3:32 PM: Expert – Terrorism pays off for Russia in Ukraine’s counterattack
For Nico Lang, senior fellow at the Munich Security Conference and head of the management team at the Federal Ministry of Defense until the beginning of 2022, the slow progression of the Ukrainian counteroffensive is the result of the Russian war: By attacking cities like Kiev or Kryvyj Rih, Ukraine had to save resources to pull the defense off. Air from the front: “So you can say that terrorism pays off for Russia because it gives Russia the opportunity to attack Ukrainian forces on the front line with helicopters and drones.”
In a current BR24 interview for „Possoch Explains” Lange said that this is gradually improving as the West supplies air defense systems, but „at the moment, this is clearly a big problem for Ukraine”. The West’s expectations regarding the Ukrainian counterattack are very high: “Now we all have to come to terms with the fact that it takes a long time, that it is difficult and that for long periods you cannot even judge how things will turn out in reality.
3:17 PM: Lithuania’s president wants more EU sanctions against Russia
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda insists that the European Union take tougher punitive measures against Russia. „For the sanctions to be effective, we call for the abolition of all exceptions that only lead to loopholes,” Nauseda said in Vilnius at a meeting with ambassadors from other EU countries. The EU should consider another package of sanctions, also against the Russian state-controlled nuclear corporation Rosatom. The EU member states only approved a new package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday – already the eleventh.
3:02 PM: Chief Wagner – Russian military leadership is spreading lies about the war situation
The head of the Russian Special Army Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, accused the Russian military leadership of lying and hiding facts about the situation on the front in Ukraine. Prigozhin said in an audio message to Telegram that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov had presented „nonsense” to President Putin. This is in the hope that such „lies” must be outrageous enough for Putin to believe. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have achieved great success.
„These are large areas that we have lost,” said Prigozhin. The losses among the Russians are also great. There are „enormous problems” that remain under wraps. On the other hand, the army command reported without evidence an alleged mass killing and technological destruction on the Ukrainian side. The commander of the mercenary force repeatedly accused Shoigu and Gerasimov of incompetence. Again he called for mobilization to prevent Russia’s defeat.
2:55 pm: Poland dismisses reports of involvement in Nord Stream sabotage
Poland has denied reports of possible involvement in the bombing of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea last fall. „There are no indications that Polish citizens were involved in the Nord Stream pipeline bombing,” the Department of Organized Crime at the National Prosecutor’s Office in Gdansk told dpa. However, investigations indicated that a yacht previously reported to be used by a sabotage team had sailed to Poland.
Two weeks ago, the Wall Street Journal reported that German investigators were examining evidence that the sabotage team could have used Poland as an operational base. According to the report, the sailing yacht Andromeda, which was targeted by investigators in connection with the attacks, entered Polish territorial waters. There are also indications that Poland may have acted as a logistical and financial hub in the attack.
2.48pm: Selenskyj warns of 'terrorist act’ at Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again accused Russia of planning a „terrorist act” at the occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. „You have prepared everything for this,” the head of state said in a video. The SBU has information on her. At the same time, Zelensky warned that such an attack on Europe’s largest nuclear power plant could have consequences far beyond Ukraine. „Radioactivity knows no borders,” he said.
On Wednesday, the head of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Service, Kirillo Budanov, spoke of Russian preparations to blow up the cooling water pool at the power station. The cooling systems at the temporary storage facility for nuclear waste and shutdown reactors receive water from this. Moscow has repeatedly denied such allegations. Russia occupied the nuclear power plant immediately after invading the neighboring country 16 months ago.
2.30pm: Ukraine PM – Much territory has been recaptured, but offensive could 'take time’.
According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the Ukrainian military has now recaptured eight villages and 113 square kilometers of occupied territory in the ongoing counteroffensive. „It’s a vast land,” Shmyhal said at the London Reconstruction Conference. In addition, Ukrainian forces advanced up to seven kilometers deep into Russian-occupied territory.
