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Russia is preparing to launch a “big attack” this summer that could plummet Ukraine into crisis, high-ranking Ukrainian military officers have warned.
The officers who served under General Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief of armed forces, said Russia was gathering resources and was likely to “launch a big attack around August” but warned it could be sooner.
One of the military sources told Politico: “There’s nothing that can help Ukraine now because there are no serious technologies able to compensate Ukraine for the large mass of troops Russia is likely to hurl at us.”
The warning comes as Volodymyr Zelensky lowered the minimum age for Ukraine’s military draft from 27 to 25 in a move that analysts said would provide a significant boost to recruitment.
“Lowering the mobilisation age is one of many measures that Ukraine has been considering in an ongoing effort to create a sustainable wartime force-generation apparatus,” the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said.
Ukraine will now need an injection of new weaponry and equipment to kit out its newly mobilised personnel, the ISW added, pointing to the backdrop of delayed Western aid that could render the Zelensky administration’s move ineffective.
Key Points
- Moscow preparing to launch a ‘big attack’ this summer, Ukrainian military officers warn
- Zelensky signs bill lowering mobilisation age from 27 to 25
- Russia replaces ‘dead’ Black Sea Fleet commander
- Cameron pushes for increased Nato spending amid Ukraine conflict
- Ukraine launches ‘deepest’ drone strike yet on Russian refinery 1,200km from frontline
France tells Russia it condemns war
French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu has held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu during the course of which he had reaffirmed that France condemned Russia’s “war of aggression” in Ukraine, Mr Lecornu’s office said.
It was the first call between the two leaders since October 2022, a spokesperson for France’s defence ministry said.
Jane Dalton3 April 2024 20:09 1712168459Recap: ICC prosecutor and officials discuss compensation for Ukraine
Ministers and officials from dozens of countries are gathering in the Netherlands for a conference on restoring justice in Ukraine. Among speakers will be the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, which has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and military officers linked to the war:
The ICC prosecutor and government officials are discussing justice and compensation for Ukraine
Ministers and officials from dozens of countries are gathering in the Netherlands for a conference on restoring justice in Ukraine, as the war sparked by Russia’s invasion drags on in its third devastating year
Jane Dalton3 April 2024 19:20 1712165459Finland signs Ukraine security deal
Finland’s president has signed a 10-year security deal with Ukraine in Kyiv, where president Volodymyr Zelensky said he believed Russia planned to mobilise 300,000 new troops for its war by June.
The pact signed by president Alexander Stubb and Mr Zelensky made Finland the eighth Nato member this year to commit to long-term security cooperation and defence backing for Kyiv.
Finland, which shares a 1,340-km (830-mile) border with Russia, joined Nato a year ago.
Mr Stubb said Finland would also send 188 million euros in additional military aid, including air defences and heavy-calibre ammunition. That sum took Finland’s overall defence contribution to around 2 billion euros during the war.
“We are not giving this military support only for Ukraine to defend itself, we are giving this military support for Ukraine to win this war,” Stubb told a news conference in Kyiv.
Jane Dalton3 April 2024 18:30 1712162751Norway follows its neighbor Denmark in planning an increase in conscripted soldiers
Norway is to increase the number of conscripted soldiers from the present 9,000 to 13,500, the Norwegian government said Tuesday.
“We must have enough people with the right skills at the right time,” Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said. “We will need more people with professional military expertise going forward.”
The country’s armed forces will see a gradual increase in the number of conscripts for initial service each year, Arild Gram said, adding that several billion kroner (several hundred million dollars) will be invested in the Norwegian Armed Forces’ facility at Terningmoen, north of Oslo, where the NATO member will gather all new recruits. He did not specify precisely how much oil-rich Norway will spend.
Norway follows its neighbor Denmark in planning an increase in conscripted soldiers
Norway is to increase the number of conscripted soldiers from the present 9,000 to 13,500
Tom Watling3 April 2024 17:45 1712160591Russia's security head says the US shares blame for deadly concert hall attack
The head of Russia‘s national security council on Wednesday contended that the United States shares blame for the attack by gunmen on a Moscow concert hall that killed 145 people, even though a branch of the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility.
