Trench warfare is looming in Ukraine. While Kiev's announced counter-offensives are still having little effect, Western weapons can severely disrupt the Russian advance in the Donbass. Another weapon system has now been added - the M270 multiple rocket launcher. Are there arms deliveries to Russia as well? Iran at least dismisses the rumor as "propaganda" that it is supplying drones to the Russians. Meanwhile, Moscow has confirmed the brutal rocket attack on Vinnytsia - including its own version of what happened. The 141st day of the war at a glance.
23 dead in Vinnytsia: the Russian perspective
After the shelling of an office center in Vinnytsia, 23 fatalities have been counted to date, including three children. More than a dozen people are still missing. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the shelling of the city in western Ukraine, but spoke of an attack on a military object. In the "Officers' House" in the center of Vinnytsia there was a meeting between the Ukrainian military and foreign arms suppliers on Thursday.
Russian troops have fired on several Ukrainian cities far behind the front lines from afar in recent days. Despite Moscow's insistence on attacking only military targets, there have been dozens of civilian casualties.
MS270 system in the hands of Ukraine
According to Ukraine, it has received its first delivery of the modern M270 multiple rocket launcher system. Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov announced that the first M270 had arrived. "No mercy for the enemy," he added, referring to the invading Russian forces.
The UK announced delivery of the M270 system to Ukraine in June. This allows targets to be hit at a distance of up to 80 kilometers with precision-guided missiles. Reznikov called the M270 "good company on the battlefield" for the Himar missile launchers recently delivered to Ukraine by the US. Compared to the latter, the M270 system can even load twelve instead of six missiles.
Iran denies supplying drones to Russia
What might the Russian side get in secret? In any case, Iran's Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian assures Ukraine that it will not deliver drones to Russia. "The American claims in this regard were baseless and more of an act of propaganda," Amirabdollahian told his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba. His country has always advocated a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis. Jake Sullivan, US President Joe Biden's national security adviser, said a few days ago that there were indications that Iran wanted to use drones to support Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine.
Seventh EU sanctions package against Russia
According to the count, the new EU sanctions package is the seventh, the Commission spoke of a package to "maintain and align" the sanctions. It clarifies several regulations to create legal certainty for economic operators and to improve enforcement by the EU states. In addition, the sanctions would be aligned with those of the allies, especially those of the G7 states of leading democratic economic powers.
According to the EU Commission, in addition to the import ban on gold, there are plans to strengthen export controls for advanced technologies and military dual-use products. The package makes it clear that "the EU sanctions in no way affect trade in agricultural products between third countries and Russia". According to the proposal, the existing sanctions are to be extended until the end of January 2023 and then reviewed.
Briton arrested by pro-Russian forces killed
A Briton has died in separatist captivity in eastern Ukraine. That said a representative of the separatists, Darya Morozova, and referred to the man's previous illnesses. According to media reports, he was 45 years old, and the circumstances of his death could not be independently verified. A UK government spokesman said: "These are clearly alarming reports and our thoughts are of course with his family and friends."
Putin fills important key positions
Russia's President Putin has important positions within the Russian leadership filled. By decree, the head of the Kremlin appoints industry minister Denis Manturov as deputy head of government and Yuri Borissov, who was previously responsible for the defense industry, as the new director general of the Roskosmos space agency. In the past few weeks, Borisov had initiated the conversion of the economy to the needs of warfare. There is still no official information about the fate of the previous Roskosmos boss Dmitry Rogozin. According to media reports, the hardliner will either take a leading position in the presidential administration or become one of the Kremlin curators in the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
600 million euros for war-torn Moldova
At a donor conference for the Republic of Moldova, financial aid of at least 600 million euros was collected. That's what Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said in Bucharest at a press conference with Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. However, the inventory of the promised aid is not yet complete, Aurescu said.
The small ex-Soviet Republic of Moldova lies between Ukraine and Romania and has had the status of an EU accession candidate since June. The war in Ukraine triggered a refugee crisis and economic problems in Moldova, Aurescu said. A first donor conference for Moldova was held in Berlin in April
NASA flies into space again with Russia
The US space agency NASA wants to resume cooperation with Russia on flights to the International Space Station ISS despite the Ukraine war. For security reasons and to ensure "the US presence in space", joint flights by NASA astronauts and Russian cosmonauts in Russian Soyuz rockets will resume from September, NASA announced. Russian astronauts should therefore be able to use the SpaceX rockets flying on behalf of the USA for the first time.
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