#Ukraine’s popular army chief Valery #Zaluzhny was called to a meeting at the president’s office on Monday and told he was being fired, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN, following weeks of growing speculation over tensions between Volodymyr #Zelensky and his top commander.
A formal announcement has not been made, , however, a presidential decree is expected by the end of the week,
https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/31/europe/zaluzhny-oust-ukraine-army-zelensky-intl/index.html
Deal reached over #EU’s €50bn #Ukraine support package after leaders overcome Viktor #Orbán objections
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/feb/01/eu-leaders-gather-for-key-summit-in-bid-to-unblock-orban-veto-on-ukraine-aid-europe-live?page=with%3Ablock-65bb73188f08d26c7ae387f2#block-65bb73188f08d26c7ae387f2
Viktor #Orbán has agreed a deal with fellow #EU leaders on a €50bn support package for #Ukraine. He finally succumbed to pressure after a series of meetings last night and this morning with the Italian, French and German prime ministers.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/feb/01/eu-leaders-gather-for-key-summit-in-bid-to-unblock-orban-veto-on-ukraine-aid-europe-live?page=with:block-65bb766e8f08984bee0457c5#block-65bb766e8f08984bee0457c5
A video accompanying Thursday’s statement showed what appeared to be several waterborne #drones striking into both the sides and the stern of the warship. Ukrainian military officials identified the vessel as the #Ivanovets missile corvette.
#Ukraine Says Destroyed Russian Missile Boat Near Occupied #Crimea
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/02/01/ukraine-says-destroyed-russian-missile-boat-near-occupied-crimea-a83942
#China demanded on Thursday that #Ukraine immediately remove more than a dozen Chinese companies from a list of firms designated as "international sponsors of war," saying it wanted #Kyiv to "eliminate negative impacts." #Russia
China tells Ukraine to remove its firms from 'sponsors of war' list
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/exclusive-china-tells-ukraine-to-remove-its-firms-from-sponsors-of-war-list/ar-BB1hESwR
Authorities in #Ecuador have said that #Moscow had advised against the hardware swap, but that they believed they had the right to do it anyway 🤣
#Russia condemns Ecuador over decision to hand Russian military hardware to #US for #Ukraine
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-condemns-ecuador-over-decision-to-hand-russian-military-hardware-to-us-for-ukraine-ria/ar-BB1hEoWb?ocid=emmx-mmx-feeds&PC=EMMX01
On Friday, judges said the #ICJ had jurisdiction to rule on #Ukraine's request for the court to declare that #Kyiv has not committed #genocide.
However, judges will not rule on whether #Russia's invasion or recognition of the independence of areas in eastern Ukraine amount to a violation of the #GenocideConvention. #TheHague
#UN top court can rule on Ukraine case against Russia
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68182620
At least 12 scientists in #Russia have been detained in politically motivated arrests linked to Russian President Vladimir #Putin's much-touted #HypersonicMissile program. Three have died since their arrests.
The hypersonic Kh-24 #Kinzhal ("Dagger") has been regularly used by Russian forces in their full-scale invasion of #Ukraine to hit infrastructure in cities.
Putin Goes After Scientists Behind 'Unique' Hypersonic Missiles
https://www.newsweek.com/russia-missiles-hypersonic-arrests-1866591
The deterioration of #Russia’s #AviationSafety record is undoing decades of work by Russia’s airlines to modernize their fleets after the end of the #ColdWar and turn around a reputation for questionable safety. #Ukraine
Midair #Fires and #Malfunctions Surge on Russia’s Planes as Sanctions Bite
https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/midair-fires-and-malfunctions-surge-on-russias-planes-as-sanctions-bite-ba0df5df?mod=RSSMSN
#YandexNV reached an agreement to sell its Russian business, including the nation’s most popular #SearchEngine, for about $5.2 billion, the highest-valued deal yet to exit #Russia following the invasion of #Ukraine.
The divorce, which took more than a year to negotiate, opens the way for #Yandex to develop some projects abroad after divesting Russian units that had generated most of its revenue.
"This is a very special time in Swedish history, both for the nation and the armed forces, coming from #neutrality and non-alliance, and then shifting towards collective defence within #NATO. It’s a big step,” said Colonel #DanRasmussen, commander of the Gotland Regiment. #Russia #Ukraine
‘It’s healthy to be on war alert’: #Sweden’s conscription push gathers pace
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/7/its-healthy-to-be-on-war-alert-swedens-conscription-push-gathers-pace
#Finland closed the 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) land border late last year after about 1,300 migrants without proper documentation or visas had arrived across the frontier since September — an unusually high number, just months after Finland joined the #NATO alliance. #Ukraine #RajaJooseppi
Finland extends #Russia border closure until April 14 saying #Moscow hasn't stopped sending migrants
https://apnews.com/article/finland-russia-border-migrants-b6a0fb20dea01f2280e5ef7367d7dbde
Volodymyr #Zelenskiy has fired his top army commander, Valerii #Zaluzhnyi, in #Ukraine’s biggest military shake-up since #Russia’s full-scale invasion began nearly two years ago.
The decision to push ahead with the dismissal is seen as a risky move for Zelenskiy, given Zaluzhnyi’s high approval ratings among Ukrainians
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/08/volodymyr-zelenskiy-fires-top-ukraine-army-commander
#Syrskyi has replaced Valerii #Zaluzhnyi, a popular commander whose relations with #Zelenskiy had become strained in recent months. Critics have suggested Zelenskiy may have been partly motivated by concerns over Zaluzhnyi’s high approval ratings in Ukrainian society and his potential to one day become a political challenger.
#Ukraine needs fresh approach on battlefield, says new top general
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/09/ukraine-fresh-approach-battlefield-new-top-general-oleksandr-syrskyi
Working on #SuperBowl Sunday, in a critical 67-27 vote, the #Senate voted to end debate on whether to add the supplemental bill’s language into the shell bill the upper chamber is using to advance that legislation, surpassing the filibuster threshold.
Massive #Ukraine, #Israel aid package overcomes key Senate hurdle as 18 #Republicans vote with #Democrats
https://nypost.com/2024/02/11/news/ukraine-israel-aid-bill-overcomes-yet-key-hurdle-in-the-senate/
Congress approved #Turkey’s acquisition of as many as 40 Lockheed Martin Corp. #F16 Block 70 aircraft and 79 upgrade kits to modernize its fleet as well as hundreds of missiles and bombs. The critical sale will reinforce Turkey’s defense at a time when #Russia’s invasion of #Ukraine and the #Israel-#Hamas war has roiled the #MiddleEast.
The Senate voted 66-33, exceeding a 60-vote margin, to sweep aside the last procedural hurdle and limit debate on the measure to a final 30 hours before a vote on passage that could come on Wednesday.
#USSenate moves forward $95bn #Ukraine and #Israel aid package | #US
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/12/senate-procedural-vote-ukraine-israel-aid
“#Russia has chosen a path which is a long-term confrontation ... and the #Kremlin is probably anticipating a possible conflict with #NATO within the next decade or so,” Kaupo Rosin told reporters at the release of #Estonia’s national security threats report. #Ukraine
Russia preparing for military confrontation with West, says Estonia
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/feb/13/russia-ukraine-war-live-moscow-kyiv-starlink-latest-updates?page=with:block-65cb34748f08978344f926b1#block-65cb34748f08978344f926b1
The bill appears to face long odds of getting to the floor in the House, where the Republican speaker, #MikeJohnson, criticised it for lacking conservative provisions to a record flow of migrants across the #US-#Mexico border.
The Democratic-led #USSenate has voted to pass a $95.34bn aid package for #Ukraine, #Israel and #Taiwan.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/feb/13/russia-ukraine-war-live-moscow-kyiv-starlink-latest-updates?page=with:block-65cb4ef88f085225ae91553d#block-65cb4ef88f085225ae91553d
#UrsulaVonDerLeyen is pushing the boundaries of the #EU urging member states to consider a #CollectiveDefence role, something never imagined when the first European community was established more than 50 years ago. #Europe #Ukraine #US
#Putin just created a martyr - he's now living on borrowed time.
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The Russian opposition leader #AlexeiNavalny has died in jail, the country’s prison service has said, in what is likely to be seen as a political assassination attributable to #VladimirPutin. #Russia #Ukraine
Russian activist and Putin critic Alexei Navalny dies in prison
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/16/russian-activist-and-putin-critic-alexei-navalny-dies-in-prison
@Norobiik I am still unsure as to how much this will be seen as a rallying point for opposition. Anyone who stands up seems to get unpersoned, jailed and forgotten. E.g. Helga Pirogova:
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/07/26/i-can-t-make-peace-with-leaving
@davoloid I think it's gone beyond the realm of peaceful political resistance at this point. And Russians aren't big on forgiveness or turning the other cheek