Selenski defends the grain deal – the night at a glance

He announced that he would continue to expand exports. Meanwhile, the ex-Soviet Republic of Belarus is building a joint military unit with its neighbor, waging war against Russia, and the first Russian soldiers arrive. At the same time, all security forces, including civil defense, are being armed and the country’s bunkers are being prepared for emergencies. In Ukraine, the 236th day of the war begins on Monday.

Selenski wants to export more grain and save electricity

Zelensky said in his daily video address on Sunday that while the war continues to hamper exports, Ukraine has exported nearly eight million tons of food by sea since the Grains Agreement came into effect. “That’s more than 300 ships. 60 percent of the amount went to Africa and Asia.” Just days ago, Russia threatened to halt the grain deal and block Ukrainian ports again because Moscow believes promises to Russia have not been kept and that the explosives used in the attack on the Crimean Bridge are said to have been transported by sea. transported from Ukraine and smuggled into Ukraine.

Following the attack, Russia massively stepped up its missile strikes on Ukraine – and especially on energy infrastructure – last week. Therefore, Selenski asked his compatriots to save electricity. “Due to the Russian missile terror, in some cities and regions of Ukraine, it is necessary to limit the electricity supply in order for the whole system to function stably,” he said. Especially in the evening rush hour it is necessary to save electricity, because otherwise there would be overload and the electricity companies would be forced to switch off.

Belarus Arms Its Civil Defense

In Belarus, against the background of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, its own military activities are increasing. “Now we have received all the weapons that we should have received from the Ministry of Defense and we have stored them in the armory,” the head of Belarus’ Civil Defense Vadim Sinyavsky said on state television on Sunday. At the same time, units were formed that could be used together with the army “for the defense of the homeland”.

At the same time, the senior official spoke of about 5,000 underground facilities that could be used as air raid shelters in Belarus. The Belarusian Border Guard, meanwhile, announced that it had reinforced its units at the border “due to increased reconnaissance activities in Ukraine”.

First Russian soldiers for joint force in Belarus

Meanwhile, Russia sent the first soldiers for a joint force with Belarus to the neighboring country. “The first troop trains with Russian soldiers (…) have arrived in Belarus,” the Russian agency TASS quoted a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense in Minsk on Sunday as saying. “The transfer will take a few days. The total number will be just under 9,000 people,” it said. Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko announced on Monday that he is co-creating a joint regional force with Russia. Given the mounting tensions, it must protect the Belarusian border. Lukashenko denies that his country will participate in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Ukraine puts premium on ex-separatist leader Girkin

Meanwhile, the former leader of the separatists in Donbass, Igor Girkin, known by his alias Strelkov, wants to join in. According to Russian military bloggers, Girkin joined a volunteer battalion for deployment in Ukraine. The Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR has offered a bounty of 100,000 dollars (about 103,000 euros) for the arrest of the former Russian intelligence officer. Girkin is held responsible, among other things, for the shooting down of a passenger plane over the Donbass.

Still no access to prisoners of war: Red Cross rejects criticism

The Red Cross is defending itself against Kiev’s criticism that it has not yet visited many prisoners of war. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has moral obligations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week, demanding immediate visits. Blaming the ICRC for refusing full and immediate entry does not help POWs or their families,” the ICRC said Sunday night. Eleven employees, including a doctor, are available for such visits in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region, but have not yet been authorized.

This must come from the participating states. According to the Geneva Conventions, they are obliged to grant access to the ICRC. For almost eight months now, the ICRC has been asking in vain for unhindered and regular visits to all places where POWs are interned, including the Olenivka prison camp.

Monday will be important

The foreign ministers of the EU countries will discuss further support to Ukraine next Monday (9:30 a.m.) in Luxembourg. The meeting decided on a training mission for the Ukrainian armed forces and the use of an additional EUR 500 million for the purchase of weapons and equipment.

Against the background of tensions with Russia, NATO begins its annual maneuvers to defend the European alliance area with nuclear weapons. According to NATO, 13 other countries besides Germany will be involved in the Steadfast Noon exercise. The scene is mainly the airspace above Belgium, Great Britain and the North Sea.

(SDA)