Ukraine responds to the Pope’s controversial proposal. Meanwhile, Putin is likely to fire the navy chief. More information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Russia reports deaths from Ukrainian shelling in border region
9:09 a.m.: According to authorities, a man was killed by shelling in the western Russian region of Kursk on the border with Ukraine. Another woman suffered injuries as a result of the attack by the Ukrainian armed forces, the governor of the Kursk region, Roman Starovoit, said on Telegram. The information cannot be independently verified.
According to him, the town of Goncharovka in the Sudja district, just a few kilometers from the border with Ukraine, came under fire in the morning, presumably from artillery. In addition, the village of Vnesapnoye was shelled and a gas and power line was damaged. Four towns are therefore cut off from the energy supply, writes Starowoit. There is currently no information about this from the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Russian border regions near Ukraine are increasingly complaining of shelling from the neighboring country. However, the number of victims and the amount of damage are not comparable to the extent of the destruction caused by the Russian military in Ukraine.
Klingbeil rejects suggestion of Taurus ring exchange
9:01 a.m.: SPD leader Lars Klingbeil defends Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) no vote to deliver the Taurus cruise missile to Ukraine and rejects the option of a ring exchange. In the ARD “Morgenmagazin” Klingbeil says that the European partners should concentrate on finally producing more ammunition and supplying it to Ukraine. When asked about a ring exchange, Klingbeil says: “That’s what everyone should focus on and not other debates.”
In an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, British Foreign Minister David Cameron suggested a ring exchange that could allay Scholz’s concerns. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) said on Sunday on the ARD program “Caren Miosga” that this “would be an option”. Read more here.
In a ring swap, Germany could give Taurus cruise missiles to Great Britain – and London, in turn, could deliver more of its own Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine. Scholz rejects the delivery of the Taurus missiles with a range of 500 kilometers to Ukraine because he fears that their use could drag Germany into the war. Klingbeil emphasizes that the Chancellor has his full support in this stance.
Zelensky rejects Pope’s appeal
9.30 p.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj sharply rejects Pope Francis’ appeal for peace negotiations with Russia. The church is with the people, says Zelenskyj in his evening video address. “And not two and a half thousand kilometers away, somewhere, to virtually mediate between someone who wants to live and someone who wants to destroy you.”
“When Russian evil started this war on February 24, all Ukrainians stood up to defend themselves. Christians, Muslims, Jews – everyone,” Zelensky said. And he thanks every Ukrainian clergyman who is in the army, in the Defense Forces. They are on the front line, they protect life and humanity, they support with prayers, conversations and actions. “That’s what the church is – with the people.”
Report: Russian naval chief fired
7:16 p.m.: The commander of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, has been retired, according to an officially unconfirmed report. This is reported by “Izvestia”, citing unnamed sources. Yevmenov was replaced by Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, the previous commander of the Northern Fleet. There was initially no information about this on the Russian Defense Ministry website.
Izvestia did not give a reason for the personnel change. Most recently, the Russian Black Sea Fleet suffered significant losses of combat ships and soldiers due to attacks by Ukrainian missiles and so-called sea drones – i.e. unmanned boats loaded with explosives. Because of the threat from Ukrainian armed forces, Russian naval combat units have largely withdrawn from the occupied Crimean peninsula.
