critical importance”, adding that this type of arming of the Ukrainian troops is important for ground combat, regardless of which NATO country the tanks come from.
Slovakia allows fighters to travel to Ukraine
12:33 a.m.: Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová has allowed seven compatriots to volunteer in the Ukraine conflict. According to the Slovakian newspaper “Pravda”, there were even more requests, which were rejected for security reasons. There are fears that foreigners are easy targets for Russian troops, according to former General Pavel Macek. In Slovakia, Article 392 of the Criminal Code actually prohibits citizens from fighting in a foreign army. According to Pravda, however, the Attorney General’s Office interprets the passage in such a way that a permit is required for such activities. This can be issued under the Recruitment Act, which also applies to foreign armed forces. The President must sign the approval.
Americans released from Russian captivity
12:05 a.m.: The American Taylor Dudley has been released from Russian custody after around nine months. This was announced by former diplomat Bill Richardson on Thursday (local time), who said he had negotiated the release. The 35-year-old former marine was said to have been in Russian captivity since April. According to CNN, he was arrested by Russian border officials when he traveled from Poland to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad in April.
Zelenskyj: Ukrainian soldiers hold positions in Soledar
10:09 p.m.: Ukrainian soldiers in the hard-fought town of Soledar are holding their positions, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In doing so, they inflicted significant losses on the Russian troops, says Zelenskyj in his evening video address. The information cannot be independently verified. A Russian statement is not available.
Finland signals readiness for tank deliveries
9:14 p.m.: In the debate over the supply of main battle tanks to Ukraine, Finland has signaled a cautious willingness to hand over Leopard 2 tanks to the country attacked by Russia. If there is a common European approach to support Ukraine in this regard, a contribution from Finland is also needed, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö told the STT news agency on Thursday.
However, Finland is in a special position because it is not yet a NATO member and borders directly on Russia. If tanks are handed over to Ukraine, the Finnish contribution cannot be particularly large.
According to STT, Finland has more than 200 German-made Leopard 2 tanks. As a rule, however, the Federal Republic of Germany has to approve the transfer of armaments from German production to third parties.
Kyiv sends reinforcements and supplies to Soledar and Bakhmut
6:12 p.m.: The Ukrainian troops in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Bakhmut and Soledar, who have been fending off heavy Russian attacks for days, are receiving reinforcements and supplies. The soldiers there will be provided with all the support they need, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a general staff meeting in Kyiv on Thursday.