Day 414 since the beginning of the war: Parts of the Ukrainian troops are to withdraw from Bakhmut. According to Ukraine, there is heavy fighting on the Eastern Front. All information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Ukraine bans athletes from competing with Russians
6:24 p.m.: In Ukraine, the Ministry of Sport has banned official delegations from participating in international competitions involving Russians and Belarusians. The ministry regulation was published on Friday night. In the event of violations, the national sports federations are threatened with the withdrawal of their official status. The participation of Russians and Belarusians in international competitions should be monitored by the associations themselves.
The ordinance was preceded by a cabinet decision at the end of March. Kiev had previously discussed a boycott of next year’s Summer Olympics in Paris if Russian or Belarusian athletes were allowed to attend. A few weeks ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that athletes from Russia and Belarus should be allowed back into international competitions as neutral athletes under certain conditions. There was much criticism of the decision.
Ukraine: Find more Chinese components in Russian weapons
5:14 p.m.: According to Ukraine, more and more Chinese components are found in Russian weapon systems. The composition of the weapons seized on the battlefield has changed, government adviser Wladyslaw Wlasiuk told Reuters news agency via video link. “The trend is now towards fewer components from Western production, but more components – not difficult to guess which country,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s adviser on sanctions policy. “Of course China.”
A fire control system in Russian tanks previously manufactured in France has also been replaced by one from the People’s Republic. Wlasiuk specifically mentioned the Chinese companies China North Industries Group (Norinco) and Xinxing Guangzhou Import & Export in connection with the components. He did not say exactly what they should have delivered. A Norinco employee, who asked not to be named, said no armaments were being shipped to Russia.
Reuters could not verify the Ukrainian information. It also remained unclear whether the components described were originally intended for non-military use or were imported into Russia by a third party.
Russian oil exports higher than before the war
4:36 p.m.: Russian oil exports rose to their highest level in almost three years in March, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The country exported 8.1 million barrels a day of crude oil and refined products such as diesel last month, the most since April 2020, the IEA said on Friday. However, revenue fell 43 percent year-on-year due to Western sanctions.
According to the IEA, Russia took in 12.7 billion dollars (115.19 billion euros) in March. That was a million dollars more than in February, as the country increased its oil exports by 600,000 barrels per day month-on-month – including exports of oil products by 450,000 barrels per day to 3.1 million barrels. Diesel deliveries to Turkey, for example, were at their highest level since 2018 in March.
Because of the Ukraine war, the West introduced a price cap for Russian crude oil of $60 a barrel in early December. In addition, a price cap for Russian petroleum products has recently been in place. Moscow is therefore looking for new buyers for its oil. Exports to India, for example, increased very strongly.
Largest Russian union cancels marches on May 1st
16.30 o’clock: Russia’s largest trade union has canceled Labor Day events scheduled for May 1 over an alleged heightened terrorist threat related to the offensive in Ukraine. “There will be no marches or rallies in the capital, but a solemn meeting” with union activists and partners, the deputy chairman of the trade union federation, Alexander Shershukov, said on Friday.
