Polish official says NATO considering shooting down Russian missiles that approach its borders

NATO is reportedly considering the option of shooting down Russian missiles if they stray too close to its borders, #Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna said to the Polish media outlet RMF24 on March 26.

#Poland was forced to scramble its fighter jets to protect its airspace during Russia's drone and missile attack against Ukraine on March 24, when a Russian cruise missile entered Poland's airspace for 39 seconds.

Russia's #ambassador to Poland, Sergei Andreyev, was summoned by Poland's Foreign Ministry in response to the incident, but he rejected the request.

https://kyivindependent.com/polish-official-says-nato-considering-shooting-down-russian-missiles-that-approach-its-borders/

#RussianAggression #airspace #RussiaInvadedUkraine #StandWithUkraine

Polish official says NATO considering shooting down Russian missiles that approach its borders

Poland was forced to scramble its fighter jets to protect its airspace during Russia's drone and missile attack against Ukraine on March 24, when a Russian cruise missile entered Poland's airspace for 39 seconds.

Warsaw to ‘demand explanations’ from Moscow after Russian missile entered Polish airspace

Poland will demand explanations from Moscow after a Russian missile violated the Polish airspace during the mass attack against Ukraine on the morning of March 24, the Polish Foreign Ministry said.

Polish Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Pawel Wronski called on Russia to stop its “terrorist air attacks on the people and territory of Ukraine, to end the war and address the country's internal problems.”

Ukraine’s Air Forces said the Russian forces fired 29 cruise missiles and 28 Shahed loitering munitions, targeting eight regions in the west, center, north, and south of Ukraine. Of the total air targets fired across Ukraine, 18 cruise missiles and 25 Shahed drones were intercepted by the air defense, according to the report.

https://kyivindependent.com/poland-to-demand-explanations-from-russia-after-missile-aimed-at-ukraine-violated-polish-airspace/

#RussianAggression #RussiaInvadedUkraine #missiles #Poland #airspace

Warsaw to ‘demand explanations’ from Moscow after Russian missile entered Polish airspace

The Russian cruise missile entered Poland's airspace for 39 seconds, Jacek Siewiera, chief of Poland’s National Security Bureau, said on X on March 24. He also said the NATO allies had been briefed about yet another violation of the NATO border by...

Polish Operational Command: Shooting down Russian missile over Poland posed risk to civilians

Polish Armed Forces did not shoot down the Russian missile that flew into Poland’s airspace as it could have posed a risk to local civilians, Polish media RMF 24 reported on March 24.

The missile entered Polish airspace above the Lublin region for 39 seconds before flying back into Western Ukraine during Russia’s latest mass aerial attack. The Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces knew that the missile would circle back to Ukraine and decided not to down it, the command said.

"The decision resulted from information from our radar systems. The assessment of the missile's trajectory, speed and altitude indicated that it would leave our airspace,"

https://kyivindependent.com/polish-operational-command-shooting-down-russian-missile-over-poland-posed-a-risk-to-civilians/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #airspace #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

Polish Operational Command: Shooting down Russian missile over Poland posed risk to civilians

The Polish Operational Command of the Armed Forces knew that the missile would circle back to Ukraine and decided not to down the it.

Documentary - Destroy, in Whole or in Part

In this documentary, its author, investigative reporter Danylo Mokryk explores whether there is #genocidal intent in the actions of the Russian military and officials, as well as in Russian state propaganda.

He interviews several scholars whose views oppose one another. William A. Schabas, one of the most renowned scholars in the field, is a skeptic. Eugene Finkel has written an opinion piece stating that the Russian invasion was genocide back in 2022. Dmytro Koval emphasizes that one cannot fully understand Russia’s war in Ukraine if one doesn’t call it #genocide

It also features survivors and witnesses of Russian war crimes: a widow of a man killed in Bucha; a twin sister of a woman murdered in Skadovsk; a kid who had been deported to Crimea, and witnessed an attempt to russify Ukrainian children; and two people who had been detained during the occupation of Kherson

https://kyivindependent.com/destroy-in-whole-or-in-part/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

The Kyiv Independent

Anti-Kremlin militias' raid thwarts Russia's plans for potential new attack

The recent incursion into Russia by Russian #anti-Kremlin #militias made Moscow "change plans" on a possible new attack in Ukraine's northern sector.

