French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed he did not rule out sending troops to Ukraine, saying the issue would “legitimately” arise if Russia broke through Ukrainian front lines and Kyiv made such a request, in an interview with the Economist published Thursday.
#AureFreePress #News #press #headline #Ukraine #Russia #Putin #EU #NATO #France

https://insiderpaper.com/macron-doesnt-rule-out-sending-troops-to-ukraine-if-russia-breaks-through-front-lines/

BREAKING NEWS 🚨

Update:

The US State Department has confirmed that Russia deployed prohibited chemical weapons against the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

According to the State Department, Russia utilized chlorpicrin against Ukrainian troops and employed chemical agents for quelling disturbances (riot control agents), thus violating the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
#AureFreePress #News #press #headline #Ukraine #Russia #BreakingNews #Breaking

BREAKING NEWS 🚨

"Russia used ‘Chemical Weapons’ against Ukrainian forces"
- US State Dept

Deeveloping Story...
#AureFreePress #News #press #headline #Ukraine #Russia #Putin #EU #NATO #Zelensky #war #Breaking #BreakingNews

We’re repairing it.

—-
Superyacht tied to Russian oligarch serviced in Everett

The $325 million vessel was recently seized by the U.S. government. Now, it's sitting in the Port of Everett and causing international intrigue.

#pnw #russia #ukraine

https://www.king5.com/mobile/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/superyacht-tied-to-russian-oligarch-serviced-everett/281-ecf97981-4296-4d00-bcb2-bc8b97f9e593

KING 5 Seattle

KING 5 News (NBC Seattle) Seattle Leading Local News: Weather, Traffic, Sports & More See Seattle through new lens with our flagship YouTube series, Local Lens Seattle! [KING 5 Media Group, a TEGNA company]

^YouTube

Since February 2022 grain exports from occupied Crimea have skyrocketed; it's widely assumed this is coming from newly occupied territories of #ukraine. A 'shadow fleet' exports it to Russia's partners around the world.

Despite attempts to hide, open source information can still reveal a great deal about these voyages.

In this case, we tracked two large cargo ships — new additions to the 'ghost fleet' — from Sevastopol to #Iran at every step of the way.

#osint

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2024/04/23/from-crimea-to-iran-two-more-ships-join-russias-grain-smuggling-fleet/

From Crimea to Iran: Two More Ships Join Russia’s Grain-Smuggling Fleet - bellingcat

The Zaid and Zafar sailed from a grain terminal in occupied Crimea and unloaded cargo in Iran — we followed them at every step.

^{Bellingcat Investigation Team (bellingcat)}

A wave of Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries deep inside #Russia has left the #Kremlin racing to defend its own territory while still waging war on its neighbor. But the attacks have also achieved the unthinkable — leaving the world’s largest petrostate running low on petrol.

Diesel prices for Russian consumers have skyrocketed, rising almost 10 percent in the past week alone.

https://www.politico.eu/article/vladimir-putin-russia-diesel-prices-skyrocket-ukraine-war-drone-strikes-oil-refineries/

#Ukraine

Putin’s fuel problem: How Ukraine is sapping Russia’s diesel and gasoline

Ukraine is taking out oil refineries inside Russia, cratering Moscow’s supplies and sending local prices soaring.

^{Gabriel Gavin (POLITICO)}

"The government has just approved the transfer of NBS anti-aircraft guns, tactical unmanned surveillance systems, as well as other essential material and technical assets to the AFU.

With each shipment, we affirm friendship 🇺🇦 to the nation and its fight against the aggressor #Russia, which is the biggest threat to world peace and security. #Latvia annually allocates 0.25% of GDP to the military support of #Ukraine."

- Evika #Silina, Prime Minister of Latvia

#EU #NATO

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1785279299278307482.html

A new model for the military in #Denmark, including obligatory military service also for girls from 2027.
After years of decline and reductions, it's amazing how the invasion of #Ukraine has changed the continent...

https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/ligestilling-og-laengere-tid-i-troejen-forstaa-den-nye-vaernepligt

Ligestilling og længere tid i trøjen: Forstå den nye værnepligt

Flere måneder i geledderne og opgaver i Nato-regi venter de værnepligtige, der med en ny politisk aftale får en mere markant rolle i det danske forsvar.   

^DR

This story is wild: Lidia Stepanivna Lomikovska, 98 years old, just walked for six days in her slippers to escape the Russians. By herself.