Since the March 22 attack at the Crocus City Hall, the deadliest on Russian soil in two decades, Russian officials including President Vladimir Putin have repeatedly claimed, without presenting evidence, that it was organized by Ukraine, which has been fighting a Russian invasion for more than two years.
An affiliate of the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack and Kyiv has consistently denied involvement.
Russia's security head says the US shares blame for deadly concert hall attack
The head of Russia’s national security council says the United States shares blame for the attack by gunmen on a Moscow concert hall that killed 145 people, even though a branch of the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility
Tom Watling3 April 2024 17:09 1712158788Zelensky finally calls for younger soldiers in bid to plug shortfall in troops
Ukraine has annnounced it will lower the military conscription age in an effort to replenish its depleted ranks after more than two years of war.
The new mobilization law, from 27 to 25 , came into force a day after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed it. Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, passed it last year.
It was not immediately clear why Zelenskyy took so long to sign the measure into law. He didn’t make any public comment about it, and officials did not say how many new soldiers the country expected to gain or for which units.
Zelensky finally calls for younger soldiers in bid to plug shortfall in troops
Tom Watling3 April 2024 16:39 1712157108Nato countries to start planning new Ukraine aid structures, Stoltenberg says
Nato countries have not yet taken a decision on the structure of future aid for Ukraine, but agreed on Wednesday to move forward with planning on the matter, Nato’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said.
“Today we didn’t take any final decisions on what format we will establish, but we agreed to initiate planning,” Mr Stoltenberg told reporters after a meeting of Nato foreign ministers.
The ministers met to discuss how to put military support for Ukraine on a long-term footing, including a proposal for a 100 billion euro ($107 billion) five-year fund and a plan seen as a way to “Trump-proof” aid for Kyiv.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg look on as they stand for a group photo on the day of a Nato foreign ministers meeting
(REUTERS)Russia says new South Korean sanctions are ‘unfriendly’ and vows to respond
Russia considers South Korea’s decision to impose sanctions against Russian individuals and entities as an “unfriendly” move and will respond in due course, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
South Korea has imposed sanctions against two Russian vessels which it says were carrying military cargo to North Korea. Seoul said on Tuesday it had also sanctioned two Russian organisations and two Russian citizens linked to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes.
“This is an unfriendly move by Seoul and is deeply regrettable. The imposition of - I emphasise - illegitimate sanctions will have a negative impact on relations with Russia,” Zakharova told reporters at her weekly briefing.
“Russia is developing good neighbourly ties with friendly North Korea in accordance with the norms of international law, without harming the national security of (South Korea),” she added.
Ties between Moscow and Pyongyang have strengthened following North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia‘s far east last year.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain3 April 2024 15:30 1712152836Court orders a detained Russia-US journalist to remain in custody for two more months
A court in Russia on Monday ordered a detained Russian-American journalist to be held in jail for two more months pending investigation and trial, in a further step in the Kremlin’s crackdown on dissent and free speech.
Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir service, was taken into custody on Oct. 18 and charged with failing to register as a foreign agent while collecting information about the Russian military. Later, she was also charged with spreading “false information” about the Russian military.
A court in Tatarstan Monday ordered her to remain behind bars at least until June 5.
Court orders a detained Russia-US journalist to remain in custody for two more months
A Russian court on Monday ordered a detained Russian-American journalist to be held in jail for two more months pending investigation and trial, in another step in the Kremlin’s crackdown on dissent and free speech
Maryam Zakir-Hussain3 April 2024 15:00 1712150860Moscow preparing to launch a ‘big attack’ this summer, Ukrainian military officers warn
Russia is preparing to launch a “big attack” this summer that could plummet Ukraine into crisis, high-ranking Ukrainian military officers have warned.
The officers who served under General Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s former commander-in-chief of armed forces, told POLITICO that Russia is gathering resources and is likely to “launch a big attack around August” but warned it could be sooner.
One of the military sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “There’s nothing that can help Ukraine now because there are no serious technologies able to compensate Ukraine for the large mass of troops Russia is likely to hurl at us.
“We don’t have those technologies, and the West doesn’t have them as well in sufficient numbers.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain3 April 2024 14:27 Newer1 / 7OlderDisclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