Russian nationalist Denis Kapustin, the commander of the #Russian Volunteer Corps, said at a press conference on March 21 that the militias "stabilized the front" and "eased the pressure of Russian troops in certain areas."

Alexei Baranovsky, the Freedom of Russia Legion volunteer, claimed that anti-Kremlin forces had received intelligence about Russia's alleged plans to advance further into Kharkiv Oblast.

"The clashes (on Russia's territory) forced Russia to deploy additional reserves and withdraw its troops from their positions (in Ukraine) to relocate them to Belgorod Oblast," Yusov said.

https://kyivindependent.com/military-intelligence-anti-kremlin-militias-raid-thwarts-russias-plans-for-potential-new-attack/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

Military Intelligence: Anti-Kremlin militias' raid thwarts Russia's plans for potential new attack

The recent incursion into Russia by Russian anti-Kremlin militias made Moscow "change plans" on a possible new attack in Ukraine's northern sector, Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson of Ukraine's military Intelligence told the Kyiv Independent on March 22.

Anti-Kremlin militias hold press conference in Kyiv, say incursions into Russia thwart Kremlin's ability to launch new attacks

With the recent incursions, the Ukraine-led militants say their goal was to "open a second front" and ease pressure on Ukrainian troops on the Kupiansk axis.

Russian nationalist Denis Kapustin, commander of the right-wing Russian Volunteer Corps, said that the fighters of the units "stabilized the front" and "eased the pressure of Russian troops in certain areas."

https://kyivindependent.com/anti-kremlin-militias-hold-press-conference-in-downtown-kyiv-say-incursions-into-russia-thwart-kremlins-ability-to-launch-new-attacks/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

Anti-Kremlin militias hold press conference in Kyiv, say incursions into Russia thwart Kremlin's ability to launch new attacks

Editor's note: The story was updated with comments from Ukraine's Military Intelligence. Following over a week of cross-border raids, the Ukrainian-equipped anti-Kremlin militias held a joint press conference in downtown Kyiv to have their voices...

Russian Navy accidentally hits fishing boat, authorities try to cover it up

A Russian #fishing #trawler was hit by a missile during Russia’s #Baltic Fleet military exercises, killing three and injuring four others, a relative of one of the dead men claimed to the Russian TV Rain on March 21.

After the incident, which reportedly occurred on March 19, Russian authorities blamed it on a fire onboard the “Captain Lobanov” boat and said only one person had died, TV Rain reported.

“When the survivors were taken away, everyone knew perfectly well that three people had died and everyone knew perfectly well that a rocket had hit,” the relative said to TV Rain.

https://kyivindependent.com/media-russian-navy-accidentally-hits-fishing-boat-authorities-try-to-cover-it-up/

#Civilians #dead #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

Media: Russian Navy accidentally hits fishing boat, authorities try to cover it up

A Russian fishing trawler was hit by a missile during Russia’s Baltic Fleet military exercises, killing three and injuring four others, a relative of one of the dead men claimed to the Russian TV Rain on March 21.

Ukraine's forces 'stabilize situation' in the east

After the capture of #Avdiivka on Feb. 17 and several other settlements shortly after, #Russian forces were concentrating their main efforts on making a breakthrough near the fallen town in #Donetsk Oblast, Syrskyi reported last week. Avdiivka fell as Ukraine was facing an ongoing ammunition shortage.

In a phone call with Thierry Burkhard, France's army chief, Syrskyi said he had spoken about the current situation on the battlefield and thanked Paris for the support.

https://kyivindependent.com/syrskyi-ukraines-forces-stabilizes-situation-in-east/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #Imperialism #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

Syrskyi: Ukraine's forces 'stabilize situation' in the east

The Ukrainian forces managed to "stabilize the situation" in the country's east, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on March 21.

Who Is Konstantin Nikolaev? Putin Ally Behind Mike Johnson Campaign Donation

News of money previously given to House Speaker Mike Johnson's congressional campaign by Russian nationals has re-emerged after the Republican rejected a $95 billion foreign aid bill passed in the Senate.

In 2018, a group of Russians were able to donate to Johnson's bid for the Louisiana seat he eventually won as the money was funneled through the Texas-based American #Ethane company.

While American Ethane was co-founded by American John Houghtaling, at the time it was 88 percent owned by three Russian nationals—Konstantin Nikolaev, Mikhail Yuriev, and Andrey Kunatbaev. #Nikolaev is known to be a top ally of Russian President Vladimir #Putin.

https://www.newsweek.com/who-konstantin-nikolaev-money-mike-johnson-1870600

#corruption #bribes #Johnson #America #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

Konstantin Nikolaev—the Putin ally behind Mike Johnson campaign donation

The Russian oligarch gave money to the Republican's 2018 congressional campaign via a U.S-based company in which he owned a majority.

Ammunition suppliers for Czech-led initiative to aid Ukraine include Russian allies, Czech officials say

Ammunition suppliers taking part in the #Czech-led initiative to provide Ukraine with artillery shells include "some allies of Russia," the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing unnamed Czech officials.

The Czech officials told WSJ that Prague had managed to utilize its good relations with many nations in the Global South that have large stockpiles of Soviet-era arms and the ability to produce more.

https://kyivindependent.com/wsj-ammunition-suppliers-for-czech-led-initiative-to-aid-ukraine-include-russian-allies-czech-officials-say/

#RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

WSJ: Ammunition suppliers for Czech-led initiative to aid Ukraine include Russian allies, Czech officials say

The ammunition suppliers taking part in the Czech-led initiative to provide Ukraine with artillery shells include "some allies of Russia," the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing unnamed Czech officials.

Moldova's Foreign Minister: Russia attempting to overthrow democratic government in Chișinău

"The Russians are learning and adapting, and they’re trying to use the democratic process against us … to topple the democratic government in Moldova," noted Popșoi.

He said that Chișinău knows that the Kremlin plans to invest "a lot of energy and financial resources" into their efforts to achieve their goals, including through the bribery of Moldovan citizens, via their proxies.

Russia would continue its hybrid warfare in 2024 on the eve of the presidential elections and the referendum on the country's accession to the European Union.

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/03/11/7445892/?utm_source=diaspora

#RussianAggression #Imperialism #Moldova #HybridWarfare #StopRussianAggression #RussianImperialism

Moldova’s Foreign Minister: Russia attempting to overthrow democratic government in Chișinău

Moldova’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mihai Popșoi, has stated that the country faces numerous threats from Russia on its path to EU membership.

Allies collect funding to purchase 800,000 shells for Ukraine, Czech president says

Czech President Petr Pavel said on March 7 that after Norway had joined the Czech-led initiative on purchasing 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine, the required funds were collected

Pavel said 18 countries participated in the Czech-led allied initiative, and "within weeks," Ukraine would get the ammunition.

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-march-8/

#RussianAggression #Imperialism #RussiaInvadedUkraine #StandWithUkraine #Czech #shells #artillery

Ukraine war latest: Allies collect funding to purchase 800,000 shells for Ukraine, Czech president says

Key developments on March 7: * Pavel: Allies collect required funding to purchase 800,000 shells for Ukraine * UK pledges $416 million to buy 10,000 drones for Ukraine * Governor announces mandatory evacuation from Kupiansk area * Media:...

Congressmen open investigation into Musk's SpaceX, Russian alleged usage of Starlink

Congress opened an investigation into businessman Elon Musk's SpaceX company, demanding information on Russia's alleged usage of the Starlink satellite internet terminals, the Washington Post reported on March 7, citing a letter written by Congressmen Jamie Raskin and Robert Garcia.

Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov told the Wall Street Journal in February 2024 that Russian forces were using thousands of Starlink terminals in Ukraine, echoing earlier assertions by the military intelligence and media outlets.

