The Russians also use spy balloons
1:16 pm | According to British intelligence, the Russians are also likely to use spy balloons to gather intelligence on Ukraine’s defense systems and to waste Ukrainian ammunition.
The latest intelligence update from the UK MoD said the Ukrainian Air Force had detected a number of balloons in the skies around Dnipro on 12 February. On February 15, balloons were launched from the sky in Kiev.
The balloons would have carried radar reflectors, which prevented objects from being seen on radars. “There is a strong possibility that the balloons were Russian,” the British defense ministry said. They are probably part of a new tactic by the Russians to gather intelligence on Ukraine and its positions. Furthermore, Ukraine must use valuable ammunition to shoot down the balloons.’
The Russian death toll approaches 143,000
09:45 am | Since the start of the war, Russia has seen nearly 143,000 soldiers die, calculated the Ukrainian defense ministry. In total, 142,860 Russians died, 590 of them yesterday.
In addition, 3,310 tanks and 6,545 armored vehicles were destroyed, an increase of seven and twelve respectively.
Macron sees the end of the war only at the negotiating table
08:41 | In the eyes of French President Emmanuel Macron, the war between Russia and Ukraine can only end with negotiations. “I want a Russian defeat in Ukraine, but I am convinced that the end of the conflict will not ultimately be achieved militarily.”
Macron described his views on the war in an interview with French newspapers Le Figaro and Le Journal du Dimanche and broadcaster France Inter. “Neither of them can triumph completely,” thinks the French president. However, he is in favor of a major Ukrainian offensive to force Moscow back to the negotiating table.
But Russia must not be attacked on its own territory. Macron reiterates that France does not want Russia to be “destroyed”. He had previously stated that France, despite all arms deliveries, should not go to war and that, as president, he also wants to continue to think ahead about how the world order should be organized after the war.
That world looks no better in Macron’s eyes with a destroyed Russia. He expects that within today’s Russia any alternative to President Vladimir Putin would be even worse. Macron therefore does not see that it will happen soon that the war will be ended by a democratic movement in Russia itself. “I want it so badly, but I don’t really believe it.”
Blinken warns China against supporting Russia
07:50 | According to the United States, China is about to support Russia in the war in Ukraine, prompting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to issue a warning not to do so. He also called on China not to help Russia escape sanctions.
The warning was issued to Chinese diplomat Wang Yi yesterday at the Munich security conference, where Blinken also addressed the situation surrounding the alleged spy balloon over the United States.
China’s support for Russia could include weapons, which Blinken clarified would “seriously affect” the relationship between the United States and China. “The deadly support China is considering would seriously damage bilateral relations,” Blinken said.
Wang reacted strongly today. “The United States must stand up and repair the damage to bilateral relations caused by the unwarranted use of force,” he said today.
Russian ambassador to the US: ‘Washington is fomenting war in Ukraine’
07:26 | The Russian ambassador to the United States responded to the words of US Vice President Kamala Harris, who yesterday accused Russia of crimes against humanity during the war in Ukraine.
Harris made the remarks at the Munich security conference where Western leaders are discussing Europe’s worst conflict since World War II five days before the war’s anniversary.
“We see insinuations like this as an attempt to further demonize Russia within the hybrid war waged against us,” Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said. “There is no question that Washington’s intention is to harm us and to cover up its crimes.”
The United Nations Commission of Inquiry has also identified war crimes, but has not yet concluded whether they also qualify as crimes against humanity.