On the 400th day of the war against Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew a sober, but nonetheless positive, balance sheet. "400 days of defense against full-scale aggression, this is a colossal journey that we have come," he said in his evening video address yesterday. Fierce battles were fought in some sectors of the front.
Zelenskyy: 400 days of comprehensive resistance
Ukraine survived "the worst days" of the Russian attack in February last year. "We survived this winter too," Zelenskyy recalled, referring to the massive Russian air and missile attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure. "Behind these words is a tremendous effort." Zelenskyy said Ukraine had shown its heroism in recent months by recapturing large areas. "We are preparing our next steps, our new actions, we are preparing for our imminent victory."
Zelenskyy pointed out that Ukraine's successes were also made possible with the help of Western partners. "Today, on the 400th day of resistance, of all-out resistance, I want to thank everyone in the world who is standing with Ukraine," he said.
Kiev: Multiple simultaneous Russian attacks repelled
According to their own statements, the Ukrainian troops repulsed several simultaneous Russian attacks on various front sectors in the east of the country. The sectors near Kupyansk, Limansk, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marjinsk were "in focus", as the General Staff announced in its situation report yesterday. "A total of 47 enemy attacks were repelled."
Once again, the heavily contested city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine was the focus of the action. In the evening, air alerts were raised across Ukraine. In Kiev, residents were asked to get to safety because of impending attacks with so-called kamikaze drones. There were explosions in Kharkiv in the east of the country, and drone overflights were reported from several cities.
Poland does not deliver fighter jets from GDR stocks to Ukraine
Poland initially does not want to deliver any fighter jets from former GDR stocks to Ukraine. The four Soviet-designed Mig-29s, the delivery of which the Polish government announced two weeks ago, did not come from Germany, the security adviser to Polish President Andrzej Duda, Jacek Siewiera, clarified in an interview with the German Press Agency.
"These are not German planes." It is therefore clear that the Federal Government does not have to agree to the delivery either. In 2002, Germany had sold 23 Mig-29 fighter jets to Poland. The Air Force still has about a dozen of them today, Siewiera told the dpa. "And they will initially remain in the service of the Polish armed forces."
Finland's path to NATO is clear
Finland's path to NATO is finally clear. As the last NATO member, Turkey also voted late Thursday evening for the Nordic country to join the defense alliance - all that is missing now is formalities before Finland can soon become the 31st NATO member. 28 of the 30 current NATO members had long ago voted in favor of Hungary on Monday. Under the impression of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, Finland and Sweden decided last May to apply for NATO membership. Finland has a border with Russia that is around 1,340 kilometers long.
US military: More than 7,000 Ukrainians trained in recent months
The US says it has trained more than 7,000 members of the Ukrainian armed forces since the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The training took place at various locations at home and abroad, including in Germany, said US Department of Defense spokesman Pat Ryder.
Just in the past few days, 65 Ukrainians in the state of Oklahoma have completed their training on the Patriot air defense system and are now back in Europe. The Patriot system is one of the most modern anti-aircraft systems in the world. Ryder stressed that training Ukraine's armed forces is an international effort. More than 11,000 Ukrainians are currently being trained in 26 countries.
Espionage accusation: Russian secret service arrests US journalists
A court in Moscow issued an arrest warrant against a journalist who was also investigating Russia's war against Ukraine for alleged espionage for the United States. The reporter from the renowned US newspaper "Wall Street Journal" was initially in custody until May 29, the court announced yesterday. Born in 1991, Evan Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The newspaper rejected the allegations against its employee. Criminal justice in Russia is considered to be politically controlled, and most charges end with a guilty verdict.
USA: Russia tries to get new weapons from North Korea
According to the US government, Russia continues to seek weapons and ammunition from North Korea. "We have new information that Russia is actively trying to acquire additional ammunition from North Korea," said US National Security Council communications director John Kirby. He stressed that the US would do everything possible to prevent Russia from acquiring military equipment from North Korea and any other country supporting Russia's war in Ukraine.
Man sentenced to seven years in prison for anti-war posts
A court in Moscow has sentenced a 63-year-old to seven years in prison for two anti-war posts on social networks. In March of the previous year he had condemned the attacks by Russian military forces against the Ukrainian capital Kiev and the port city of Mariupol in two comments, the Russian medium "Meduza", which works from Latvia, reported yesterday. The court found him guilty of spreading "fakes" about the Russian army.
Reports: Documents show Russian plans for cyber attacks
According to research by several international media, Russia has prepared large-scale cyber attacks with the help of private software companies. Confidential documents are said to show that the Moscow IT company NTC Vulkan developed tools with which state hackers could plan cyber attacks, filter Internet traffic and spread propaganda and disinformation, like the research group, including the "Süddeutsche Zeitung", "Der Spiegel" and the ZDF, reports.
That's going to be important today
The city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, which has been heavily fought over for months, is likely to be the focus of the action on Friday as well.