„We have good results,” said Shmyhal. However, he urged patience. Progress was also slowed by minefields laid by the Russians. The Ukrainian Prime Minister said: „We will not release our soldiers, as the Russians do.” Every life counts. He added, “We will carry out very deliberate offensive operations. This is why it may take some time. However, they are „quite optimistic” that they will be able to recover all the territories occupied by Russia.
2:23 pm: The European Union is paying another 1.5 billion euros in aid to Ukraine
In light of Russia’s war of aggression, the European Union has provided Ukraine with 1.5 billion euros in other aid. The money is intended to ensure the state can pay wages and pensions and maintain hospitals, schools and accommodation for refugees, the EU Commission announced in Brussels. In addition, the water supply, roads and bridges will be restored. Since the war broke out 16 months ago, Ukraine has received more than 70 billion euros in aid from the European Union.
„Europe keeps its word. There is more to come. We have just proposed continued financial support for Ukraine until 2027,” said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. From 2024 to 2027, it is planned that 50 billion euros will flow into the financial reserve of Ukraine. The 27 member states have yet to agree to this proposal. According to the Commission, 1.5 billion euros is part of an aid package amounting to 18 billion euros.
1:49 p.m.: IOC President Bach – Ukraine penalizes its athletes over Russia’s war
IOC President Thomas Bach once again criticized Ukraine’s boycott for readmission of athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions. „Ukrainian athletes are being punished by their government because of the war started by the governments of Russia and Belarus,” the IOC president said at the special session of the IOC in Lausanne. Bach added that Ukraine’s actions are difficult to understand.
By order of the Ukrainian Ministry of Sports, athletes from the country are not allowed to participate in competitions that also include Russian and Belarusian athletes. Ukraine is also threatening to boycott the 2024 Paris Summer Games if Russia and Belarus are also represented there. In March, the International Olympic Committee paved the way for the reinstatement of Russians and Belarusians under conditions. A decision on the permission to start the Olympics will have to be made only at a later date.
1:30 pm: Russia sees Ukrainian forces regroup
According to Russian information, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have reduced their counterattack in the regions occupied by Russia, and are now in the process of „regrouping” their forces. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting of the National Security Council that Kiev forces had previously „suffered significant losses,” according to state news agencies.
He also stated that Western military support to Ukraine on the battlefield is of no consequence — although Moscow has always stressed that arms supplies unnecessarily prolong the conflict. „We don’t see any threat from this mainly because we are building up reserves,” the defense secretary said, referring to Western arms shipments.
1 p.m.: Russian authorities – It will take weeks to repair the bridge to Crimea
Russian information reported that the repair of the bridge between Crimea and the mainland, which was damaged after a missile attack, could take several weeks. According to the RIA news agency, this is estimated by an employee of the Ministry of Transport sent by Russia. Russian sources reported that the Ukrainian army fired missiles at the Chonhar Bridge (in Russian: Chongar Bridge) and damaged it.
12:42 pm: The American reporter remains in detention in Russia
American journalist Ivan Gershkovich, who was arrested in Russia on espionage charges, remains in detention. A Moscow court rejected a renewed appeal by Gershkovitch, a local Reuters correspondent reported. His parents, Mikhail Gershkovich and Ella Melman, who left the Soviet Union for the United States in 1979, were in court to provide for their son. US Ambassador Lynn Tracy was not allowed into the room. The Wall Street Journal reporter was arrested on March 29 in the Ural city of Yekaterinburg. He is said to have collected state secrets around a military-industrial complex.
11:39 am: Russia dismisses alleged plans to attack nuclear power plants
The Russian government has denied Ukrainian allegations that it is planning a terrorist attack on the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant. This is another lie, says the spokesman for the presidential office, Dmitry Peskov. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said intelligence had received information that Russia was considering an attack that would release radioactivity.
11.35 am: Russia – The Ukrainian counterattack slows down
According to Russia, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are easing their counter-offensive and reorganizing themselves on the front line. But Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says in Moscow there is still a possibility to continue the offensive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted on Wednesday that the counterattack was „slower than expected”.
Map: the military situation in Ukraine