Ukraine takes control of foreign vessel at 15:42
Title: Ukraine Nabs Rogue Vessel in Black Sea: Russia's Hidden Grain Gang Exposed
Get the latest scoop on the Ukrainian conflict, straight from the trenches! Today's events:
15:42: Foreign Cargo Ship SnaffledUkrainian authorities just busted a dry cargo ship hiding in its waters, flying a flag from an undisclosed Asian country. Sneaky operators! This clipper was spotted in cahoots with Russia's "shadow fleet," rumored to be involved in the illicit transport of stolen Ukrainian grain from occupied Crimea. The ship, carrying 5,000 tons of wheat, was uncovered during a joint mission by the SBU, State Border Guard Service, and Ukrainian Navy. Check out the navigation equipment and documents clearly showing the cargo's dubious origin in the occupied territories.
15:08: Romania's Secret Spy in CustodyRussian spymasters have nabbed a 22-year-old Romanian citizen suspected of espionage. The lad is accused of gathering intel on the whereabouts of Russian air defense systems in Sochi, allegedly for Ukraine. If convicted, he'll be looking at up to 20 years in mechanical hell.
14:37: High Stakes, Low RecruitmentUkraine's got its hands full in the war against Russia, but not enough troops to go around. To fill the ranks, they're offering bounties, particularly to young folks. The responses? Underwhelming.
14:00: Putin's Peace Parley With WitkoffPutin's meeting with US special envoy Witkoff has gone down in Moscow. Time for some top-secret diplomaticDouble-O-Seven action, eh?
13:47: Political Mind Games: Munz on Lavrov's ManeuversLavrov hints that negotiations to end the war are close, but just needs some fine-tuning. ntv insider Rainer Munz speculates what "diplomatic fox" Lavrov could be getting at, suggesting it serves two purposes.
13:26: Kretschmer's Bold Stand against the Russian AmbassadorSaxony's Prime Minister Kretschmer isn't pulling any punches during World War II commemorations, addressing the Russian ambassador and laying the blame for the 2014 Ukrainian conflict squarely at Moscow's feet. The audience ain't happy, but Kretschmer ain't backing down.
12:47: Trump's Wild Take on UkraineUS President Trump is still spewing nonsense, insisting that Ukraine will remain under Russian control. He claims Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, not internationally recognized, and that Ukraine was partly to blame for starting the war by talking about joining NATO.
12:30: Trump's Lawless DreamPolitical scientist Thomas Jäger explains that Trump is dreaming big (and maybe a little crazy) when it comes to a peace deal between Kiev and Moscow. He warns that such a deal would be the end of Ukraine, as Trump seems to think he's the law.
12:08: Another Russian Military Big Shot KilledA Russian military bigwig has been blown to smithereens near Moscow. The car bomb explosion killed deputy chief of the main operations directorate of the Russian General Staff, Yaroslav Moskalik. Russian authorities have confirmed the grisly demise of Moskalik.
Update at 12:45 PM: Moskalik's death confirmed by Russian authorities.
11:48: Europe Offers Different Peace ProposalLeading European states and Ukraine have submitted an alternative peace plan to the US proposal. Key differences between the two plans include control over occupied territories, discussions on lifting sanctions against Russia, security guarantees in case of a ceasefire, and the size of the Ukrainian military. The European proposal does not acknowledge any Russian control over Ukrainian territory.
11:21: Over 620 Children Killed Since War BeganRussian troops have claimed the lives of over 620 children and injured another 1920 since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin, can't you just play nice and let the kids play?
11:00: Romania Faces Spy ChargesRussia's FSB security service has arrested a Romanian citizen on suspicion of spying on Russian air defense systems in Sochi, supposedly on behalf of Ukraine. Arrests like this have become a regular occurrence in Russia's alleged war on espionage.
10:41: Ukraine Claims Attacks on Crimea AirfieldsUkrainian forces are reported to have launched attacks on two airfields on the Russian-occupied Crimea overnight: Nowofedoriwka and Kacha. The state news agency Ukrinform reported the attacks, citing the Telegram channel "Crimean Wind."
10:11: Kleim: Trump's Peace Pipe Dreams Are Fool's GoldMany are asking if an immediate peace treaty is on the horizon, but ntv reporter Peter Kleim isn't so sure. He explains why Russia is letting Trump dream on and what the possibilities for a peace deal really are.
09:48: Witkoff Takes Off for Russia Peace TalksUS special envoy Witkoff is on his way to Moscow for talks with Putin. This is Witkoff's fourth visit to Russia since Trump took office.
09:30: Pavlohrad Death Toll RisesThe death toll in Pavlohrad, a city in the Dnipropetrovsk region, has climbed to five following a Russian morning attack. The number of injured has also risen to 14.
Update at 13:30: The death toll has now reached seven, with the number of injured at 18.
08:57: Klitschko Suggests Temporary ConcessionKyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko is suggesting a temporary concession of territory as part of a peace agreement. Klitschko thinks Kyiv might have to give up land to secure a temporary peace, but warns that the Ukrainian people will never accept Russian occupation.
08:32: Lavrov: Russia's Game Face Is OnRussian Foreign Minister Lavrov seeks to reassure that Russia is interested in a peace treaty. Parts of the potential agreement between Russia and the US to end the Ukraine war are yet to be ironed out, according to Lavrov.
07:58: Russian Drone Attack on KyivRussian forces attacked Kyiv with 103 drones last night. Ukrainian air defense units took down 41 drones, with another 40 diverted through electronic countermeasures. Damage was reported in the regions of Kharkiv, Sumy, Cherkassy, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk. Dnipropetrovsk reported two deaths and eight injuries in Pavlohrad.
07:32: NATO: Russia Still Looms LargeNATO Secretary General Rutte warns that Russia poses a long-term threat to the NATO area—to the entire Euro-Atlantic area.
07:11: Pavlohrad Sees Further CasualtiesA 76-year-old woman was killed and eight people were injured in an attack on Pavlohrad, governor Serhiy Lyssak reported on Telegram. The Russian forces have again heavily attacked with drones.
06:55: Zelensky: Kyiv Attack Aimed to Distract from Ground AssaultsUkrainian President Zelensky believes that Russian forces launched massive air strikes on Thursday as a distraction for ground attacks, particularly in the Pokrovsk sector in the east. These assaults were subsequently repelled. The combined attack of drones and missiles on Kyiv left at least 12 people dead and around 90 injured.
06:34: Zelensky Disputes Trump's AccusationsUkrainian President Zelensky denies accusations by US President Trump that Ukraine shares blame for Russia's invasion. "We would like to have a common understanding that Russia is the aggressor," he said in an interview with American commentator Ben Shapiro. "One should not say that Ukraine and Russia started this war," the Kyiv Independent quoted.
06:01: Baltic Defense Line in Works in Eastern EuropeLatvia is moving forward with construction of the defense line at the Eastern border of the Baltic EU and NATO country, aiming to complete the project by 2028.
05:20: War Memorial ProtestUkrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev is protesting Russia's planned participation in the WWII memorial in Saxon Torgau. Makeiev appeals to exclude Russian representatives, seeing such participation as a mockery of the peace pledge.
03:36: Lavrov: Ukraine Peace Treaty Needs Fine-TuningRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov seeks to dispel concerns that Russia is not interested in a peace treaty with Ukraine. Parts of the potential agreement between Russia and the US to end the Ukraine war need fine-tuning, Lavrov says.
02:22: UK Reconsidering Ground Troop DeploymentThe UK may scale back its plan to protect Ukrainian cities, ports, and nuclear power plants, switching instead to a more limited, strategic presence. The risks are deemed too high, and the military forces are not prepared for such an operation, according to a report by the British "Times."
00:37: Explosions Rock Kharkiv as Drone Attack HitsSeveral Russian drones attacked Kharkiv late in the evening. No information on possible casualties is available yet, but there are several fires in the city, and private homes have been damaged.
23:07: Rutte: Ball Is in Russia's CourtNATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte sees the initiative to end the war in the hands of Russia. There is a proposal on the table, and the Ukrainians are adhering to the rules, Rutte emphasizes.
21:52: Zelensky: Russia Uses North Korean MissileIn a deadly attack on the capital Kyiv, Russia is reported to have used a ballistic missile of North Korean origin, according to initial Ukrainian findings. The missile originated from North Korea, providing further evidence of the criminal alliance between Russia and Pyongyang, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
21:24: Trump Sees Concession from MoscowIn the struggle for an end to the war, US President Trump sees a concession from the Kremlin in that Russia no longer aims to completely occupy its neighboring country.
Politics Ukraine Fighting: Caught in the Crossfire Between Russia and the West
Sources: ntv.de, jpe/ino/dpa/rts/AFP
- The SBU, State Border Guard Service, and Ukrainian Navy have seized a foreign cargo ship in the Black Sea, which was found to be carrying stolen Ukrainian grain from occupied Crimea, revealing the operation of Russia's hidden grain gang.
- Romania has been dealing with spy-related charges after a 22-year-old Romanian citizen was arrested by Russian authorities on suspicion of espionage, allegedly gathering intel on Russian air defense systems in Sochi for Ukraine.
- Despite the ongoing conflict, Ukraine faces a low recruitment rate, offering bounties particularly to young people to fill the ranks, yet responses have been underwhelming.
- Political negotiations for a potential peace treaty are ongoing, with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov hinting at the fine-tuning needed and European states submitting an alternative peace plan to the US proposal.
