#russianwarcrimes

mlansbury@despora.de

Russian torture of Ukrainian POWs ‘widespread and systematic,’ UN commission says

One Ukrainian soldier, who was detained and tortured by Russian authorities in several detention facilities, recounted his experience in the correctional colony in the town of Donskoy, Tula region, where he was repeatedly subjected to torture and left with broken bones, broken teeth and gangrene on an injured foot,” the report reads.

“‘I lost any hope and the will to live,’ the soldier said, adding that he had tried to kill himself but perpetrators subjected him to further beating.”

The document also highlights “incidents of rape and other sexual violence committed against women in circumstances which also amount to torture” as well as “incidents of torture with a sexualized dimension and threats of rape against male prisoners of war.”

Speaking to journalists in #Geneva after the release of the findings, the chair of the commission, Erik Møse, said: “Victims' accounts disclose relentless brutal treatment inflicting severe pain and suffering during prolonged detention, with blatant disregard for human dignity.”

The torture and execution of Ukrainian POWs has been well-documented throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion.

https://kyivindependent.com/russian-torture-of-ukrainian-pows-widespread-and-systematic-un-commission-says/

#WarCrimes #RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianWarCrimes #Imperialism #StandWithUkraine #POWs #HumanRights

mlansbury@despora.de

Russia currently refuses international commission to investigate Il-76 crash

An international commission is needed to establish the cause of the Russian Il-76 transport plane's crash, but Moscow currently rejects this option

Russia has alleged that the military aircraft that crashed in Russia's Belgorod Oblast on Jan. 24 was destroyed by Ukrainian forces and that it was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs).

Ukraine has called Russia's narrative into question and demanded an international investigation.

"Concerning specific causes of the plane's crash, the request to create an international commission is logical and well-founded," Yusov said. Such an investigation could examine the wreckage of the plane and uncover its black box, he noted.

"At the moment, as we hear, Russia rejects the possibility of such a commission."

https://kyivindependent.com/military-intelligence-russia-currently-refuses-international-commission-to-investigate-il-76-crash/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianWarCrimes #crash #POWs #aircraft #investigation #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de
mlansbury@despora.de

Some POWs from Russian list of Il-76 crash victims had already been exchanged

The list of prisoners of war claimed by Russian propagandists to have been on board the Il-76 aircraft that crashed on Jan. 24 includes those who had already been swapped before

Ukraine's military intelligence agency said that a prisoner swap was indeed planned for Jan. 24, but it did not happen. The agency's spokesperson, Andrii Yusov, added that the claim about Ukrainian prisoners on board is currently being verified

According to Lubinets, photos and videos from the site of the Russian Il-76 aircraft crash do not indicate any signs that there were such a large number of people on the plane

https://kyivindependent.com/ombudsman-some-pows-from-russian-list-of-il-76-crash-victims-had-already-been-exchanged/

#RussianWarCrimes #RussiaInvadedUkraine #Il-76 #RussianPropaganda #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

Bloomberg: Russia imported over $1 billion worth of advanced US and European chips in 2023

Despite sanctions, Russia imported advanced chips valued at more than $1 billion from U.S. and European companies during the initial nine months of 2023, according to classified data from the Russian customs service obtained by Bloomberg.

The imported chips encompassed products from Intel Corp, Advanced Micro Devices, and Analog Devices Inc., along with European brands such as Infineon Technologies AG, STMicroelectronics NV, and NXP Semiconductors NV.

https://kyivindependent.com/bloomberg-russia-imported-over-1-billion-worth-of-advanced-us-and-european-chips-in-2023/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianWarCrimes #microchips #sanctions #AMD #missiles #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

Fire breaks out at oil depot in Russia's Krasnodar Krai

Multiple strikes on oil depots in Russia, including in #Bryansk, #Oryol, and #Leningrad oblasts, were reported in January, amid increasing claims of #DroneAttacks in Russian regions bordering Ukraine.

The #Tuapse fire caused no casualties or injuries, according to preliminary information, the Krasnodar Krai administration reported.

According to Russian pro-Kremlin media outlet Mash, local residents reported seeing multiple drones flying over the region before and after the fire at the oil depot.

https://kyivindependent.com/fire-breaks-out-at-oil-depot-in-russias-krasnodar-krai/

#RussiiaInvadedUkraine #RussianWarCrimes #StopRussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

Cyberattack on Russian scientific research center deals 'devastating' damage

"Volunteer patriot" hackers of the BO Team launched a cyberattack against the Russian Far Eastern Research Center of Space Hydrometeorology "Planeta," destroying its database and expensive equipment, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) said on Jan. 24.

Cyberattacks are a common tool used by both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war. In one of the most devastating strikes, Russian hackers targeted Ukraine's telecommunications provider, #Kyivstar, causing communication outages nationwide last December.

