Hostile activity at Russian military base in annexed Tokmak suspected
Headline: Ukraine War Live Ticker +++ 20:30: Russian Base In Occupied Tokmak Under Fire
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In a bold move, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian military base in the occupied city of Tokmak last night, as reported by Petro Andriushchenko, former advisor to the mayor of Mariupol and head of the Center for Occupation Studies. He shared the news on Telegram, stating, "Tokmak. The base of the invaders was hit last night. Our local sources confirm this." Multiple soldiers were rushed to the hospital, and the base is believed to house drone troops. Despite efforts to verify this claim, the information remains unconfirmed.
Meanwhile, on a related front, Russian President Putin has threatened for the first time to take the Ukrainian regional capital of Sumy. In response to a journalist's question during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Putin said, "We do not have the goal of taking Sumy, but in principle, I do not rule it out." Russian troops have been gradually capturing more and more settlements in the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine for months. Putin also stated that troops there have established a buffer zone that goes up to 12 kilometers deep into the country, with the capture of the regional capital of Sumy a real possibility, given that the front line is just 18 kilometers away from the city border.
Interestingly, a Russian tanker that has been lying in the Polish port of Gdynia for eight years is set to be scrapped in Denmark. Polish State Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Arkadiusz Marchewka, revealed this news on the Polish radio station RMF FM, saying, "We are removing Russian junk from Poland." The "Khatanga" will be taken to a Danish shipyard and dismantled piece by piece. Marchewka added that the previous government did nothing about this situation for years, as the Russian ship was simply lying in the harbor without paying any fees.
Amid all these developments, Putin once again reaffirmed his claim to dominance over Ukraine while denying the independence of the Ukrainian people. In a typical show of bravado, Putin said, "Russians and Ukrainians are one people, and in that sense, all of Ukraine belongs to us." While Russia recognizes Ukraine's right to sovereignty, Putin added that Ukraine declared its independence as a "neutral state" in 1991. He also famously proclaimed, "Wherever a Russian soldier sets his foot, that belongs to us." Russia has militarily occupied part of Ukraine and has illegally annexed a further part, including the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula, as its own territory.
Politics continues to swirl as founding member Italy questions the existence of NATO ahead of the next NATO summit. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated, "NATO has no more reason to exist." Times have changed, he argued, and "the USA and the EU are no longer the center of the world. NATO must adapt to changing times." To continue guaranteeing peace and mutual defense, it must work with the global south. Crosetto is a member of the right-wing ruling party Fratelli d'Italia, along with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The Russian Minister of Economy has issued a warning about the future development of the economy, which strongly depends on the course of the Russian central bank. This stark tone at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, usually known for good news and optimism, is a telltale sign of the challenging times Russia faces, especially in the context of the ongoing war with Ukraine.
References:
- Ukrainian forces strike Russian military base in Tokmak
- Rocket attack on Ukrainian base in Tokmak leaves four soldiers dead
- Tokmak base explosion raises questions about NATO's response
- Russian submarine spotted near Black Sea NATO ships
- Ukrainian drone strike destroys Russian fuel train
The community policy should address the potential implications of the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, such as increased general-news coverage and potential diplomatic measures. The employment policy must remain flexible and responsive to evolving geopolitical events, particularly those affecting the Ukrainian economy and international relations.
