The Ukraine update: what happened last night
After the recent Russian rocket attacks on homes in the city of Uman, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for more weapons to protect the country. “Anti-aircraft defense, a modern air force, without which effective airspace defense is impossible, artillery, armored vehicles. Everything that is necessary to offer security to our cities, our villages, both in the rear and at the front,” said the 45-year-old on Friday in his daily video address.
In his speech, Zelenskyy recalled that at least 25 people, including 4 children, died as a result of the Russian rocket attack in the city of Uman. A mother and her three-year-old daughter were also killed by Russian fire in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Governor: Crimean fuel tank on fire – probably drone attack
On the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Russia, a fuel tank caught fire in the port city of Sevastopol – presumably as a result of a drone attack. According to the Russian state news agency Tass, Governor Mikhail Rasvozhayev wrote on Telegram on Saturday. Ukraine has announced several times that it will free Crimea, which was annexed in 2014, from Russian occupation. In various parts of the peninsula, in the course of Russia’s war of aggression against the neighboring country, there are incidents with drones, some with serious damage, injuries and deaths.
Criticism of EU neighbors’ import restrictions on agricultural products
However, Selenskyj also criticized the EU neighbors. The blockade of Ukrainian agricultural products by neighboring European countries sends a dangerous signal of crumbling solidarity. “Now that Russia, violating free trade, is trying to block the supply of agricultural products to the world market, it’s definitely not the time for anyone to follow the evil state and do something similar,” Zelenskyy said. Instead, a constructive solution in the interests of all must be found. He also discussed this with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.
EU Commission: Dispute over Ukrainian agricultural imports settled
Meanwhile, the EU Commission announced an agreement with several Eastern European countries in the dispute over agricultural imports from Ukraine. Concerns from farmers in several neighboring EU countries and Ukraine were taken into account, Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis wrote on Twitter on Friday. Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary will therefore lift their countermeasures. In return, there will be “extraordinary protective measures” for wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds. He did not give details.
The EU member states had previously agreed on Friday to suspend tariffs for another year. This is intended to strengthen the Ukrainian economy, as announced by the Swedish Council Presidency. The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU countries has signaled its support. Whether all countries welcomed the decision remained unclear – but unanimity is not required for a final decision.
Dead and injured in artillery shelling of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine
Meanwhile, not only Kiev but also the Russian side is complaining about dead civilians from artillery fire. Several people were killed and injured by shelling in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. According to local authorities on Friday, there were 9 dead and 16 injured. Among other things, a shared taxi caught fire and burned out completely as a result of the Ukrainian rocket fire. Kiev regularly denies attacks on civilian objects. Information from the war zone cannot be independently verified.
Putin signs new maximum penalties for treason and sabotage
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed tougher laws against high treason, sabotage and terrorism. The penalty for high treason is increased to life imprisonment, according to the text of the law published on Friday. Most recently, a Russian court sentenced Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Mursa to 25 years in prison for alleged high treason.
The Russian parliament, the State Duma, passed the corresponding laws ten days ago. In addition to the life sentence for high treason, the terms of imprisonment for other crimes have also been increased, in some cases significantly. For acts of sabotage, the maximum penalty is increased from 15 to 20 years. Numerous opponents of the war who had set fire to military district offices or damaged rails to prevent the transport of armaments were put on trial. The maximum sentence for “international terrorism” is increased from 10 to 12 years, and for aiding and abetting in such a case the minimum sentence is increased from 5 to 7 years.
That will be important on Saturday
The Russian head of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, is expected in Cuba. Moscow’s leaders are attempting to break through the isolation the country has fallen into because of its war of aggression against Ukraine by presenting itself as a vanguard against Western colonialism. In Africa in particular, but also in some parts of Asia and Latin America, this is beginning to succeed.
