Massive missile attacks on Ukraine – hitting several thermal power plants
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“Russia’s goal is to intercept weapons before they reach the front.”
According to Ukraine, Russia has once again attacked the country's energy infrastructure. “Now that weapons are expected to be delivered from the West, the attacks will be more intense,” said Christoph Wanner, a WELT correspondent from Moscow.
The Russian army attacked Ukraine again with missiles. The Ukrainian side announced that 21 out of 34 missiles and cruise missiles had been shot down. Meanwhile, four thermal power plants were damaged and an engineer was injured.
RRussia struck Ukraine with new large-scale missile attacks. The Kiev Air Force reported on Saturday morning that 21 out of 34 missiles and cruise missiles of various types had been shot down. She added that the attacks came from the air, the Black Sea and land. Energy facilities were attacked in the Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions, Energy Minister Herman Haloshenko said on Telegram. An engineer was injured.
Energy company DTEK said a total of four thermal power plants suffered severe damage. People were injured. “You will receive the help you need,” the company said. Workers are currently trying to repair the damage.
Weather alert throughout the country
There was previously a weather alert across the country. According to the Ministry of Energy in Kiev, the air strikes primarily targeted energy facilities. Attacks were reported in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv (formerly Limburg), and Ivano-Frankivsk. According to the authorities, two energy facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk region were bombed.
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„Permanent neutrality”
The authorities also reported that several explosions occurred again in the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, which was subjected to repeated bombing and is not far from the Russian border. It was said that the grounds of a hospital were also subjected to Russian bombing. Buildings were damaged by the pressure wave, and some windows were shattered. A patient was injured in her bed. Authorities also released photos of the damage.
The current situation in Ukraine
Source: Infographic Welt
Russia, which has brought death and destruction to the neighboring country with its aggressive war on Ukraine for more than two years, has also been the target of attacks again. Russian air defenses said that the Ukrainian side intercepted and destroyed 66 drones in the Krasnodar region. Local authorities said that a fire also damaged facilities at an oil processing company in the area. No one is hurt. The Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, once again reported shooting down two drones. The information cannot be verified initially.
The governor of Russia's Belgorod border region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said five people were injured in a drone attack on a village on the border.
Ukraine bombs targets in Russia. Poland arrests a Russian soldier on the border. All information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
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Parliament in Kyiv approves the use of prisoners on the front
6:02 AM: The Ukrainian parliament approved a bill allowing the deployment of prisoners to the front. As MP Olena Shuljak announced on Facebook, deputies in Kiev voted in favor of the project in the second reading with 279 yes votes.
In exchange for amnesty, this allows imprisoned criminals to be deployed in the ranks of the Ukrainian armed forces on the front. According to Shuljak, this should only happen on a voluntary basis. In addition, those affected may have less than three years of imprisonment remaining. Dangerous criminals imprisoned for multiple murders, rapes or attacks on national security are not given the opportunity.
Deputy Shuliak emphasizes that before the operation is performed, the physical and mental condition of the prisoners is also examined. Before the law enters into force, it must be signed by the Speaker of Parliament and the President of the Republic.
Ukraine bombs Russian targets – fires and casualties
5:48 AM: According to Russian sources, a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire in a refinery in the Russian Krasnodar region. The regional administration said via the short message service „Telegram” that about six drones were shot down, but the debris fell on the refinery near the village of Yurovka and led to a fire. Several tanks were damaged.
In addition, according to Russian sources, at least eight people were injured and several homes and cars were damaged in a Ukrainian airstrike in Russia’s Belgorod region. The governor of the region bordering Ukraine said that an 11-year-old girl was among the injured and was taken to hospital.
Great Britain wants to expel the Russian military attaché
8:38 pm: Britain announced the imminent expulsion of the Russian military attaché. In fact, he is a „little-known military intelligence officer,” Home Secretary James Cleverley said in Parliament in London. A military attaché is a member of the armed forces who serves in an embassy and represents his country’s defense sector abroad.
Cleverley also announced that several Russian properties on British soil that London suspected were being used for „intelligence purposes” would lose their diplomatic status. Cleverly also reveals “new restrictions on Russian diplomatic visas”, in particular limiting the amount of time Russian diplomats can spend in the UK. The Russian ambassador was summoned and informed of the procedures.
Russia rejects the accusations against military attaché Maxim Ilovik and criticizes the loss of diplomatic status for Russian properties. „London decided to justify its anti-Russian measures with lies,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in Moscow. It announced a „strong response” from Russia without going into details.
GPS interference: Estonia appoints Russian charge d’affaires
7:23 pm: Estonia has summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Tallinn due to a disruption in GPS satellite navigation in the Baltic Sea region. Foreign Minister Margos Tsahkna said in Tallinn that so-called jamming – that is, active disruption of the signal – by Russia is becoming increasingly common. This causes confusion and has a major impact on civil aviation. Aircraft use a Global Positioning System (GPS) signal to determine their location and for navigation.
Der Beginn des Europawahlkampfs der österreichischen Grünen ist von Turbulenzen um Spitzenkandidatin Lena Schilling überlagert worden. Am Mittwoch erschien in der österreichischen Zeitung „Der Standard“ ein Bericht, in dem Schilling zwar keine rechtlichen – oder im engeren Sinne politischen – Vorwürfe gemacht werden, aber in dem ein äußerst ungünstiges Charakterbild gezeichnet wird.
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Die Grünen sahen sich veranlasst, am Mittwoch kurzfristig eine Pressekonferenz einzuberufen, auf der sich die Parteispitze mit markigen Worten hinter ihre Europa-Spitzenkandidatin stellt. Der Grünen-Vorsitzende und Vizekanzler Werner Kogler sprach von einem „anonymen Gemurkse“ und „Gefurze“, durch das man sich nicht beeindrucken lassen werde.
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Anlass der Berichterstattung ist eine gerichtliche Unterlassungserklärung, mit der sich Schilling verpflichtet, bestimmte Behauptungen über Personen aus ihrem privaten Umfeld nicht mehr zu verbreiten. Daran anknüpfend zitiert die Zeitung mehrere anonyme Gesprächspartner in einer Weise, die es nahelegt, dass die junge politische Quereinsteigerin – bekanntgeworden als Klimaaktivistin – häufiger falsche abträgliche Behauptungen über andere Personen in die Welt setze. Schilling mochte sich in der Sache nicht äußern, da es sich um ihr Privatleben handle. Es werde gegen sie mit Gerüchten und Unterstellungen „kampagnisiert“.
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Zeitung kritisiert Reaktion des Parteivorsitzenden
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Die Chefredaktion des linksliberalen Blattes rügte ihrerseits, dass der Grünen-Vorsitzende journalistische Arbeit als „Gefurze“ bezeichne. Man könne jede behauptete Einzelheit belegen. Veröffentlicht wurde – bei geschwärzten Namen – die Unterlassungserklärung. In dem Artikel wird ausführlich begründet, warum man sich entschlossen habe, in dieser Weise über Dinge zu berichten, die die Privatsphäre berühren. Schilling sei Spitzenkandidatin, werde wahrscheinlich ins Europaparlament einziehen und könnte dort die österreichische Grünen-Delegation anführen. Daher sei sie eine Person öffentlichen Interesses, und es sei relevant, wie sie sich gegenüber Kollegen und auch Medien verhalte.
In einem Fall geht es darum, dass sie einem Journalisten sexuelle Belästigung vorgeworfen haben soll. Der Mann sei von einer Kündigung bedroht gewesen, doch habe eine Untersuchung durch seinen Arbeitgeber keine Hinweise darauf ergeben, dass an dem Vorwurf etwas dran sei.
