Zelensky vows to ‘find the murderers’ in response to video showing killing of unarmed Ukrainian soldier
Moscow court prolongs pre-trial detention of opposition politician Kara-Murza
From CNN’s Zahra Ullah, Josh Pennington and Jonny Hallam
A Moscow court on Monday prolonged the pre-trial detention of jailed Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza who stands accused of spreading “fake” information about the Russian military.
Kara-Murza was charged with high treason, the court’s press service told the Russian state news agency TASS. The hearing was conducted behind closed doors as it contained confidential materials, the news agency said.
In a short video released by the court, a judge can be heard off-camera informing the defendant, “The court decided to reserve the measure of preventative detention for the accused Kara-Murza, which has been extended until August 27, 2023.”
The next hearing has been scheduled for March 15, TASS reported. Kara-Murza faces up to 20 years in prison.
Some background: Kara-Murza, who has survived two poisonings, has been incredibly critical of President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war in Ukraine, and he continues to speak out even as he is detained.
In March 2022, Kara-Murza addressed the Arizona House of Representatives and spoke out against the war. In an April 2022 interview with CNN, he called Putin’s government “a regime of murderers.” He was arrested shortly thereafter for “failing to obey the orders of law enforcement,” according to his wife.
On Friday, the US imposed sanctions on a number of Russian individuals connected to Kara-Murza’s detention.
Ukraine says it won’t concede Bakhmut to Russian forces. Here’s the latest on the war
From CNN staff
Ukrainian leaders doubled down Monday on the defense of Bakhmut, saying they won’t concede the eastern city to Russia, despite the grinding and brutal warfare that has raged for months.
Russian forces have made gradual gains — but at a huge cost in terms of casualties, according to a NATO estimate – but President Volodymyr Zelensky said that on the advice of his commanders, he was sending reinforcements to support the city’s defense.
He also pledged to find those responsible for the killing of an unarmed soldier that was caught in a widely circulated video. CNN has not been able to independently verify the identity of the executed prisoner, where he was shot, and who shot him.
Here are the top headlines to know:
- Defending Bakhmut: Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said defending Bakhmut has achieved two goals – buying time to replenish forces and inflicting heavy losses on the Russian military. The strategy has been a “great strategic success” and there was a consensus among military leaders to continue defending the city, he said.
- Deaths in Bakhmut: NATO intelligence estimates that for every Ukrainian soldier killed defending Bakhmut, Russian forces have lost at least five, a military official with the North Atlantic alliance told CNN on Monday. Despite the favorable ratio, intense fighting is raging around the city and analysts assess that Russian forces are making gradual gains as they seek to encircle Ukrainian units.
- Video shows the killing of a Ukrainian soldier: Ukrainian officials are calling for an investigation into war crimes after a video showed one of the country’s soldiers, allegedly in Russian captivity, being executed seemingly by Russian soldiers. The video shows an unarmed soldier in Ukrainian combat fatigues saying “Slava Ukraini” (Glory to Ukraine), before fighters off camera fire several shots at him. Zelensky promised Ukraine would “find the murderers.”
- German tanks in Ukraine: The German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, which produces the Leopard battle tank among other heavy arms, is hoping to open a tank factory in Ukraine, according to its CEO. In January, the arms manufacturer said it had 139 Leopards in stock, but of those, only 29 Leopard 2s would be combat-ready for delivery in the spring of this year. Those 29 have already been theoretically pledged to other countries as part of a tank swap.
- Pilot evaluations in the US: A group of Ukrainian pilots is in the United States for evaluations being conducted by the Arizona Air National Guard, which trains international aircrews on the F-16 fighter jet — something Ukraine has been asking western countries to provide. So far, that push is being met with skepticism by US and allied officials who say the jets would be impractical.
- Russia’s potential joint projects with Iran: President Vladimir Putin has discussed bilateral cooperation, including “joint infrastructure projects,” with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, according to a readout from the Kremlin published Monday. Russia and Iran have deepened their relationship since the war in Ukraine began last year. Tehran has provided hundreds of attack drones that Russia has used to strike Ukrainian cities, targeting energy infrastructure in particular.
US and Lithuania commit to support Kyiv “until Ukraine prevails” while calling on other allies to do the same
From CNN’s Jennifer Hansler
The United States and Lithuania on Monday committed their continued support to Kyiv “until Ukraine prevails” and called on other allies to do the same — a seemingly tacit message to leaders that may seek to look for off-ramps as the war continues with no signs of abating.
