British Ministry of Defence: Russia seeks alternatives to Wagner’s will
07:45 | The British Defense Ministry released its daily update, saying that Russia may want to sponsor and develop alternatives to Wagner, private military companies that could eventually replace Wagner.
This comes in the context of the much publicized feud between the Russian Defense Ministry and the Wagner Group. The Russian military leadership likely wants a replacement PMC over which they have more control. But no other known Russian PMC currently comes close to Wagner’s size or power.
Kiev: 14 Iranian drones destroyed
07:00 | The Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed 14 of 17 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia last night, the Ukrainian military said on Tuesday, destroying 13 drones over the Odessa region in the country’s southwest.
“In total, up to 17 launches of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) strikes have been recorded, presumably from the eastern coastal area of the Sea of Azov,” the command said in a statement on messaging app Telegram. The Guardian reports it.
The military command of southern Ukraine said a drone struck a company in the Odessa region, starting a fire, which was extinguished in the morning.
“According to preliminary information, there were no casualties,” the command said in a statement.
Russian drone attacks Odessa
04:00 | The Ukrainian port city of Odessa was hit early this morning by Russian drone strikes, local authorities said. There is damage, but details have not been disclosed by Ukraine. However, there is a warning of a second wave of drone strikes.
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago, Odessa has been attacked several times. The port city is strategically located and is important for the export of grain. Since January, the historic center of Odessa has been on the Unesco World Heritage List. The United Nations organization decided this after Ukraine named parts of the city, often called the Pearl of the Black Sea, a World Heritage Site in October.
The flag of newcomer Finland goes atop the NATO headquarters
03:30 | Finland will officially join NATO on Tuesday. After some final ceremonies, the Finnish flag is ceremonially hoisted at the headquarters of the Western military alliance. Among those of the other thirty Member States, which promise to come to the rescue of the newcomer if he is attacked.
Finland has long preferred to stay out of military alliances, but applied for NATO membership almost a year ago. The invasion of Ukraine by its large Russian neighbor had changed the country’s mind.
The accession of the Finns, who have worked closely with NATO for decades, was completed in record time. In the end, even Turkey did not object, unlike Sweden’s partner. The two Northern European countries had wanted to join the alliance together, but Helsinki reluctantly decided to let Stockholm go.
With Finland joining, NATO will have to defend a border with Russia twice as long. But Finland has had its defenses in order for decades and is not yet ready to ask for reinforcements from the allies, NATO sources say. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also points to the “significant, well-trained and equipped armed forces” that Finland is contributing.
The Finnish flag will be raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels at 3.30pm. In the presence of President Sauli Niinistö and the foreign ministers of the then 31 NATO countries.