Ukraine currently controls only about a third of the city of Bahmut, which has been the scene of months of violent fighting in the east of the country, Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhiy Letchenko said in a Telegram on Thursday. However, he denied that the city was surrounded by Russian forces, as a pro-Russian official in the east recently claimed. Meanwhile, the Turkish parliament on Thursday evening unanimously approved Finland’s accession to NATO, which had been blocked since May last year, days after a vote by Hungarian representatives.
Important events for Friday, March 31, 2023:
The time is 16:58 Biden urges Russia to release US Wall Street Journal journalist arrested on suspicion of espionage: ‘Let him go’ details here
16:44 Putin recognized the renewed concept of Russia’s foreign policy: “a hybrid war” described as “the initiator and promoter of the anti-Russian line” / Western policy “aimed at weakening Russia as a whole” called the US.
The time is 15:52 According to British military intelligence cited by Sky News, Western sanctions undermine Moscow’s ability to replace key radar systems destroyed by Ukrainian special forces. Details here.
The time is 15:40 Organizers of the Wimbledon tournament announced on Friday that athletes from Russia and Belarus will be able to participate in this year’s edition of the Grand Slam tournament, but “neutrally” and respecting certain conditions. Details here.
The time is 15:22 The Kremlin has ruled out halting its offensive against Ukraine despite calls for a ceasefire by its key ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, France Press reported. Details here.
15:01 Russia deploys 150,000 troops over ‘crippling incompetence’ Bahmud / ISW: “Putin is unlikely to risk the stability of his regime by deploying newly recruited troops to the frontline”
The time is 14:21 Ukraine will never forgive Russian troops responsible for alleged atrocities in Bucha, 2022 marks a year since the recapture of the town near Kiev after a 33-day occupation, Reuters reported. Details here.
The time is 14:09 Russia’s armed forces are not planning a second wave of mobilization and the upcoming military draft is part of a regular recruitment program, Russian officials said Friday, CNN reports. Details here.
The time is 13:40 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has called for an end to “hostilities” in Ukraine and warned that Russia will use the full force of its military if the West tries to use a phony truce in the war to invade its territory, CNN reports. Details here.
The time is 13:29 Japan has again expanded sanctions against Russia, banning exports of steel, aluminum, aircraft including drones and other industrial products to the country, Sky News reported, citing Reuters. Details here.
The time is 13:11 The war in Ukraine is “worrying and dangerous” for Hungary and “the threat of a world war is not exaggerated,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Friday in his weekly radio interview, MTI reported. Details here.
12:30 p.m My aim is for Sweden to join the North Atlantic Alliance by July (July 11-12 Vilnius summit, ed.), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with Politico on Thursday. Details here.
The time is 11:56 Washington on Thursday expressed “deep concern” over the arrest of an American journalist in Russia and condemned Moscow’s moves to punish the media, AFP reported. Details here.
The time is 11:45 The Finnish president thanked the 30 NATO member states for supporting his country’s accession after Thursday night’s vote in the Turkish parliament, AFP reported on Friday. Details here.
The time is 11:33 The government of Ukraine has announced that athletes from Ukraine will not participate in the qualifying events for the Olympic Games in which the representatives of Russia will participate. Details here.
The time is 11:21 US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield assessed Thursday that Russia should not be a permanent member of the Security Council, AFP reported. Details here.
The time is 09:38 Japan is banning steel, aluminum and aircraft exports to Russia, including drones, as part of the latest round of sanctions against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, the trade ministry announced Friday, The Guardian reports.
The move banning Japanese companies from exporting various types of industrial goods to Russia, such as construction machinery, ship machinery, testing equipment and optical equipment, will take effect on April 7, the ministry said in a statement.
The time is 09:09 It has been a year since the Busia massacre was discovered. Busia, a leafy suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kiev, became synonymous with Russian brutality last March after a military retreat exposed streets strewn with civilian corpses. Ukrainian officials estimate that 1,137 civilians died in the Kiev region liberated by Russian forces, including 461 in Busia alone, according to The Guardian.
08:47 Vulcan file: Massive leak of documents shows how Russia organizes cyber attacks globally and domestically
The time is 08:12 European Union diplomacy chief Joseph Borrell wrote on Twitter on Thursday that the European Union condemned the arrest in Russia of US journalist Ivan Gershkovich, accused of espionage, and criticized Moscow’s “systematic disregard” for press freedom. . (details here)
07:53 AM What is known about Ukraine’s announced counteroffensive and how it will reshape the war with Russia?
The time is 07:26 The Turkish parliament on Thursday evening unanimously voted by Hungarian representatives to ban Finland’s entry into NATO since May last year. (details here)
The time is 07:15 The pontiff, who was taken to hospital a day earlier with a respiratory infection, said in a video message before agreeing that peace is the “ultimate goal” of any war, according to reports. Sky News. Details here
The time is 07:08 A Moscow court on Thursday sentenced a railway worker to seven years in prison for posting an online post condemning Russian bombing of Ukrainian cities. The Moscow Times. Details here
The time is 07:00 Ukraine currently controls only about a third of the city of Bahmut, which has been the scene of months of violent fighting in the east of the country, Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhiy Letchenko said in a Telegram on Thursday. However, he denied that the city was surrounded by Russian forces, as a pro-Russian official in the east recently claimed. Le Monde. Details here
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