According to British assessments, Russia continues to strengthen its defensive positions in the occupied regions of Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense in London announced on Monday in its daily intelligence update that defensive facilities have recently been expanded, especially in the Zaporizhia region of southern Ukraine.
Ukrainian successes would have serious consequences for the Russian position, he said. If Ukrainian troops break through to the front in Zaporizhia, the Russian “land bridge” between Russia and the annexed Crimea would be threatened. A Ukrainian success in the eastern Luhansk region, on the other hand, would jeopardize the Russian war objective of “liberating” the Donbass. “Deciding which of these threats to prioritize is probably one of the main dilemmas for Russian attack planners,” the ministry said.
“Despite the current operational focus on central Donbass, Russia remains preoccupied with protecting the extremes of its extended frontline,” he said. This is demonstrated by the expansion of positions in Zaporizhia and Luhansk, which are also being reinforced with new troops. The front line in Ukraine is about 1,288 kilometers long.
Kiev: US recruits Islamists for attack on Russia
The Russian foreign intelligence service SVR accuses the US of training Islamist militants to attack targets in Russia and the territory of the former Soviet Union. The SVR said it had information that 60 fighters from groups affiliated with the so-called Islamic State and al-Qaeda had been recruited by the US military. They would be trained at a US base in Syria.
“They are tasked with preparing and executing terrorist attacks against diplomats, public officials, police and members of the armed forces,” the agency said. The SVR explained that special attention was paid to recruiting immigrants from the North Caucasus of Russia and Central Asia, without providing any evidence.
The SVR, once part of the Soviet secret service KGB, is headed by Sergei Naryshkin, an ally of President Vladimir Putin who used to run Russia’s FSB domestic intelligence agency.
The United States is asking its citizens to leave Russia immediately
The US urged its citizens to leave Russia immediately. The US Embassy in Moscow said there was a risk of arbitrary arrest or harassment by Russian law enforcement agencies. “US citizens residing in or traveling in Russia must depart immediately. Extreme caution is advised due to the risk of unlawful detention. Do not travel to Russia.”
The US has repeatedly urged its citizens to leave Russia, most recently in September after President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization. Russian security services arrested American citizens on trumped-up charges, harassed them, denied them fair and transparent treatment and sentenced them in secret trials or without providing credible evidence, the US embassy said.
Heavy fight for Bachmut continues
Meanwhile, in the hotly contested city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian military is under increasing pressure.
The Russian private army Wagner claimed to have taken a suburb and was now advancing towards the centre. Initially, there was no comment from Kiev.
However, the Ukrainian side had previously emphasized that Bakhmut was still under its control. In the city, which once had more than 70,000 inhabitants, only a few thousand remain.
Zelensky calls for more sanctions
In the context of the war that has now lasted almost a year, the Ukrainian president has called for more Western sanctions against Russia – for example, against its nuclear energy branch.
“It’s not easy. There is some resistance,” Zelensky said in his late-night video message on Sunday.
There was also a time when further punitive measures against Russia seemed difficult, he added. “Now they apply – for example in relation to oil and oil products from Russia.”
NATO confirms website attack – pro-Russian hackers as perpetrators?
NATO was the target of a hacker attack on Sunday. A spokeswoman confirmed late at night from the German Press Agency that cyber experts from the defense alliance were actively dealing with an incident that was affecting several websites.
Social networks such as Twitter had previously said that pro-Russian activists had attacked the NATO Special Operations Headquarters (NSHQ) website. She was temporarily unavailable.
Stoltenberg successor
The alliance had also previously announced that Secretary General Stoltenberg wanted to step down from his role in the fall of this year, as planned. Member states are therefore under pressure to find a successor. “He has no intention of seeking another term extension,” said his spokeswoman Oana Lungescu.
Stoltenberg’s term has already been extended three times and he has been in office for nearly nine years.
Originally, there was again speculation that the 63-year term might be extended again in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Zelensky in the Super Bowl? apparently a duck
From last night to today, the 57th Super Bowl instead of. O Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philly Eagles 38:35 in a high-level game and managed to secure the most important title in American football for the third time in its history.
After years of not performing, pop star Rihanna with a bright halftime show reported back to the Super Bowl.
The Welt newspaper reported on its website that about 20 minutes before kick-off Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the stadium and addressed some emotional words to the spectators through a huge video screen.
“I want to thank all those who work for our peace. I speak to you today at a time when thousands of soldiers are defending our country. And that is why they do not play in the Ukrainian football championship to celebrate your sport”, quoted the newspaper.
Tweets also circulated on the short message service. However, this may be an incorrect assignment.
Because this video was shown on Friday night at the annual NFL Honors Awards ceremony. Among other things, this fair selects the best players and coaches of the year. During the event, a video featuring Ukrainian President Zelensky was shown at the end. Among other things, soldiers, grieving relatives and other photos from the war could also be seen (see tweet above).
However, it was decidedly not a pre-recorded or live speech by Zelensky in the build-up to the game.
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