"I had to go through this war too, and in the end, I am left with nothing,” she said. “That war wasn’t like this one. I saw that war. Not a single house burned down. But now, everything is on fire."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/30/ukrainian-woman-98-walks-six-miles-alone-to-escape-russian-held-territory

#news #ukraine #war

Ukrainian woman, 98, walks six miles alone to escape Russian-held territory

Lidia Stepanivna Lomikovska reunited with family days after fleeing frontline town in her slippers and using a cane

^{Guardian staff reporter (The Guardian)}

2 years ago, #Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz outlined bold, long-term goals: Strengthen the country’s depleted military with extraordinary investments and adopt an assertive foreign policy defending global norms.

And he has mostly delivered on that promise, explains an expert on international security, who says the ‘legacy of his strategic pivot is likely to endure’

https://theconversation.com/germanys-turning-point-2-years-into-strategic-pivot-progress-made-bodes-well-for-the-us-nato-and-the-world-226072
#ForeignPolicy #NATO #Ukraine #News

Germany’s turning point: 2 years into strategic pivot, progress made bodes well for the US, NATO and the world

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz outlined bold, long-term goals: Strengthen the country’s depleted military with extraordinary investments and adopt assertive foreign policy defending global norms.

^{The Conversation}

Belarusian authorities are preparing children for war with the #EU

In orphanages, schools, and camps, the military teaches children how to handle weapons.

These children are covered by the Belarusian state program "Lessons of Courage", which is aimed at the total militarization of the younger generation. They think that what adults in uniform are doing to them, preparing them for war is right.

https://texty.org.ua/articles/112341/belarusian-authorities-are-preparing-children-war-eu/

#Ukraine #Russia #NATO #Belarus

Belarusian authorities are preparing children for war with the EU

In orphanages, schools, and camps, the military teaches children how to handle weapons. The Telegram channels of military brigades explain …

^{Mykhailo Tymoshenko (texty.org.ua)}

Members of the company tactical group "Steppe Wolves" of the Voluntary Formation of the Zaporizhzhia Territorial Community prepare a handmade small MLRS for firing toward Russian troops near a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine April 27. REUTERS/Stringer

@photography
@ukraine
#Ukraine
# Zaporizhzhia

Ukrainian forces dismiss as fake information about withdrawal of Abrams tanks from battlefield due to drones

The 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade of Ukraine's Armed Forces has dismissed as fake the report by the Associated Press that the Ukrainian Defence Forces have withdrawn US-supplied Abrams tanks from the battlefield due to the threat of Russian drone attacks.

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/04/27/7453276/
#news #ukraine

Ukrainian forces dismiss as fake information about withdrawal of Abrams tanks from battlefield due to drones

The 47th Separate Mechanised Brigade of Ukraine’s Armed Forces has dismissed as fake the report by the Associated Press that the Ukrainian Defence Forces have withdrawn US-supplied Abrams tanks from the battlefield due to the threat of Russian drone …

^{Ukrainska Pravda}

Agrivoltaics is the real game changer. Not only does it help mitigate global warming by producing electricity without polluting greenhouse gases, it can also help protect crops from extreme weather caused by climate change.

P.S. I'm hoping that aid agencies and local leaders in #Ukraine are actively looking towards #Agrivoltaics and batteries to make their grid more resilient and to replace the stations that Putin has destroyed.

WHEN...WHEN...WHEN!

Belgium will accelerate the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine, it will happen in 2024.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called the decision to supply F-16s "a big step for Ukraine's defense," recalling that Belgium had already been a member of the fighter jet coalition and had provided repairs for the delivered aircraft and training for Ukrainian pilots.
#AureFreePress #News #press #headline #Ukraine #belgium

The US will provide another $1 billion in aid to Ukraine – Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin.

This will include additional HIMARS ammunition, 155mm ammunition, air defense and armored vehicles.

Also this year, F-16 aircraft with trained pilots will begin arriving in Ukraine.
#AureFreePress #News #press #headline #Ukraine #Russia #Putin #EU #NATO #BreakingNews #Breaking

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during today's visit to Berlin:

"Let's be honest, in recent months NATO allies have not provided the support [to Ukraine] that we promised... But it is not too late for Ukraine to win, because even more help is on the way" said Stoltenberg.
#AureFreePress #News #press #headline #Ukraine #Russia #Putin #EU #NATO