Several members of Ukrainian special forces were reportedly killed in an attack on the Tendera Spit in Kherson Oblast. Ukrainian special operations forces confirmed the deaths and said the dead were left behind to ensure the escape of the main force.
Russia claimed on Thursday that its military Re-entering the village of Robotyne, which Ukraine recaptured from its occupiers in August 2023. Russia’s state-run Interfax news agency quoted the Defense Ministry as saying that troops had occupied some buildings, but it was not clear whether Ukrainian troops had completely withdrawn. This has not been confirmed by reliable sources. Robotyne is located between Avdievka and Kherson, in the southeast of Zaporozhye Oblast, on the front line of Zaporozhye Oblast.
Ukrainian forces have shot down 10 Russian aircraft in as many days, most recently two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers on February 27According to the General Staff of Ukraine.
The British government said on Wednesday how Ukraine used donated cruise missiles was a “matter for the Ukrainian armed forces” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented on the possible involvement of Britain and France in targeting and that Germany would not engage in similar activities by launching Taurus missiles.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed via state media on Wednesday that its troops had Captured Petrovske, the former Ukrainian city was renamed Stepove, in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry warned on Wednesday against taking any action Russian interference in Moldova’s neighboring breakaway region of TransnistriaIts separatist leaders are said to have asked Moscow for “protection” – a tactic Russia has previously fomented to justify invading other countries.
Moldovan government says transitional separatists’ demands are promotional activity. Transnistria is a predominantly Russian-speaking region that is legally part of Moldova. In February 2022, Russian-backed Ukrainian militants also demanded Moscow’s “protection” before launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky raised the idea of joint arms production at a meeting. Summit of Southeast European Countries held in Tirana, capital of Albania. Zelensky proposed holding a Ukraine-Balkans defense forum in Kiev or Balkan capitals, similar to an initiative held with British and American arms companies last year. A joint statement signed by 10 countries at the summit said leaders were prepared to attend a Ukraine-led peace summit in Switzerland this spring to discuss Zelensky’s vision for peace.
Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Romania are all NATO members, have joined Western sanctions on Russia, and have shipped arms and equipment to Ukraine. Parts of the Balkans have important arms industries left over from the former Yugoslavia. Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Russia, and neither Belgrade nor Kiev recognize the independence of Kosovo, an Albanian enclave that claims independence, supports Ukraine and seeks to join the European Union and NATO.
The EU should consider using profits from frozen Russian assets to buy military supplies for Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.. Japan supports the idea and says the EU proposal appears to have a basis in international law.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his government was considering “temporarily” closing its border with Ukraine for goods amid tensions over low prices for Ukrainian grains. “We are discussing with the Ukrainian side the issue of temporarily closing the border and stopping general trade.” However, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Kubrakov said: “Ukraine will not close the border with Poland. No one from the Ukrainian side is negotiating on this. Our people are fighting for survival in a war with Russian invaders. For us, stable borders are a matter of survival.”
British Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell said on Wednesday that securing Ukraine’s victory over Russia was the “biggest test of our generation”. He added: “At the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting, it was clear that people have no illusions about what Russia is doing, and the United Nations and the UK highlighted how dangerous Putin’s behavior is for the entire world.”
Russian troops launched 42 attacks on Wednesday, targeting 11 communities along the Sumy Oblast border, Kyiv Independent reported. There were no reports of casualties or damage to local infrastructure.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend a diplomatic forum in Turkey from Friday, the two governments said. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Lavrov would meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
A court in southern Russia has sentenced a Ukrainian man to 11 years and six months in prison after convicting him of espionage for trying to buy secret missile parts for Ukraine.RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday.
China’s special envoy for Eurasia Li Hui will visit Russia, Ukraine and the EU headquarters this week for talks. China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the trip would be “the second round of shuttle diplomacy to seek a political solution to the Ukraine crisis,” adding that Li Keqiang would also travel to France, Germany and Poland.
