Newsletter 06/05/2024
Daily news digest
In Netherlands, Ukrainian soldiers undergoing rehabilitation and volunteers assemble drones for AFU
In the Netherlands, Ukrainian soldiers undergoing rehabilitation and volunteers are assembling drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Volunteers are looking for funding and ordering parts, while the military assemble drones. Professional instructors help beginners. The finished device is thoroughly tested before being sent to Ukraine.
Top
Ukraine sees no legal grounds for recognizing Putin as legitimate President of Russia - MFA
MFA Ukraine recalled that during the so-called March "elections," Russia violated numerous international norms that serve as the foundation for the modern system of international relations. In particular, the UN Charter, the Declaration on the Principles of International Law, the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and dozens of UN General Assembly resolutions.
Rheinmetall plans to send Ukraine hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds before year-end
According to CEO Armin Papperger, the industrial group is mainly focused on producing artillery shells and will deliver "hundreds of thousands of rounds" to Ukraine as early as this year. Those will include prototypes of artillery shells with a 100-km range.
NATO will directly intervene in war if Russia crosses one of two red lines - La Repubblica
"For the first time since the beginning of the war, NATO has identified at least two red lines in a very confidential manner and without official announcements, after crossing which direct intervention in the conflict in Ukraine may occur," this was reported by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica
The first red line concerns direct or indirect interference in the war against Ukraine by a third party. It is primarily about participation in the invasion from the north of Belarus.
The second red line is military provocations against the Baltic states, Poland or Moldova, which are possible during a period of possible confusion, such as during election campaigns, in Europe and the United States.
In Crimea, Ukraine’s Magura V5 naval drone sinks Russia’s speed boat
Video:Defence Intelligence of Ukraine
In the temporarily occupied Crimea, as a result of the operation run by Ukraine’s defense intelligence unit Group 13, the Black Sea Fleet’s high-speed boat was destroyed by a Magura V5 sea drone.
Ukraine already producing artillery rounds but still relying on international supplies - minister
Ukraine has already resumed domestic production of artillery ammunition, but, taking into account the huge demand from the Defense Forces, it still relies on supplies of shells from partner countries.
MoD of Italy confirms approval of aid package for Ukraine in coming weeks
"In the coming weeks, we will approve a new aid package for Ukraine so that it can continue to defend itself against Russia," Italian Defence Minister Guido Crozetto said at a meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly's Special Group on the Mediterranean and Middle East, which is currently taking place in the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
War
Russia forming offensive grouping toward Kharkiv but capturing city seen impossible - ISW
Ukrainian military observer Kostiantyn Mashovets noted that in Russia’s Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk regions, the invasion forces have amassed nearly 50,000 personnel as part of the Northern Grouping.
The Russian military is also reportedly preparing and forming the Northern Grouping of Forces from elements of the Leningrad Military District (LMD) to primarily operate in the Belgorod-Kharkiv operational direction.
Ukrainian paratroopers destroy Russian Lancet drone
The Air Assault Forces said that the target had been destroyed and the lives of Ukrainian service members, who could have been a target for it, had been saved.
Defense
Borrell announces opening of defense innovation office in Kyiv
According to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, in concrete terms, this integration means particularly to promote joint procurement between European and Ukrainian defense industries. The forum, which is taking place today in Brussels, should serve to identify concrete opportunities for joint initiatives between Ukrainian and European companies, boosting Ukrainian industrial production, helping Ukraine to rearm, and funding it, Borrell said.
Politics
Belgium in talks on bilateral security agreement with Ukraine – defense minister
"This is also proof of our commitment to support Ukraine not only during this war of liberation, but also in the long term," said Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder, adding that the Belgian defense industry is more than ever mobilized to support Ukraine.
Nuclear safety
Russians will not have enough water in coolers to launch ZNPP - Energy Minister
Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko considers it absurd that the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was launched by Russian personnel.
"Even if we imagine that the Russians will gather specialists in Russia and bring them to the plant, it will be unlicensed personnel. Their launch of the plant is absurd. It is impossible neither in the context of Ukrainian legislation nor even Russian and, of course, international law," the minister said.
Publication
Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation & Development of Germany
Both Ukrainian and German governments have been intensively preparing for the Third Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) which will take place on June 11-12. This spring saw several preparatory events, including conferences on "Creating opportunities, building the moment: Ukraine’s transformative urban reconstruction", "Diaspora and the global Ukrainian community - strong partners in the recovery and restoration of Ukraine", and "Towards a skilled workforce for recovery of Ukraine's human capital” among other bilateral gatherings.
On top of that, at the suggestion of Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Svenja Schulze, preparations have been launched for international initiative "Highly-skilled personnel for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine" and a document was adopted containing among its key previsions the mobilization of the private sector’s capabilities to facilitate the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.