Media reports on the cyberattack against the Russian space #hydrometeorology center emerged already on Jan. 23.

Ukraine's military intelligence agency now confirmed the reports, saying that the hackers allegedly destroyed 280 servers and two petabytes of data.

https://kyivindependent.com/military-intelligence-cyber-attack-on-russian-space-hydrometeorology-research-center-deals-devastating-consequences/

#cyberattacks #RussiaInvadedUkraine #hacking #RussianWarCrimes #StandWithUkraine #digital

mlansbury@despora.de

Zelensky invites Trump to Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky has extended an invitation to Donald Trump to visit Kyiv, with a specific condition attached.

Speaking with U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 News, Zelensky said that Trump would be warmly received in the capital under one stipulation: the former U.S. president must demonstrate his ability to bring an end to the war with Russia within 24 hours, as he once promised.

Trump has repeatedly said that the war would not have happened if he was still in power in Washington, and that he would bring it to an immediate end if voted back in because he has what he described as "a good relationship" with both Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Beyond that, former U.S. president has provided no details of what his peace deal would involve.

https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-invites-trump-to-ukraine/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #Trump #sociopath #peace #lies #MentalHealthMatters #RussianWarCrimes #24hours #Kyiv #Zelensky

mlansbury@despora.de

Ukrainian drone attack on Russian oil depot causes massive blaze


A Ukrainian drone has struck an oil storage depot in western Russia, causing a massive blaze, officials said, as Kyiv’s forces apparently extended their attacks on Russian soil ahead of the war’s two-year anniversary.

Four oil reservoirs with a total capacity of 6,000 cubic metres were set on fire after the drone reached #Klintsy, a city of some 70,000 people located about 60 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, according to the local governor and state news agency Tass.

https://www.euronews.com/2024/01/19/ukrainian-drone-attack-on-russian-oil-depot-causes-massive-blaze

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianWarCrimes #drones #oil #OilDepot #fire #OilStorage #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

Railways in western Russia hit by sabotage attacks

Railway tracks in Russia's Saratov, Yaroslavl, and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts have been targeted in sabotage attacks

"Unknown opponents of Putin's regime once again burned several relay cabinets on the railway" and other parts of the track used for military logistics, the #HUR said.

The agency shared a video compilation of what appeared to show multiple arson attacks on relay boxes and other parts of track infrastructure.

As a result of the reported sabotage, railway traffic on certain track sections was "paralyzed," according to the HUR.

https://kyivindependent.com/hur-sabotage-western-russia/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianWarCrimes #railroads #railways #military #logistics #sabotage #trains #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

Latvian-led coalition to arm Ukraine with 'thousands' of drones

Defense Minister Rustem Umverov said Riga would helm a drone coalition in support of Ukraine's military after talks with his Latvian counterpart Andris Spruds

The coalition aims to arm Ukraine with "thousands" of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The main goal is to do everything possible to ensure that as many of these drones as possible are also delivered to Ukraine

also acknowledged is the importance of drone warfare in Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression. President Volodymyr Zelensky promised on Dec. 19 that Ukraine would produce one million drones in 2024.

https://kyivindependent.com/latvian-led-coalition-to-arm-ukraine-with-thousands-of-drones/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianWarCrimes #drones #Latvia #Ukraine #UAV #AirForce #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

German opposition to bring Taurus missiles to Ukraine up for vote in Bundestag

Germany's primary opposition parties will call for a #Bundestag vote on the transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine on Jan. 17, the German news outlet NTV reported.

Ukraine has lobbied for the German-made weapons, which have a range of up to 500 kilometers, since May 2023. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused to transfer the missiles, fearing escalation with Russia.

Friedrich Merz, the CDU's parliamentary leader, announced that his party would introduce a motion on Jan. 17 for a resolution in the Bundestag putting the matter of Taurus deliveries to a vote.

"We consider the situation in Ukraine to be increasingly critical," Merz said.

https://kyivindependent.com/german-opposition-to-bring-taurus-missiles-to-ukraine-up-for-vote-in-bundestag/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianWarCrimes #Germany #Taurus #missiles #MilitaryAid #OlafScholz #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

French Foreign Ministry on Belgorod strike: Russia 'bears full responsibility' for human casualties

"There is an aggressor state, Russia, which is carrying out a strategy of terror by deliberately striking essential civilian infrastructure, in violation of international humanitarian law, and an attacked state, Ukraine, which is acting in self-defense, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter," a representative of the French Foreign Ministry said on Jan. 3.