The letter by Raskin and Garcia warned SpaceX's president, Gwynne Shotwell, that the alleged use of Starlink by Russian forces represented "a serious threat to Ukraine's security, Ukrainian lives, and U.S. national security."

The congressmen wrote that they are "concerned that (SpaceX) may not have appropriate guardrails and policies in place."

https://kyivindependent.com/us-democratic-congressmen-open-investigation-into-musks-spacex-russian-alleged-usage-of-starlink/

#SpaceX #Starlink #RussiaInvadedUkraine #RussianAggression #Musk #StandWithUkraine

US Democratic congressmen open investigation into Musk's SpaceX, Russian alleged usage of Starlink

The letter by congressmen Jamie Raskin and Robert Garcia warned SpaceX's president, Gwynne Shotwell, that the alleged use of Starlink by Russian forces represented "a serious threat to Ukraine's security, Ukrainian lives, and U.S. national security."

Congressional inaction on Ukraine aid is 'gift' to Putin

Aid for Ukraine and other U.S. allies have been stalled in Congress for months, largely over unrelated domestic political disputes.

The U.S. Senate passed a foreign aid bill on Feb. 13 containing $61 billion in funding for Ukraine, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to put it to a vote in the House, despite pressure from the Senate and the White House.

"As the House continues to stall, Russia is gaining ground and Ukraine is being forced to ration ammunition and supplies," Yellen said ahead of a bilateral meeting in Washington with German Economy Minister Robert Habeck.

"The House must act and show the strength of the U.S support for Ukraine in the face of Putin's aggression," she added.

https://kyivindependent.com/us-treasury-secretary-congressional-inaction-on-ukraine-aid-is-gift-to-putin/

#RussianAggression #Imperialism #RussiaInvadedUkraine #StandWithUkraine

US Treasury Secretary: Congressional inaction on Ukraine aid is 'gift' to Putin

"As the House continues to stall, Russia is gaining ground and Ukraine is being forced to ration ammunition and supplies," U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on March 7.

Netherlands holds Russia liable for $180 million in costs related to #MH17 downing

All 298 people on board, including 80 children, were killed when Russian proxy forces used a BUK missile system to shoot down the Malaysia Airlines flight above Donetsk Oblast on July 17, 2014.

The plane was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, and Dutch citizens made up 196 of the passengers on board.

Two Russian nationals, Igor Girkin and Sergey Dubinsky, and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko, were found guilty of shooting down MH17 at a #Hague District Court in November 2022

https://kyivindependent.com/netherlands-costs-investigation-mh17-downing/

#RussianAggression #WarCrimes #CiviliansKilled #StopRussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

Netherlands holds Russia liable for $180 million in costs related to MH17 downing

The Netherlands has spent at least 166 million euros ($179.8 million) on costs related to the downing of MH17, for which it holds Russia liable, according to a report by the Dutch General Audit Chamber (ARK) published on Feb. 29.

Russia’s descent into #totalitarianism: How it happened

It is difficult to pin down the exact moment that Russia began morphing into a totalitarian state, but the transformation didn’t take long.

For over a decade, the #Kremlin was taking away civil liberties and feeding the population a revamped and increasingly more aggressive version of #nationalism. For nearly a decade, most Russians didn't seem to care.

In 2012, the Kremlin ruthlessly ended the wave of #demonstrations known as the #Bolotnaya protests. Named for the square in Moscow where demonstrators gathered, the rallies began in December 2011, when thousands of Russians flooded the streets to protest against election fraud.

https://kyivindependent.com/russias-decade-long-fall-into-totalitarianism-explained/

#Imperialism #dictators #Putin #RussianAggression

Russia’s descent into totalitarianism: How it happened

It is difficult to pin down the exact moment that Russia began morphing into a totalitarian state, but the transformation didn’t take long. For over a decade, the Kremlin was taking away civil liberties and feeding the population a revamped and...

Russia's war in Ukraine has been knocking on your door, too

Talking about Russia's war against Ukraine, we are not talking about a war between two states. It's is a war between two systems

Two years on, we know if Russia succeeds, we will find ourselves in a world that will be dangerous for everyone without exception

Samuel Huntington predicted that new global conflicts would arise between different civilizations.

