Zelensky declares: "The Russian economy is facing a downward trend"
Title: Ukraine War Live Updates: Selenskyj Accuses Putin of Lacking Peace Intentions, New Threats from Russia, and More
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President Selenskyj lashes out at Putin, accusing him of lacking peace intentions and waging war, despite Putin's appearance at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. The Ukrainian leader points to the ongoing threats from Russia and notes that the global pressure on Russia isn't causing enough damage or hurting their economy enough. In Kyiv, Selenskyj asserted that the Russian economy is in decline, and urged the world to support this process even more.
Meanwhile, Putin reaffirmed Russia's claim to Ukraine at the forum and threatened to capture the regional capital Sumy. Tensions remain high as Russian troops push into the Sumy region, with Putin stating that an occupation of the regional capital Sumy is not ruled out.
The military warns of new air strikes and reports of several groups of Russian drones headed towards the Kyiv region. According to news portal "Ukrajinska Prawda," the Ukrainian military is forming its first unit to defend against drones, staffed exclusively by women.
Russian soldiers have been advancing along the front line for a year and are pushing into the Sumy region, which the Russian army has not occupied since the early stages of the war. Russia wants to establish a "buffer zone" in Sumy to prevent further advances by Ukrainian forces into the Russian border region of Kursk.
In other news, the Ukrainian military is said to have attacked a Russian military base in the occupied Tokmak, with several soldiers taken to a hospital. The city of Tokmak lies more than 20 kilometers behind the front line.
Elsewhere, Putin questioned Ukraine's independence and reaffirmed Russia's claim to dominance over Ukraine, stating that "wherever a Russian soldier sets his foot, that belongs to us." The Kremlin leader also denounced NATO, stating that the Western defense alliance has no reason to exist.
In a surprising admission by the Russian Minister, it was revealed that the Russian economy is on the brink of recession. Meanwhile, Italy has questioned NATO's existence and called for cooperation with the global South to continue guaranteeing peace and mutual defense.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Ukraine conflict!
Economy Surprising Admission by Minister: Russia on the Brink of Recession 21:51 Ukraine Plans All-Female Drone Defense Unit
The Ukrainian military is reportedly forming its first unit to defend against drones, staffed exclusively by women. The crew will be formed within the 427th Separate Regiment for Unmanned Systems "Rarog," according to the news portal "Ukrajinska Prawda."
21:19 Selenskyj Calls Russian Intentions in Sumy "Completely Mad"
The contested region of Sumy is the topic of the evening message from the Ukrainian president. "The Russians had various plans and intentions there - as usual, completely mad," says Selenskyj. "We're holding them back and eliminating these murderers to defend our region of Sumy." Russian soldiers have been advancing along the front line for a year and are pushing into the Sumy region, which the Russian army has not occupied since the early stages of the war. Russia wants to establish a "buffer zone" in Sumy to prevent further advances by Ukrainian forces into the Russian border region of Kursk. According to Putin, an occupation of the regional capital Sumy is not ruled out.
20:48 Military Warns of New Air Strikes: Drones Headed Towards Kyiv
There is an air alert in the entire eastern half of Ukraine and the Kyiv region in the evening. The army warns that several groups of Russian drones are in the air, including those headed towards the Kyiv region.
20:30 Ukrainians Reportedly Strike Russian Base in Occupied Tokmak
The Ukrainian military is said to have attacked a Russian military base in the occupied Tokmak last night, according to Petro Andriuschenko, the former advisor to the mayor of Mariupol and director of the Center for Occupation Studies. He writes on Telegram: "Tokmak. The base of the invaders was hit last night. Our sources on the ground confirm this." Several soldiers were taken to a hospital, Andriuschenko says. The base is said to have housed drone troops. This cannot be independently verified. The city of Tokmak lies more than 20 kilometers behind the front line.
19:46 Putin Threatens to Take City of Sumy For the first time, Russian President Putin has threatened to take the Ukrainian regional capital of Sumy. "We do not have the goal of taking Sumy, but in principle, I do not rule it out," Putin said at an economic forum in St. Petersburg in response to a journalist's question. Russian troops have been gradually taking more and more settlements in the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine for months. Putin also stated that the forces there have established a buffer zone that is currently ten to twelve kilometers deep into the country. The possibility of taking the regional capital of Sumy is mentioned. The front line is only about 18 kilometers away from the city border.
19:04 Russian "Ghost Ship" to be Scrapped A Russian tanker that has been lying in the Polish port of Gdynia for eight years is to be scrapped in Denmark. "We are removing Russian scrap from Poland," said State Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure Arkadiusz Marchewka, according to the Polish radio station RMF FM. The "Khatanga" will be taken to a shipyard in Denmark and cut up there. "The previous government did nothing for years. The Russian ship was simply lying in the harbor. No fees were paid," Marchewka was quoted as saying. The "Khatanga" was reportedly transporting fuels. According to reports, the ship entered the harbor in 2017 and was detained by the authorities because defects were found during port checks. The ship should have been repaired, but the owner, the Russian Murmansk Shipping Company, went bankrupt in 2020. The ship remained and deteriorated further. According to reports, the no longer seaworthy tanker has already broken free from its moorings several times and endangered the safety of other ships.
18:26 Putin: In a Certain Sense, All of Ukraine Belongs to Us Russian President Putin has reaffirmed his claim to dominance over Ukraine. At the same time, he has again denied the independence of the Ukrainian people. Russians and Ukrainians are one people, Putin said, "and in that sense, all of Ukraine belongs to us." Russia acknowledges Ukraine's right to sovereignty, but adds that Ukraine declared its independence as a "neutral state" in 1991. "Wherever a Russian soldier sets his foot, that belongs to us," Putin added. Russia has militarily occupied part of Ukraine and has annexed a further part beyond that, including the Ukrainian Crimea peninsula, in violation of international law.
Politics**Kremlin Wants All of Ukraine: Putin Says "Where a Russian Soldier Stands, That Belongs to Us"
- The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has expressed concern over the Russian intentions in the Sumy region, referring to them as "completely mad," and emphasizing the necessity of defending the region against potential threats as Russian soldiers have been advancing along the front line for a year.
- In a statement that underscores the ongoing tensions, Russian President Putin has threatened to take the city of Sumy, adding that while it is not their current goal, he did not rule out the possibility of occupation. This statement comes amidst Russian troops pushing into the Sumy region, which has not been occupied by the Russian army since the early stages of the war.