"Russia can put an end to this conflict and the human tragedies that accompany it, for which it bears full responsibility. To do this, it must withdraw all of its troops from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. This is the essential condition for restoring lasting peace and preserving an international order based on law."

https://kyivindependent.com/french-foreign-ministry-on-belgorod-strike-russia-is-aggressor-ukraine-acting-in-self-defense/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianAggression #InternationalLaw #France #French #Belgorod #RussianWarCrimes #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

Poland scrambles F-16s to defend airspace during Russian attacks on Ukraine

Poland scrambled two pairs of F-16 fighter jets to protect Polish airspace during Russia's large-scale attack against Ukraine on Jan. 2, the Polish army's Operational Command reported on X.

A Russian missile entered Polish airspace from the Ukrainian side of the border during a massive drone and missile attack on Dec. 29, prompting Poland to put its air defenses on high alert.

https://kyivindependent.com/poland-scrambles-f-16s-to-defend-airspace-during-russian-attacks-on-ukraine/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #NATO #RussianWarCrimes #missiles #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

ISW: Putin hopes to convince West to betray Ukraine

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's comments identifying the West as Russia's "enemy" suggest a Kremlin narrative aimed at convincing Western nations to betray Ukraine in future negotiations with Russia, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in its Jan. 2 report.

Putin said on Jan. 1 that “Ukraine by itself is not an enemy" of Russia, claiming that Western countries who wish to destroy Russian sovereignty are the true enemies and that Ukraine has already been "completely destroyed."

https://kyivindependent.com/isw-putin-hopes-to-convince-the-west-to-betray-ukraine/

#RussianAggression #imperialism #RussiiaInvadedUkraine #RussianWarCrimes #WarCrimes #misinformation #propaganda #PutinWarCrimes #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

Ukraine rescues illegally deported teenager from Russia

Ukraine has brought back an unlawfully displaced Ukrainian Oleksandr Naumkin, now 19, from Russia on Jan. 2.

Naumkin, a resident of Mariupol, was among the 31 children deported to Russia in May 2022 under the disguise of sending them for rehabilitation to the Polyany boarding house in Moscow Oblast. They are known as “Group 31.”

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-rescues-illegally-deported-teenager-from-russia/

#RussianWarCrimes #RussiaInvadedUkraine #OleksandrNaumkin #RussianKidnappers #WarCrimes #UkrainianChildren #rescue #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

How Russia’s succession problem makes its future uncertain

The regime’s problem might not be that it has no successor to Putin, but that there are many pretenders who would like his post – or at least to be members of a new collective leadership. Sooner or later, Russia’s succession problem will come to the fore and Putin’s subversion of Russia’s institutions, including the presidency itself, for the past 23 years will be recognized as a liability.

https://kyivindependent.com/opinion-how-russias-succession-problem-makes-her-future-uncertain/

#Putin #Russia #authoritarian #regime #transition #succession #politics #PutinWarCriminal #RussianWarCrimes #WarCrimes #RussiaInvadedUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

US Senator: Republicans 'holding Ukraine aid hostage'

Senator Chris Murphy, said he wished Republicans weren't holding further aid to Ukraine hostage to immigration reform as military assistance to both Kyiv and Israel continues to get held up in Congress.

"Vladimir Putin is delighting right now in Republicans' insistence that we get a deal on immigration reform and if we don't, then they're gonna allow Vladimir Putin to march into Ukraine and perhaps into Europe."

Murphy also said that this is a "crisis moment for Ukraine" as the country is rapidly running out of ammunition.

https://kyivindependent.com/white-house-to-step-up-efforts-to-reach-deal-on-ukraine-border-security-deal/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #StopRussianAggression #RussianWarCrimes #UkraineHostage #hostage #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine #MilitaryAid

mlansbury@despora.de

Scholz on Ukraine aid: Germany should be prepared to do more 'when others are faltering'

Russia's war against Ukraine "will probably not finish anytime soon," he said, which makes it important that Germany continues to be in a position "to keep supporting Ukraine in its fight to defend itself."

Germany is the second largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine after the U.S.

https://kyivindependent.com/scholz-on-ukraine-aid-germany-should-be-prepared-to-do-more-when-others-are-faltering/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianWarCrimes #Germany #NATO #military #MilitaryAid #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine

mlansbury@despora.de

Arms industry increasing capacity, Germany delivers what it can

"Too little to win and too much to lose"

Pistorius also rejected the notion that the West does not want to see a full Ukrainian victory on the battlefield, saying that "we should be more afraid that Russia will win this war," in part because Germany will be faced "with a completely new security situation."

The West's responsibility is "to create a situation on the battlefield, in the war, that Putin realizes that he cannot win this war - and that is why he comes to the negotiating table."

https://kyivindependent.com/pistorius-arms-industry-deliver/

#RussianAggression #RussiaInvadedUkraine #Europe #security #NATO #Putin #imperialism #defense #war #RussianWarCrimes #StopRussianAggression #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine