Russia’s secret service FSB claims to have arrested pro-Ukrainian fighters. The ISW warns of surprise attacks. More information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Ukraine wants to recruit prisoners
11:10 p.m.: Several Ukrainian MPs want to introduce a bill that would allow prisoners to serve in the army. This became known on Wednesday, reports the US magazine “Politico”. Justice Minister Denys Maljuska said on Ukrainian television that there were thousands of prisoners who wanted to enter military service. He sees no problem with enlisting people who already know how to kill. Ukrainian laws currently do not allow convicts to be recruited.
After the Russian attack began, more than 300 prisoners were pardoned and then joined the army. Ukraine is currently facing the problem of running out of soldiers. A recruitment law is controversial. The draft age should be reduced to 25 years. According to expert estimates, the Ukrainian army is short of around 500,000 recruits.
In Russia, after the start of the Russian war of aggression, the Wagner Group caused a stir when it recruited serious criminals from prisons.
Marcon: “I stand by my words about the troops in Ukraine”
9.30 p.m.: French President Emmanuel Macron has warned of the consequences for Europe of a Russian victory in Ukraine. “If Russia wins this war, Europe’s credibility will fall to zero,” Macron said in a TV interview in Paris on Thursday. In this war, “Europe’s security is at stake,” he added.
Jens Stoltenberg: “Russia has lost 350,000 soldiers in Ukraine”
7:50 p.m.: The Russian attack on Ukraine, which violates international law, has been going on for almost two years now. However, the price that Russia pays for this is high. NATO Secretary General Jans Stoltenberg emphasized this at a press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the headquarters in Brussels.
“Russia is paying a very high price for marginal gains. On land, Putin’s war has already cost Russia over 350,000 military casualties,” Stoltenberg said, according to Ukraine’s Pravda. He is referring to soldiers killed or injured on the Russian side. “At sea, Ukrainian attacks have sunk or disabled a significant portion of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. In the air, Ukraine has shot down important Russian targets, including expensive reconnaissance aircraft,” Stoltenberg continued. Ukraine has so far proven with its creativity that it is possible to defeat Russia.
Russia: Two dead in attacks on Belgorod border region
6:58 p.m.: A few hours before the start of the Russian presidential election, the governor of the border region of Belgorod reports two deaths from drone attacks. In addition, at least 19 other people were injured, said Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
Meanwhile, the Russian National Guard says it is continuing to fight against “saboteurs” in the town of Tyotkino near the border in the Kursk border region, which lies north of Belgorod. In the past few days, fighters from units that describe themselves as Russian opponents of Putin have advanced from Ukraine into Russian territory several times. According to its own statements, the Russian army managed to “decimate” the attackers.
One of the armed groups, the Freedom for Russia Legion, also announced on Thursday the goal of “liberating” the Belgorod and Kursk regions and called for the evacuation of civilians from affected prayer areas. Militia member Alexei Baranovsky spoke on Ukrainian television of “intense fighting” both in Tyotkino and in Grajvoron in the Belgorod region.
Navalny team calls for meetings against Putin before election
5:01 p.m.: The team of Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny, who died in a prison camp, is calling for protests against incumbent Vladimir Putin ahead of the Russian presidential election. Opponents of Putin should show up at the polling stations at 12 p.m. on Sunday, the main day of the three-day election, in order to publicly show their rejection of the Kremlin leader, said opposition figure Leonid Volkov. Russia has eleven time zones, which is why such rallies are expected throughout the day.
