Results for: Ukraine

The Senate is set to vote on a $95 billion war aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan on Tuesday. The legislation has been delayed for months due to internal debates over U.S. involvement abroad. The aid to Ukraine is crucial as the country faces escalating Russian attacks. The package also includes assistance to Israel and measures to counter China in Taiwan. Despite bipartisan support, a growing number of conservative Republicans oppose the aid, causing potential career implications for top Republican leaders.

Ukraine has unveiled a novel weapon in its arsenal: long-range balloons equipped with mortar bombs. These balloons, controlled by sophisticated electronics and guided by GPS, pose unique challenges for Russia’s air defenses.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has reported shooting down numerous Ukrainian balloons, some carrying radar reflectors and others armed with mortar bombs. Experts believe that these balloons are more advanced than previous models and have a range of hundreds of kilometers.

The Ukrainian balloon bombs are fitted with Bluetooth modules that trigger the release of munitions when the balloon passes over a predetermined target area. They also have GPS trackers that allow Ukraine to monitor their progress and map areas where GPS is being jammed or spoofed.

While the accuracy of these balloon bombs is limited, their low cost and ease of deployment make them a potentially effective weapon for Ukraine. They force Russia to divert resources to counter them and could be used to disrupt key infrastructure or airbases.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has restored the tradition of celebrating St George’s Day in Downing Street, hosting the first gathering to mark England’s national day in over a decade. The event featured the raising of the English flag over No. 10 and a pledge by Sunak to provide additional support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Downing Street officials emphasized that Sunak embodies the spirit of St George through his unwavering commitment to aiding Ukraine. The Prime Minister also expressed well wishes to all on St George’s Day, emphasizing that it is a day to honor England’s patron saint and celebrate English identity.

Ukraine’s Agriculture Minister, Mykola Solsky, has been accused of involvement in a scheme to illegally acquire state-owned land worth millions of dollars. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) alleges that Solsky, a former chairman of the parliamentary agrarian committee, led a group that expropriated farmland in the northeastern Sumy region between 2017 and 2021. NABU claims the group destroyed documents showing that two state-owned companies had rights to use the land and then used a government scheme to transfer the rights to individuals connected to them. Solsky, who owns several farming businesses, became agriculture minister in March 2022. He has denied the allegations, saying they pertain to a period when he worked as a lawyer. The case is the first against a minister under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and comes amid speculation about an impending government reshuffle.

Russian prisoners of war have joined the ranks of anti-Kremlin militias fighting alongside Ukraine against their homeland. One such militia, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), under the command of former hooligan and known right-wing activist Denis Kapustin, has welcomed Russian soldiers into its ranks. Some prisoners, like Vlad and Mikhail Viktorovich Pavlov, expressed disillusionment with Russia and saw joining the Ukrainian forces as a chance for freedom and to contribute to their own country’s liberation. Despite some concerns about coercion, the recruits expressed their commitment to fighting for a new Russia and their desire to distance themselves from their homeland.

The Senate is set to vote on a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for Taiwan. The legislation has faced months of delays and internal debate over the U.S.’s involvement abroad.

The United Kingdom has pledged an additional $620 million in military supplies for Ukraine, including long-range missiles and millions of rounds of ammunition. The announcement comes as Ukraine faces advancing Russian forces in the eastern region of the country. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the assistance to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, assuring him of the UK’s unwavering support. The aid package includes 400 vehicles, 60 boats, 1,600 munitions, 4 million rounds of ammunition, and British Storm Shadow long-range missiles. President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the continued support, acknowledging that the new assistance will significantly aid Ukrainian forces on the front lines.

Russia has inadvertently dropped an X-59 missile onto its own territory close to the Ukraine border. The incident, which occurred near the village of Krasnoye in the Belgorod region on April 19th, marks the latest self-bombing incident in the ongoing war. The missile was discovered in a field and subsequently destroyed by the military, with no reported damage or casualties. Belgorod, situated near the Ukrainian border, has experienced multiple explosions throughout the conflict, with Russian authorities attributing them to accidental munitions drops. In the past two months alone, Russian forces are believed to have mistakenly dropped at least 21 aerial bombs on their own territory or occupied Ukrainian lands.

German authorities are investigating building materials giant Knauf for its alleged involvement in the reconstruction of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which was heavily damaged during a Russian siege in 2022. Knauf, a major investor in Russia, has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that it only supplies goods to the Russian market. However, Ukraine has labeled the company a ‘sponsor of war.’ Following the announcement of its withdrawal from Russia, Knauf’s assets in the country may be transferred to local management or sold at a 50% discount, as per Russian law.

New Jersey Representative Jeff Van Drew has gained notoriety as Vladimir Putin’s staunch supporter in the United States Congress. His recent vote against providing military aid to Ukraine has sparked outrage, revealing his opportunistic nature and lack of conviction. Van Drew’s actions have jeopardized the lives of Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines, as they struggle against the Russian aggression with limited resources.