In a joint statement following their meeting in Washington, DC, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said their countries will keep helping Ukraine “to alleviate the suffering of its people and to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.”
The leaders also reiterated calls for Russia to end the war and withdraw all of its troops and equipment, the statement said.
They also “committed to continue imposing strong economic costs on Russia through sanctions and pursuing accountability for those responsible for Russia’s attacks.”
Officials from Lithuania, a Baltic state that will host this year’s NATO heads of state summit in its capital city of Vilnius, have been some of the most hawkish about the war and the need for Ukraine’s victory.
Arizona Air National Guard conducting evaluation of Ukrainian pilots for possible F-16 training, officials say
From CNN’s Oren Liebermann and Natasha Bertrand
A group of Ukrainian pilots are in the United States for evaluations being conducted by the Arizona Air National Guard, according to two United States officials.
The 162nd Fighter Wing, which flies F-16 fighter jets, is based at Tucson International Airport and trains international aircrews on the fourth-generation aircraft, according to the officials. The Wing’s website said it has trained pilots from 25 countries that currently operate the F-16.
One of the officials said 10 more Ukrainian pilots may come to the US for the same evaluation and assessment.
Some background: The pilots are in the US for a “familiarization event” and “a routine activity” between the US Air Force and the Ukrainian pilots, a US military official said over the weekend. However, the official said “there are no updates to provide regarding F-16’s to Ukraine” and there are no immediate plans to increase the number of Ukrainian pilots in the US.
“This event allows us to better help Ukrainian pilots become more effective pilots and better advise them on how to develop their own capabilities,” the official said in the statement.
Top Ukrainian officials have been asking for fighter jets from the US, arguing they need them urgently to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks. But that push is being met with skepticism by US and allied officials who say the jets would be impractical, both because they require considerable training and because Russia has extensive anti-aircraft systems that could easily shoot them down.
CNN’s Aaron Pellish and Chloe Liu contributed to this report.
Zelensky orders reinforcement of Bakhmut, saying that no part of Ukraine can be abandoned
From CNN’s Vasco Cotovio and Yulia Kesaieva
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he ordered the reinforcement of positions inside the city of Bakhmut, explaining that there was no part of Ukraine that could be abandoned.
The president said he took the decision after consulting with the military leadership.
“I told the chief of staff to find the appropriate forces to help the guys in Bakhmut. There is no such part of Ukraine that can be abandoned,” Zelensky said. “There is no Ukrainian trench in which the resilience and heroism of our soldiers would not be valuable.”
Zelensky also seemed to address rumors of a Ukrainian withdrawal from the eastern city, referring to those as “disinformation messages,” coming from those who didn’t have access to the confidential decision-making briefings where such a decision would have to be taken.
Zelensky said that Ukraine would defend every inch of its country.
“We are defending and will continue to defend every part of Ukraine,” he said. “When the time comes, we will liberate every city and village in our country. And we will make the occupier answer for every shot against Ukraine, for every vile act against Ukrainians.”
“We will find the murderers,” Zelensky vows in response to video showing killing of unarmed Ukrainian soldier
From CNN’s Yulia Kesaieva, Victoria Butenko and Vasco Cotovio
President Volodymyr Zelensky promised Ukraine would find those responsible for killing an unarmed Ukrainian soldier.
His comments Monday were in response to a video showing an unarmed soldier in Ukrainian combat fatigues smoking a cigarette near what appears to be a fighting position. The man is then shown pulling the cigarette from his mouth, blowing out the smoke and can be heard saying “Slava Ukraini” (Glory to Ukraine), before fighters off camera fire several shots at him.
“Today, a video has been released showing how the occupiers brutally killed a warrior who bravely said to their faces: “Glory to Ukraine!,” Zelensky said in his nightly address. “I want us all to respond to his words in unity: “Glory to the hero! Glory to heroes! Glory to Ukraine!”
“We will find the murderers,” he added.
Zelensky added Ukraine would never forget those who had died for their country and thanked those currently on the battlefield.
Some background: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba blamed Russia and said it was additional proof that Moscow’s invasion was “genocidal.” The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, among several others, said he has shared the video with international partners as “evidence of yet another Russian war crime.”
CNN has not been able to independently verify the identity of the executed POW, where he was shot, and who shot him. CNN has reached out to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense to get further details.
