Putin speech expected: Experts expect drastic step

International

the war in Ukraine has been going on for almost eleven months now. Russia has again attacked important infrastructure in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian information, and also hit a residential building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Attacks on Ukrainian territory have also come from Belarus.

meanwhile has Great Britain announced that it would hand over battle tanks to Ukraine, according to the British seat of government Downing Street. Most recently, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that an international special court would hold the Russian leadership accountable for aggressive wars. The fighting in Ukraine and negotiations about international arms deliveries continue.

January 18th

8.09 a.m .: Putin speech: Experts expect further escalation

According to the US Institute for War Studies (ISW), Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin could announce a second wave of mobilization for the war against Ukraine in the coming days. The Washington-based think tank wrote in its most recent report on Tuesday evening (local time) that Putin could possibly already announce this at a performance planned for Wednesday in St. Petersburg.

Putin could also use the opportunity to declare war on Ukraine, it said. In Russia, the invasion of Ukraine, which began at the end of February 2022, is officially known as a “military special operation”. Public use of the term “war” is punishable under criminal law.

The think tank ISW cites, among other things, Russian military bloggers. Also Ukrainian and Western secret services but repeatedly warned against Putin’s mobilization preparations for mid-January, it said.

7.54 a.m .: Moscow’s UN representative blames Kyiv for the rocket hit in Dnipro

Russia’s UN representative Vasily Nebensia has again denied Moscow’s responsibility for the deadly rocket hit in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro and blamed it on Kyiv. “Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense forces shot down a Russian missile aimed at a power infrastructure object,” Nebensia said at the UN Security Council meeting in New York on Tuesday evening.

The Ukrainians’ anti-aircraft defenses were located in a residential area, which violates international norms. That’s why the rocket fell on a residential building, said the top diplomat. Kyiv denies shooting it down.

Several rockets fell in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro last weekend, killing more than 40 people in an apartment building.Image: AP / Evgeniy Maloletka

January 17th

9:33 p.m .: The EU Commission sees a need for discussion about Baerbock’s Ukraine special tribunal

The EU Commission reacted cautiously to the push by Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) for a new type of special tribunal for Ukraine. EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said in Strasbourg on Tuesday that “complex legal and political issues” had to be clarified. There is a need to discuss this with the EU countries and international partners. Above all, the “international character” of such a special court must be ensured, emphasized Reynders.

8:24 p.m .: Biden and Scholz are on the phone again about the Ukraine war

US President Joe Biden and Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke to each other again on Tuesday. The White House said the conversation was about support for Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia. The Federal Chancellery initially gave no information about the call.

5:46 p.m.: Nine Ukrainian power plants damaged by Russian missiles

According to Ukrainian sources, the Russian rocket attack last Saturday was one of the most devastating since the beginning of the war, also with regard to the energy supply. The attack damaged eight blocks of thermal power plants in the west and one in the east of the country, Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal said in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Russia has been bombing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for months.Image: AP / Evgeniy Maloletka

Last weekend, the region around the capital Kyiv and Kharkiv in the east were affected by the most violent wave of attacks so far this year. At least 45 died in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro People by a Russian rocket hitting a house.

11.41 a.m .: Selenskyj adviser resigns because of statements about the Dnipro attack

After a wave of public outrage, the external adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, Oleksiy Arestovych, resigned. “I want to show an example of civilized behavior,” the 47-year-old wrote on Tuesday Facebook. The reason for the resignation was his statement in a live Internet broadcast on Sunday night. Arestovych named Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses as a possible reason for the impact of a Russian missile on a residential building in the city of Dnipro.

The Russian attack on the residential building in Dnipro caused horror around the world.Image: State Emergency Service of Ukraine / Pavel Petrov

After the statement, the 47-year-old was met with a wave of indignation. Among other things, he became work accused of Russian propaganda. The Ukrainian Air Force also dismissed the possibility that it might be able to intercept Russian Ch-22 supersonic missiles. Previous official publications on this were not correct. Arestovych apologized for the statement to the bereaved on Tuesday night.

7.23 a.m .: Selenskyj demands a quick decision on the export of battle tanks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has serious concerns about the Russian missile attack on the industrial city of Dnipro weapons demanded from the West and Britain therefore praised. “A new defense aid package has been announced – exactly what is needed: main battle tanks, other armored vehicles and artillery,” the 44-year-old said in his daily video address on Monday evening. He awaits decisions on further arms deliveries from the World Economic Forum in Davos, which begins on Tuesday, and the Ukraine Contact Group conference in Ramstein.

In his video message, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyj called for more battle tanks.Image: AP / Jacquelyn Martin

According to Zelensky, around 40 people died when a Russian missile hit a residential building in the industrial city of Dnipro over the weekend. About two dozen are still missing. Ukraine will do everything in its power to find those responsible and bring them to justice. At the same time, the President warned the West to hurry to deliver the desired tanks. Russia’s attack on Dnipro and its new attempts to take the initiative in the war required “new solutions” and quicker decisions.

Zelenskyy pointed out the strong Russian troop concentrations in the Donbass, especially around the cities of Bakhmut and Soledar, but also in southern Ukraine. “We will see what Russia is preparing here,” said the President.

7.06 a.m .: UN Secretary-General condemns attacks on Dnipro

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the deadly attack on a residential building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Guterres said it was “another example of an alleged violation of martial law,” his spokeswoman Stephanie Tremblay said on Monday. The attack on a residential building in Dnipro on Saturday night was one of the deadliest attacks in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, she added.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres harshly criticized the attacks on Dnipro.Image: AP / Mary Altaffer

The UN coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, has called for an “investigation into suspected war crimes and the prosecution of the suspects,” said Tremblay.

So far, 40 dead and 75 injured have been registered in Dnipro. According to Tremblay, the numbers are likely to increase during the rescue work. “More than a thousand people have been made homeless by the attack,” added the Guterres spokeswoman. The UN is helping them find new shelter and supporting them with the distribution of blankets, warm clothing and medicine.

You can find older news about the war in Ukraine here.

(With material from dpa/AFP)