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Die Grünen sprachen hingegen von einer „organisierten Kampagne“. Die Fraktionsvorsitzende Sigrid Maurer meinte, das sei auch direkt gegen junge Frauen gerichtet. Klimaschutzministerin Leonore Gewessler bezeichnete die Vorwürfe als „hemmungslos“. Schilling selbst äußerte, dass sie lieber über politische Inhalte diskutieren wolle, nämlich den Klimaschutz.
The Crimean Bridge is a symbol of power for Putin – and a tempting target for Ukraine. But a Ukrainian intelligence expert recommends a different strategy in the war.
Kiev – The Russian regime warned of a „devastating retaliatory strike” if Ukraine attacks the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula or the Crimean bridgehead again. The reason: There is speculation in Russia that Ukraine may be planning a major attack – on the occasion of “Victory Day,” which Russia marks on May 9 with an exhibition of captured military equipment. A simultaneous attack on the bridge connecting the peninsula to mainland Russia, It would be humiliating Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This was announced by a Ukrainian military intelligence officer in the British newspaper in April Watchman To: “We will destroy the bridge in the first half of 2024” The destruction of the bridge, which has already been attacked twice, is “inevitable.”
Now a Ukrainian intelligence expert is explicitly warning against destroying the Crimean Bridge. This is not out of fear of Putin’s revenge, but because he considers this a waste of Ukraine’s already scarce military resources.
“What will the destruction of the Crimean Bridge bring us?” Warning against wrong tactics in the Ukraine war
“What will the destruction of the Crimean Bridge bring us?” asks Ivan Stupak, a former employee of the Ukrainian Internal Intelligence Service. Interview with Ukrainian News Agency Union. Destroying the Crimean Bridge will be complex and difficult. The bridge was repeatedly damaged in previous attacks, but has since been restored. „It’s not doing well.”
Stupak believes that future attempts to destroy the bridge would be a waste of energy. Especially since Russia has now responded: it is clear that Putin’s army is no longer using the bridge for military purposes.
A Ukrainian open source agency recently found using satellite images that far fewer trains pass through the Kerch Bridge than in the past. Instead, Russia is now increasingly using land routes into the annexed areas of eastern Ukraine to supply the front lines of the Ukrainian war.
The head of Ukrainian domestic intelligence, Wasyl Malik, said in March 2024 that Russia would no longer use the Crimean bridge to deliver weapons. Trains that passed the bridge now transport only people and consumer goods.
In the war against Russia, Ukraine should attack other targets instead of the Crimean bridgehead
Ukrainian military expert Stupak recommends in an interview with Union Therefore, no more missiles and ammunition are wasted on attacks on the Kerch Bridge. Instead, the Ukrainian military should attack Russian targets whose destruction would be of greater benefit. Stupak cites „headquarters and depots” as examples, as well as air defense complexes, aircraft and airfields.
For example, if Ukraine destroyed a Russian S300 anti-aircraft missile complex, this would directly help Ukrainian defense: Russia could then immediately shoot down fewer Ukrainian planes and drop fewer missiles on soldiers, “meaning we don’t lose.” Any military or military forces.” Civilians. This is a great added value. This is also a direct effect.” Because they meant to “destroy Putin’s money.”
Experts recommend launching attacks on Russian fighter planes instead of the Crimean bridge
The Ukrainian expert said that the most important thing for Ukrainian defense in the war against Russia is the destruction of Russian fighter planes carrying high-explosive glide bombs. As a result of Russia’s use of so-called FAB bombs, the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka fell, which could now be repeated in the currently besieged city of Chasiv Yar.
The military expert warns that FAF glide bombs will penetrate Ukrainian defenses “like can launchers.” Therefore, Ukraine must destroy Russian combat aircraft directly where they are stationed or when they approach Ukraine. Stupak said that would be a „great advantage and opportunity to stop the Russian advance,” unlike the elaborate attacks on the Crimean bridge.
The latter, Stupak sees, are primarily PR campaigns “for Facebook”: “There will then be likes, memes and reposts for two days,” “But what will it bring us and how will it affect the situation at the front?” Decisive. (SMU)
