May 9 Buonasera up-date
Russian and Ukrainian attacks, Germany, Russian TV protest, Azovstal, initiatives
Catching up…
EA Worldview’s Ukraine Up-date- hop over to Scott’s amazing hourly Ukraine up-date page. I’ll fill in with some bits and bobs.
Here are some other stories we’re following…
The Kyiv Independent: Ukrainian troops repel nine Russian attacks. Russian forces have reportedly sustained heavy casualties while advancing on the Ukrainian army positions in Donetsk and Luhansk regions losing 19 tanks, 20 armored combat vehicles, four special armored vehicles and six other vehicles. The Ukrainian forces have also launched a counter-offensive in Kherson.
Serious battles are said to be taking place around the towns of Rubizhne and Bilohorivka; the town of Popasna fell to Russian forces on Sunday.
Cabinet approves draft agreement to get $1.5 billion from World Bank. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the sum would be spent on public servants, government agencies, and other budget expenses.
Reuters: UK to provide Ukraine with additional $1.6 billion in military assistance.
The BBC: President Zelensky is calling for immediate efforts to unblock the country's ports so wheat can be exported overseas. Zelensky says it would help avert a global "food crisis [...] caused by Russia's aggressive actions".
The Guardian: European Council president Charles Michel forced to take cover from missile strike during Odesa visit.
EU Commission president Von der Leyen on her way to Hungary to speak with Orban about the EU’s 6th sanctions package against Russia.
French president Macron visited with German Chancellor Scholz today. Scholz said that no one could have known the war in Ukraine would break out, or that "thousands and thousands would experience death and destruction" as a result. Where has he been since 2014? Or before that? I mean, really?
Follow-up: An Italian parliamentary committee has begun an investigation into the spread of disinformation, reportedly amid suspicions that some Russian commentators hosted on television networks could be on Vladimir Putin’s payroll. (finally!)
CNN: US sanctions against Kremlin-controlled media companies and bans Russia from using some American consulting services- “The three television networks being sanctioned by the US are Channel One Russia, Television Station Russia-1 and NTV Broadcasting Company. Together, they received more than $300 million in advertising revenue from Western countries just last year, according to the official.”
The Victory Day parade and Putin’s speech were uneventful. Nothing new.
Russian satellite television menus were altered to show viewers in Moscow messages about the war in Ukraine: "You have the blood of thousands of Ukrainians and hundreds of dead children on your hands." "The TV and the authorities are lying. No to war."
Germany allows Ukrainian and Russian flags to be shown for 1 hour on May 9th. Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk confirmed that the Embassy had registered only one ceremony - at noon on May 8 in Tiergarten. in the center of Berlin. “There are 15 memorials in Berlin, so it will be forbidden for others, "he said.
Stoltenberg: NATO sees no change in Russian nuclear strategy since Feb. 24.
ICYMI: Live- Press Conference with Avozstal Fighters
The presser was live-streamed on May 8.
President Zelensky’s response to Putin’s May 9th
Institute for the Study of War: Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv Oblast will likely advance to Russian border in coming days or weeks. The Ukrainian counteroffensive northeast of Kharkiv is making significant progress.
The concern over food security has been discussed by president Zelensky and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Who believes him?
Adam Staten, Russia Spending an Estimated $900 Million a Day on Ukraine War
As Russia continues its invasion in Ukraine, the heavy toll taken by Russia's economy could be felt for years to come.
Russia's invasion is now in its third month, and sustaining the military offensive requires approximately $900 million a day, Sean Spoonts, editor-in-chief of SOFREP, a media outlet focused on military news, told Newsweek.
Dean Kirby, Putin sends Mariupol survivors to remote corners of Russia as investigation reveals network of 66 camps
Thousands of Ukrainians have been sent to remote camps up to 5,500 miles from their homes as Vladimir Putin’s officials follow Kremlin orders to disperse them across Russia, i can reveal.
They include survivors from the besieged port city of Mariupol, where civilians remain trapped at the Azovstal steel plant as Russian forces make a final push to subdue to city’s last defenders.
Edward Lucas- Germany calling- CEPA
Responsibility is dawning but apologies are due: Few things matter more for European security than the extent of Germany’s willingness to shoulder its responsibilities. Agonizingly slowly and far too late, the government in Berlin is now trying to wriggle out of Russia’s energy embrace and offering to send Ukraine at least some of the weapons it needs.
Initiatives…
The humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Ukraine continues to galvanise our community. Led by the Ukraine Taskforce, the Collegiate University has developed a number of programmes to support scholars and students affected by the war.
Dignitaries in Ukraine, May 8th Victory Day
And the best of the best…U2 played in the underground in Kyiv. I’ve seen them in Toronto several times and in Bologna once but this was the best show of all time.
WTF News…
Livia and I will be hosting Paul Niland and Yaryna Grusha Possamai on our LiberiOltre YT show on Tuesday night at 9:35 pm CET.
We’ll be taking you from Paul and Yaryna’s experiences of Maidan in 2014 and the roots of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It’ll be a mix of English and Italian.
We’re signing off…thanks for reading…
Scott & Mo