Thousands of Ukrainian cities are being shelled not only by #Russian missiles but also by #Iranian drones & ballistic missiles in addition to #NorthKorean artillery shells & missiles.

#China is helping Russia circumvent sanctions and import technologies critical to warfare. North Korea sent Russia more than a million artillery shells. Syria votes at the UN General Assembly in support of Russia.

We are dealing with the formation of an entire authoritarian bloc. As much as Russia, Iran, China, Syria, and North Korea are "different civilizations", according to Huntington's views, they pose a crucial common feature.

The existence of the free world always threatens dictatorships with the loss of power. That's because human beings inherently have a desire for freedom.

Therefore, when we talk about Russia's war against Ukraine, we are not talking about a war between two states. This is a war between two systems — authoritarianism and democracy.

https://www.euronews.com/2024/02/24/russias-war-in-ukraine-has-been-knocking-on-your-door-too

#Imperialism #RussianAggression #RussiaInvadedUkraine #StopRussianAggression #StandWithUkraine

The Clash of Civilizations | work by Huntington

Other articles where The Clash of Civilizations is discussed: Samuel P. Huntington: …he argued in the controversial The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order (1996) that conflict between several large world civilizations was...

North Korean missiles used by Russia against Ukraine contain US, European components

#NorthKorean ballistic #missiles fired into Ukraine by the Russian military last month contained hundreds of components produced by companies in the U.S. and Europe, the Conflict Armament Research (CAR) organization announced in its February report.

CAR, an organization based in the U.K., studied missile remnants recovered from a Russian attack on the city of Kharkiv back in January. Not only did many of the recovered components display brands of companies based primarily in the U.S., but a large number of them were produced within the last three years.

Investigators determined that the North Korean ballistic missile included more than 290 non-domestic electronic components.

https://kyivindependent.com/north-korean-missiles-used-by-russia-against-ukraine-contain-us-and-european-components/

#RussianAggression #Imperialism #WarCrimes #StandWithUkraine

Report: North Korean missiles used by Russia against Ukraine contain US, European components

A North Korean ballistic missile fired into Ukraine by the Russian military last month contained hundreds of components produced by companies in the U.S. and Europe, the Conflict Armament Research (CAR) organization announced in a recent report.

Pro-Kremlin military blogger dead after reporting Russia's losses in #Avdiivka

Ultranationalist Russian military blogger Andrey Morozov reportedly died by suicide days after posting claims that Russia suffered massive personnel losses in Avdiivka.

Morozov sparked outrage among pro-Russian outlets when he claimed on Feb. 18 that the Russian military lost 16,000 soldiers and 300 armored vehicles in its assault on Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast.

https://kyivindependent.com/pro-kremlin-military-blogger-dead-after-reporting-russias-losses-in-avdiivka/

#RussianAggression #dictatorship #MilitaryBloggers #StandWithUkraine

Pro-Kremlin military blogger dead after reporting Russia's losses in Avdiivka

Andrey Morozov, who wrote under the pseudonym "Murz" on Telegram, was a pro-Kremlin commentator who participated in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian state-run media and other military bloggers said he died by suicide.

Russian citizens attending Navalny vigils reportedly given draft summonses

At least six Russians arrested while attending makeshift memorials to the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison in Russia on Feb. 16, were given military draft notices upon their release from custody, local Russian media reported on Feb. 21.

Russian authorities have reportedly arrested hundreds of people for laying flowers at memorials to Navalny or otherwise publicly mourning his death.

Leaders around the world condemned Russia for #Navalny's death and blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for what has been consistently characterized as a murder.

https://kyivindependent.com/media-russians-attending-navalny-vigils-given-draft-summons/

#Russian #Murder #RussianAggression #assassinations #StandWithUkraine

Media: Russian citizens attending Navalny vigils reportedly given draft summonses

Russian Telegram channels said that six people who were detained in St. Petersburg while attending makeshift memorial ceremonies were told that they "must report to the enlistment office within a few days to verify their information and register...