Russia’s richest man’s yacht seized in Fiji
The crew is arrested, the captain is questioned by the Fijian police after the arrival of the superyacht Amadea Tuesday, without customs authorization, at the port of Lautoka. The Amadea is believed to be owned by Russian billionaire Suleyman Kerimov, considered Russia’s richest man, and who has been sanctioned by the United States, Britain and the European Union.
There are currently only two ports open to superyachts in the Pacific Islands region, Fiji and New Caledonia.
Moscow will consider US equipment as legal targets
After the announcement of the US sending heavy equipment to Ukraine (read in particular below), Russia will consider US and NATO vehicles carrying weapons on Ukrainian territory as legitimate military targets . “Attempts to slow down our special operation, to inflict maximum damage on Russian contingents and formations of the DPR and LPR (Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics) will be harshly suppressed,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in an interview with the TASS news agency.
In Biden’s basket
Among the American equipment that will be sent to Ukraine are eleven Mi-17 helicopters initially intended for Afghanistan, eighteen 155 mm howitzer guns, three hundred Switchblade drones, as well as radar systems capable of tracking incoming fire. and locate their origin
Over 100 bodies found in Sumy
Ukraine claimed last night that more than 100 bodies were discovered, some tortured, after Russian forces left the Sumy region in the northeast of the country. “Many people were found dead with their hands tied and signs of torture,” said Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, the region’s military administration chief.
Chemical souls: Russian Embassy in London reacts
In a vitriolic press release, the Russian Embassy in Great Britain denounces the “accusations of the British media” on the possibility that the Russian military and the People’s Republic of Donestk “use unknown chemical substances against the formations of the Azov battalion of the Ukrainian army in Mariupol”. These allegations, notes the embassy, ”are strictly intended to create the necessary propaganda effect and are not supported by a single piece of evidence”. “The Russian armed forces do not and cannot have any chemical warfare agents” since “Russia destroyed all its stockpiles of chemical weapons in 2017 and has fully fulfilled its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention ( CAC)”, which the United States did not do, “which constitutes a real military threat”.
Australia increases sanctions against Russia
Kamaz trucks, shipping companies Sevmash and United Shipbuilding Corp, Ruselectronics… fourteen Russian state-owned companies are targeted in order to reduce Russia’s ability to “continue to finance Putin’s war”, according to the press release from the Minister of Affairs Marise Payne. “The Australian Government reiterates its unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for the people of Ukraine. We again call on Russia to immediately withdraw its military forces from Ukraine,” she wrote.
Yesterday, a day like any other in Ukraine
“Today’s combat reports do not differ significantly from previous ones,” President Zelensky said late last night in his address to the Ukrainians. According to him, “Russian troops are intensifying their activities in the eastern and southern directions”, “rocket bombardments and artillery fire are continuing”, “new columns of material are being brought in”. To feed their “reserves”, the Russians “try to recruit inhabitants of the south of our country”, he criticizes.
50 days
Today is the 50th day of fighting, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the night of February 23-24.
New aid from the United States
In Washington, US President Joe Biden has promised his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky massive new military aid of $800 million, including heavy equipment that the United States has so far been reluctant to deliver to kyiv for fear of to further aggravate their tensions with Moscow and to be considered parties to the war.
And this as Russia threatened to strike command centers in kyiv, accusing Ukraine of attacks on its territory.
Among such equipment, Zelensky listed “artillery systems, armored personnel carriers, helicopters.” in a video late last night.
Moscow threatens to hit ‘decision-making centers’
The Russian army on Wednesday threatened to strike command centers in the Ukrainian capital kyiv, which Moscow has given up for the time being, accusing Ukraine of shooting and sabotage on Russian territory.
“If such events continue, strikes will be carried out by the Russian military on decision-making centers, including in kyiv, which the Russian military has refrained from doing so far,” said the spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry.
Russian cruiser on fire
It is one of the biggest material setbacks suffered by Russia since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. The cruiser Moskva, flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, having been “severely damaged” by an explosion of munitions according to Moscow, and by missile strikes according to kyiv.
“Neptune missiles protecting the Black Sea have caused significant damage to this Russian ship,” said Ukrainian governor of the Odessa region (south), Maxime Marchenko.
“He burns with intensity. Now. And with this rough sea, it is impossible to know when they will be able to receive help,” said an adviser to the president, assuring that “510 crew members” were on board.
“Due to a fire, ammunition exploded on board”, and the crew was fully evacuated, the ministry said, adding that an investigation was underway to determine the origin of this fire.