Medvedchuk is Putin’s closest ally in Ukraine, with Medvedchuk claiming that Putin was his daughter’s godfather. Medvedchuk was placed under house arrest on charges of treason in May 2021 for his involvement in a plot to smuggle oil and gas from Crimea to Russia. He was also accused of revealing Ukraine’s military secrets.
Biden calls Russian actions in Ukraine “genocide” for the first time.
President Biden described the actions of Russian forces as “genocide” for the first time on Tuesday, a classification he had previously avoided using. “I called it genocide because it is becoming increasingly clear that Putin is simply trying to eliminate even the idea that he is Ukrainian. “Evidence is growing,” Biden told reporters after appearing to refer to the term earlier on Tuesday. Commenting on inflation earlier Tuesday, Biden said the prices Americans are paying should not depend on whether a dictator “commits genocide” against another country, an apparent shot fired by Russian President Vladimir Putin and invade Ukraine. “We will let lawyers decide, internationally, whether they qualify or not,” Biden later told reporters in Iowa, “but it certainly seems to me.”
The United States could expand the type of weapons sent to Ukraine, including Mi-17 helicopters
President Biden plans to expand the type of weapons the United States will send to Ukraine, according to Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson. Part of the expansion could include sending Mi-17 helicopters that could be equipped to attack armored vehicles, an official said in the post. The Mi-17 is a Soviet-era helicopter designed in the mid-1970s. They are the same helicopters used in the past by the Afghan Air Force. The news comes as the Biden government is set to announce on Wednesday additional $ 750 million in military aid to Ukraine, up from the $ 1.7 billion the United States has sent to Ukraine since the start of the war.
Senior Russian official suggests Russia could repeat death sentence
Former Russian President and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has hinted that Russia may soon make the death penalty legal again, according to reports in the Russian media Komsomolskaya Pravda. Medvedev’s statement comes after Russia’s secession from the Council of Europe last month, which pledged the country to a moratorium on the death penalty. Medvedev also claimed that members of the Russian army had been tortured when he was arrested by Ukrainian forces, saying there had been incidents of Russian soldiers cutting their necks and shooting them in the knee. But according to author and former DIA intelligence official Rebekah Koffler, Medvedev’s statement is another example of Russia’s attempt to spread misinformation. “Moscow is conducting another disinformation operation to normalize the narrative of the death penalty, as it seeks an excuse to use it against prisoners of war of Ukrainian military personnel or members of the domestic opposition,” Kofler told Fox News on Tuesday. “Putin recently invoked the” Red Terror “tactics of Stalin’s time, calling on Russian citizens to hand over the alleged traitors to the Russian authorities. “He wants to instill fear in both Russians and Ukrainians who may consider anti-Russian government activities, such as demonstrations.”
The United States and the United Kingdom will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine, welcoming the imposition of “serious costs” on Russia
President Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke on Tuesday to reaffirm their shared commitment to continue to provide security and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing war against the country, and welcomed the imposition of “serious costs”. The White House said the leaders spoke Tuesday to discuss Johnson’s recent visit to Ukraine. “President Joseph R. Biden Jr. spoke today with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson about the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Ukraine,” the White House said on Tuesday. Read more: US and UK to continue providing assistance to Ukraine, welcome “serious costs” to Russia
Biden to announce additional $ 750 million in military aid to Ukraine
President Biden is expected to announce an additional $ 750 million in arms to Ukraine, according to a Reuters report. Biden will reportedly pay for the aid using the Presidential Departure Authority, which allows him to publish articles and services without the approval of lawmakers. The new aid will add to the $ 1.7 billion in military aid already provided to Ukraine by the United States since the Russian invasion in February.
Putin has “no game change”: Former Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure
“Our nation is not afraid, but we are furious,” says Ukrainian MP
US military aid arrives in Ukraine daily
State Department spokesman Ned Price said U.S. security assistance was entering Ukraine daily and was being used effectively on the battlefield. Price said the United States has maintained a steady flow of equipment, enough for US anti-tank and anti-tank systems to far exceed the number of armored vehicles and tanks Russia has in the country.
Putin, on rare trip outside Moscow, says invasion of Ukraine was “right decision”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that his country’s invasion of Ukraine was the “right decision” during his first trip outside Moscow since the start of the bloody attack on February 24. Putin made the remarks during a visit to the Vostochny space base in the far east of Russia on the 61st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s Yuri Gagarin becoming the first man to enter space. “On the one hand, we are helping and rescuing people, and on the other, we are just taking steps to ensure the security of Russia itself,” Putin said on Tuesday, echoing a claim Russia made to justify the invasion. “Obviously we had no choice. It was the right decision.” For more on this story: Putin, on a rare trip outside Moscow, says the invasion of Ukraine was the “right decision”
Ukrainian official says “everything possible” is being done to help Mariupol soldiers
Adviser to the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter on Tuesday that Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the country’s army are doing “everything possible” to help soldiers facing supply problems in the besieged city of Mariupol. His message comes after a Marine unit in the city issued a gruesome warning that its health is declining as ammunition, food, water and other critical items are in danger of being depleted. “If the Kremlin now hates anything more than Ukraine, that is the word ‘Mariupol,’” Podolyak said. “For 1.5 months our defenders have been defending the city from the Russian horde, which is 10+ times larger. They are being bombed and biting every meter of the city. They are making Russia pay a very high price.” “Our soldiers remain trapped in the city and have problems with supplies,” he continued. “The military and political leadership of the country knows the problem, monitors the situation in real time and has more information than is known on social networks.” “The president and the leadership of the Armed Forces are doing everything possible (and impossible) to find a solution and help our soldiers,” Pontoliak said. “But we can not publicly announce our plans and actions without informing the enemy. Treat it with understanding.”
Mayor Bucha: More than 400 civilian bodies have been found so far
Bucha Mayor Anatoly Fedoruk said on Tuesday that 403 civilian bodies had been found so far in the city outside Kyiv since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24. Only 163 of these victims have been identified, he added. Fox News’ NaNa Sajaia contributed to this report.
Ukraine has prevented a Russian cyber attack on its electricity grid
Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday they had prevented a planned cyber attack by Russian military hackers on the country’s electricity grid. The country’s computer emergency response is said to have thwarted an attack planned by hackers of Russia’s military intelligence service GRU, which aimed to unplug power plants last Friday. The State Department of Special Communications said on its website that it had discovered malware designed to destroy data on computers. There was no immediate explanation as to how the attack was defeated, although the Ukrainian Computer Emergency Response Team thanked Microsoft and cybersecurity company ESET in a separate bulletin. GRU hackers successfully attacked Ukraine’s electricity grid twice, in the winters of 2015 and 2016. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ukrainian Marine Corps in Mariupol: “Gradually we reach the end”
Ukrainian Marines trying to defend the city of Mariupol from Russian military aggression say they have been fighting for more than a month without supplies of ammunition, food and water – but now “the mountain of the wounded is almost half the crew.” The horrific warning from the 36th Navy Brigade, which was posted on Facebook on Sunday, indicates that cracks are beginning to form in Ukraine’s tough defense in Mariupol. “From the beginning … we are defending Mariupol for 47 days”, wrote the Marines. “They bombed us from planes, they fired at us from artillery, tanks and other firearms. We kept the defense worthy by doing the impossible. But the resources can be depleted.” “For more than a month, the Marines fought without refilling ammunition, without food, without water … [but now] “The mountain of the wounded is almost half of the crew,” he continued. “Those who have unbroken limbs and can walk, come back in turn.” The Marines also say that their unit is “dying but fighting” and “we are gradually reaching the end”. For more on this story: Ukrainian Marine …