CNN has also reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense but has yet to hear back. Russia has consistently denied accusations that it or its soldiers have committed war crimes during what it calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Defense of Bakhmut has been a “great strategic success” for Ukraine, presidential advisor says
From CNN’s Yulia Kesaieva and Vasco Cotovio
The Ukrainian defense of the city of Bakhmut has “achieved its goals” and has been “a great strategic success” for the Ukrainian army, presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said.
Ukraine had two main goals in defending Bakmut: buying time to replenish its forces and inflicting heavy losses on Russian armies, Polodyak said. The decision to make the defense of the key area a priority was a joint strategy devised by the country’s military branches with the approval of the Ukrainian president, he said.
“As for the defense of Bakhmut, it achieved its goals by 1000%. The military implemented the plan to destroy the enemy’s main combat-ready grouping on the one hand and enabled the training and training of tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops to prepare for a counterattack on the other,” Podolyak said.
“Even if the military leadership at some point decides to retreat to more favorable positions, the case of defending Bakhmut will be a great strategic success for the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a foundation for future victory,” he added.
Podolyak cautioned that a decision to withdraw has not been made yet, rather that there has been a consensus among military leaders to continue defending the city.
“This is an advantage of the democratic model, which allows us to choose and make the best decisions. A lot of critical questions are asked by the president himself. Since the final decision, as commander-in-chief, is made by the head of state, the president feels very personally responsible,” he added.
Ukrainian officials call for war crimes investigation in response to video of alleged POW execution
From CNN’s Darya Tarasova, Vasco Cotovio and Yulia Kesaieva
Ukrainian officials have lashed out against Moscow after a video showed one of the country’s soldiers, allegedly in Russian captivity, being executed seemingly by Russian soldiers.
The video shows an unarmed soldier in Ukrainian combat fatigues smoking a cigarette near what appears to be a fighting position. The man is then shown pulling the cigarette from his mouth, blowing out the smoke and can be heard saying “Slava Ukraini” (Glory to Ukraine), before fighters off camera fire several shots at him.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba blamed Russia and said it was additional “proof” that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine was “genocidal.”
“It is imperative that [Prosecutor] Karim Khan QC launches and immediate [International Criminal Court] investigation into this heinous war crime,” he tweeted on Monday. “Perpetrators must face justice.”
The Ukrainian President’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak also said the incident was a “war crime.”
“Those [war crimes] are an element of a [methodical] policy of terror, which is whitewashed by Kremlin propaganda with its myths about “Nazis,” There will be punishment for every such war crime,” Yermak tweeted on Monday. “No one will dodge justice. We’ll find them all.”
The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said he has shared the video with international partners as “evidence of yet another Russian war crime.”
“The execution of a captured Ukrainian soldier is a violation of the Geneva Conventions. It is a manifestation of rascality and ignobility,” Lubinets wrote on Telegram.
CNN has not been able to independently verify who the executed POW is, where he was shot and who shot him.
Ukrainian teen refugee dies after being found unconscious on a beach in the UK
From CNN’s Radina Gigova in London
A 14-year-old Ukrainian refugee girl has died after being found unconscious on a beach in South Devon, England, the Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement Monday.
The girl’s death is being treated as “unexplained” and police are asking anyone who may have CCTV or doorbell footage to share it with police to assist in the investigation.
“We were called on the evening of Saturday 4 March with reports of a 14-year-old girl missing from the Dawlish area,” said detective inspector Becky Davies of Devon and Cornwall Police.
“Localized searches took place with support from the police helicopter and coastguard and an unconscious person was found on Dawlish Beach,” Davies said. “She was subsequently airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital where she later sadly died. Formal identification has taken place and next of kin have been informed.”
Davies said the deceased girl was a Ukrainian national who was living in the Dawlish area. “Contact has been made with the Ukrainian Embassy and The Home Office are also aware of this incident,” he said.
Police confirmed to CNN that the girl and her mother are Ukrainian refugees. Police had not released the name of the girl at the time of this writing.
“This death is currently being treated as unexplained and enquiries continue as to the circumstances surrounding this death. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the teenage girl at this tragic time,” Davies added.
Officers remain in the Dawlish area and are undertaking house-to-house enquiries and attempting to secure any CCTV or doorbell footage that could be available, police said.
Police said no additional information about the case is being released at the moment.
There are more than 160,000 Ukrainian refugees in the UK, according to the latest UN data.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-03-06-23/index.html
