Russia-Ukraine war updates: NATO chief says Putin underestimates alliance
Jens Stoltenberg says Ukrainians will decide the terms of peace to end the war.
This blog is now closed. Thank you for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Thursday, August 17.
This blog is now closed. Thank you for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war on Thursday, August 17.
- NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has promised to back Ukraine until it “wins the war”, claiming Russian President Vladimir Putin has “underestimated” the alliance.
- Russia’s defence ministry says its forces have thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack on Russian territory, the RIA news agency reports.
- Ukraine’s foreign minister has promised Kyiv will free Africa from “Russia’s grip”, in an interview with AFP.
- Ukraine loses hope on F-16s, saying it will not be able to operate the US-made fighter jets this year.
Slovakian army chief visits front line in southern Ukraine
Slovakia’s army chief of general staff visited the front line in southern Ukraine, in a rare official visit from a high-ranking NATO officer, Ukrainian military sources have said.
The Ukrainian army’s general staff said on Thursday that General Daniel Zmeko met with the Tavria operational-strategic group serving on the front to the south of Zaporizhzhia.
Zmeko said in a Facebook post that the Ukrainians had thanked Slovakia for providing “material and technical assistance” to Kyiv.
Ukrainian military photographs showed Zmeko talking with troops outside an arms hangar.
Ukraine urges military-age citizens to ‘overcome fear’ in enlistment campaign
Ukraine’s defence ministry has urged military-age citizens to update their data at army enlistment offices and “overcome their fear” as a counteroffensive grinds through its third month.
The campaign launched on Thursday, which draws on slickly produced videos and photo testimonials of prominent soldiers describing their fears, aims to break down a major obstacle in army recruitment, said Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar.
“We’re all living people and we all overcome this fear in order to win,” she said, noting that military-age citizens are duty-bound to keep their personal data at draft offices up-to-date.
The campaign comes with Ukraine likely facing tougher challenges in recruiting as the war with Russia, now in an brutally attritional phase, nears the 18-month mark.
As she outlined the campaign, Maliar was careful to say that not all those who updated their personal data would automatically be mobilised into the army and that not all those who are mobilised would end up in a combat zone.
Prague cancels performance by Russian opera singer over Ukraine war
Officials say a scheduled performance by Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko in the Czech capital has been cancelled.
The announcement came after the Prague government said on Monday that all its coalition parties opposed the concert at a time Russia wages war on Ukraine.
Prague’s Municipal House, where Netrebko’s October 16 performance was to take place, and the Nachtigall Artists Management, an agency that organised it, have agreed on the cancellation.
Netrebko will not demand compensation. The soprano sued the Metropolitan Opera in New York City over its decision to drop her.
US sanctions four Russians accused of direct involvement in Navalny poisoning
The United States has imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on four Russian intelligence operatives accused of direct involvement in the 2020 poisoning of Alexey Navalny, a Russian politician and corruption investigator who is one of President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest critics.
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Alexandrovich Alexandrov, Konstantin Kudryavtsev, Ivan Osipov and Vladimir Panyaev. All are operatives of the Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB.
Panyaev is reported to have tailed Navalny prior to his poisoning; the others are operatives of the FSB’s Criminalistics Institute, a secret laboratory that is reported to work with poisons.
Turkey warned Russians after Black Sea cargo ship incident: Presidency
Turkish authorities warned Russian counterparts after an incident involving a cargo ship in the Black Sea that took place within international waters, the Turkish presidency has said.
“Following the incident with the ship counterparts from Russia are warned in an appropriate way to avoid these kinds of attempts that will escalate tensions in the Black Sea,” the presidency said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday.
On Sunday, Russia said in a statement that its Vasily Bykov patrol ship had fired automatic weapons on the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan vessel after the ship’s captain failed to respond to a request to halt for an inspection.
Belarus could use nuclear weapons if attacked, Lukashenko warns
President Alexander Lukashenko has warned that Belarus would respond in the event of external aggression, including through the use of nuclear weapons that Moscow has stationed on its territory.
“There can be only one threat – aggression against our country. If aggression against our country starts from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, we will respond instantly with everything we have,” he said in an interview with Diana Panchenko, a pro-Russian Ukrainian journalist, on Thursday.
“Against Ukraine, if it commits aggression against us – not only nuclear weapons will be used. We have something besides nuclear weapons. And we will not warn you that if you cross the red lines, we will strike at the decision-making centres. This will be done without warning.”
Lukashenko says Putin not pushing Belarus to join Ukraine war
Russian President Vladimir Putin is not trying to push Belarus into joining the war in Ukraine, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said.
“To involve Belarus … what will that give? Nothing,” said Lukashenko, one of Putin’s closest allies, whose country borders Ukraine, Russia and three NATO countries including Poland.
“If you Ukrainians do not cross our border, we will never participate in this war. In this hot war. But we will always help Russia – they are our allies,” he said in an online interview published on Thursday with Diana Panchenko, a pro-Russian Ukrainian journalist.
Despite dispute over Ukraine, China to allow US commerce secretary visit
China says it would welcome a visit by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo following the imposition of foreign investment controls by her agency that have stung numerous Chinese companies.
Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson Shu Jueting did not offer a date, but said the countries are in “close communication on arrangements”, according to reports on Thursday.
The United States and China are increasingly locked in a geopolitical competition with a conflicting set of values, including over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, with its economic growth sliding to 0.8 percent for the three months ending in June, China appears far more willing to engage with Raimondo than with defence officials and diplomats, whom it has fully or partly rebuffed.
Russia cracks down on prominent leader of election monitoring group
Russian authorities have opened a criminal investigation into one of the leaders of a prominent independent election monitoring group, his lawyer says.
Police raided the Moscow apartment of the co-chair of Golos – Russia’s leading election watchdog – Grigory Melkonyants, on Thursday, and he was taken in for questioning. Police also raided the homes of 14 Golos members in eight different cities, Russian media reported.
The case against Melkonyants is the latest step in the months-long crackdown on Kremlin critics and rights activists that the government ratcheted up after sending troops into Ukraine.
Melkonyants’ lawyer told The Associated Press that his client is facing charges of “organising activities” of an “undesirable” organisation, punishable by up to six years in prison.
China pledges to increase military cooperation with Russian ally Belarus
Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu has visited Belarus and said his country would increase military cooperation with Russia’s neighbour, where Moscow is deploying tactical nuclear weapons.
Li met with President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on Thursday and said “the purpose of my visit to Belarus is precisely the implementation of important agreements at the level of heads of state and the further strengthening of bilateral military cooperation”.
Neither side gave details of what the cooperation will entail, but the two countries have agreed to hold joint military exercises next year.
Li visited Russia just before going to Belarus.
Israel-Germany weapons deal expected to draw Russian attention
Israel’s Defence Ministry says it has secured its largest-ever weapons deal selling a sophisticated missile system to Germany for $3.5bn.
The deal could draw the attention of Russia, which Israel has maintained working relations with throughout the war on Ukraine.
Israel has repeatedly rebuffed requests to sell arms to Ukraine for fear of antagonising Russia.
Germany will buy the advanced defense system coined Arrow 3, which is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles.
Doping probes into Russian players a difficult mission because of Ukraine war
A task force created nearly eight years ago to chart Russia’s path back into track and field competition after a doping scandal holds its final meeting this week before being disbanded.
However, the country is still not in good standing. Questions remain over how to make sure future Russian track teams will be clean when they’re allowed back into the sport after the war in Ukraine ends.
There are no Russians allowed at this week’s world championships in Budapest.
Leaders expect a steep learning curve when they are welcomed back into the sport.
Ukraine on agenda for US-South Korea-Japan meeting on Friday
Ukraine will be high on the agenda at a meeting at Camp David on Friday of US President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, some experts say.
The summit at the US presidential retreat will take place at a time where global norms are being undermined by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, said Mary McCarthy, an expert on US-East Asian relations at Drake University.
Global uncertainties, for example over the geopolitical fallout of the Ukraine war, could lead the US to play a more stabilising role in East Asia, she wrote in The Conversation.
“With that in mind, expect a heavy focus on the symbolism of the meeting. Pictures and videos of the three leaders together will likely be carefully staged and scrutinised not only in the US, Japan and South Korea but also in China, Russia and North Korea,” she said.
Russia is working on its own version of Shahed-136 drones: Washington Post
Russia is making steady progress towards its goal of mass producing a type of Iranian attack drone that could travel more than 1,600km (1,000 miles) and target Ukrainian cities, according to a Washington Post report, which cited documents about the plan.
Moscow is working on its own version of the Shahed-136, despite delays and sanctions that impact components needed from other countries, according to the documents.
Russia has previously denied its forces use Iranian drones in Ukraine, though Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for an increase in domestic drone production.
Sweden announces more military aid to Ukraine
The Swedish government will donate military aid worth 3.25 billion Swedish kronor ($297m) to support Ukraine.
According to a statement by the government, the latest assistance seeks to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence and also support the country’s armed forces with spare parts and emergency supplies.
Ukraine says one woman killed by Russian attacks in Kupiansk
Ukraine’s emergency service says a woman was killed by Russia shelling on the city of Kupiansk.
“On August 17, the occupiers hit the private sector of the city with heavy artillery. The utility building, summer kitchen and 2 garages caught fire. As a result of the blow, a 60-year-old woman was injured, and her 61-year-old neighbour died,” the service said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
#Харківщина: ворог вчергове обстріляв м. Куп’янськ, одна жінка загинула, ще одна поранена
17 серпня окупанти вдарили з важкої артилерії по приватному сектору міста. Загорілась господарча будівля, літня кухня та 2 гаражі.
Внаслідок удару 60-річна жінка отримала поранення, а її… pic.twitter.com/wHcZiNrMSp
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) August 17, 2023
Watch: Has Russia pulled the plug on Wagner?
Ukraine says it will not fulfil all conditions to join the EU by October
Ukraine’s integration minister, Olha Stefanishyna, says her country will not complete all the recommendations made by the European Union to join the bloc by October, according to a report by the Interfax news agency.
“In October, we will not hear that we have implemented all seven recommendations by 100 percent since we are talking about the fundamental transformations in the country that are related to human rights, the process of deoligarchisation, which has also become one of the pillars of fundamental democratic reforms,” Stefanishyna said.
But she expected EU accession talks to begin by the end of the year.
Lithuania closes two border crossings with Belarus amid growing tensions
Lithuanian will temporarily close two of the country’s six border crossings with Belarus due to what the government said were “geopolitical circumstances”, and as concerns grow in the region over the presence of thousands of Russia’s Wagner Group mercenaries within Belarusian territory.
Belarus, Russia’s staunchest ally, reacted promptly to the announcement on Wednesday, criticising what it called Lithuania’s “far-fetched” decision to close two of its border checkpoints.
Germany delivers IRIS-T air defence systems to Ukraine
The German government has announced the delivery of two IRIS-T air defence systems and about 4,500 rounds of 155mm ammunition to Ukraine as a part of its new military aid package.
The IRIS-T air defence system has a range of up to 40 kilometers.
“Our sky will be more protected,” Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office said in a post on the social media platform X, formally known as Twitter.
🇩🇪 Many thanks to our partners for IRIS-T 🚀💪
Our sky will be more protected.
— Andriy Yermak (@AndriyYermak) August 17, 2023
Baltic countries join G7 declaration to support Ukraine
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have joined the Group of Seven’s (G7) declaration to support Ukraine.
“We will keep helping Ukraine until victory. We will support Ukraine on its path towards NATO and EU membership,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said in a statement on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Estonia, together with Lithuania and Latvia, joins the #G7 declaration of support for Ukraine.
We will keep helping #Ukraine until victory. We will support Ukraine on its path towards NATO and EU membership.
Full joint statement with @krisjaniskarins and @IngridaSimonyte ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/7xMErFKYWb
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) August 17, 2023
Russia says it carries out successful offensive in Donetsk region
Russia’s Ministry of Defence reports a successful offensive in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, according to state news agencies.
The RIA Novosti news agency cited the ministry as saying Ukraine lost four Stryker armoured vehicles, the first time Russia has claimed to hit the US-supplied vehicles.
Ukraine extends martial law and mobilisation until November 25
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed two laws to extend mobilisation and martial law in the country until November 15.
Both these rules were introduced when Russia invaded the country last February.
Under these laws, Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country, with some exceptions, and may be called up to serve in the armed forces.
‘Sanctions against Russia should be strengthened’: Zelenskyy aide
Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, says that sanctions against Russia should be strengthened since the country is still able to access “foreign components” to fly its planes to attack Ukraine.
“The two Russian Ka-52 rotorcraft that were shot down today could not fly without foreign components. The military is constantly being told that the Russians are actively using them at the front to gain air superiority and strike defence forces positions,” Yermak said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
“Our experts have been researching the Ka-52 for a long time. We know that this rotorcraft contains high-tech components from Western countries and Asian countries,” he said, highlighting that “Russia is not capable of producing such technological product.
“Sanctions against the Russian Federation should be strengthened. The Russian military-industrial complex should not have access to technology,” he added.
Ukraine’s Kuleba promises to free Africa from ‘Russia’s grip’: AFP
In an interview with AFP, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says that Kyiv will deepen its ties with Africa in an effort to loosen “Russia’s grip” over the continent.
“We are starting from scratch in Africa. This continent needs systematic and long-term work,” Kuleba said.
“It’s not something that happens overnight,” he added.
Last month, at a Russia-Africa Summit, Putin said “Russia’s attention to Africa is steadily growing” and pledged to supply Africa with grain and join the fight against “neocolonialism”.