War in Ukraine – voices and developments: Russian forces lose flexibility after Wagner’s withdrawal from Bachmut.

China calls for an end to arms deliveries in the Ukraine war. According to British military experts, the Russian armed forces have lost flexibility after the Wagner mercenary group left Bakhmut. All the latest news about the war against Ukraine in the Newsticker.

London: Russian forces tied up in Bachmut after Wagner withdrawal

Saturday, June 03, 11:01 a.m.: According to British military experts, the Russian armed forces in Ukraine have lost some of their flexibility as a result of the withdrawal of the Wagner mercenary unit from Bakhmut. Units of the VDV airborne troops, once known as elite troops, are now deployed at the front in Bakhmut, according to the British Defense Ministry’s intelligence report on the war in Ukraine on Saturday.

“The VDV have lost much of their ‘elite’ status since the invasion,” the British said. Russian commanders would have tried to save some of these troops as reserves. Due to their deployment at the front in Bakhmut, however, the entire Russian armed forces are now less able to react flexibly to challenges.

Months of fierce and costly fighting had taken place over the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut. In the fight for the completely destroyed city, which once had 70,000 inhabitants, fierce power struggles within the Russian military leadership have also come to light in recent weeks.

The Ministry of Defense in London has published daily information on the course of the war since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, citing intelligence information. Moscow accuses London of a disinformation campaign.

China calls for an end to arms deliveries in the Ukraine war

12:48 p.m.: China is calling for an end to arms deliveries to the combat zone in Ukraine. After returning from his talks to resolve the conflict, Chinese special envoy Li Hui said in Beijing on Friday that he felt neither Russia nor Ukraine had slammed the door on negotiations. “We should stop sending weapons into the battlefield, otherwise we will only increase the risk of tension escalating,” he was quoted as saying by Chinese state television. There must be a ceasefire and peace negotiations.

However, Li Hui did not condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine. The special envoy warned of the war’s impact on nuclear safety, food security and humanitarian issues. Li Hui had been visiting Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, France and EU representatives in Brussels since mid-May to talk about the conflict. While his diplomatic mission is said to have little chance of success, his talks also served to deflect criticism of China’s support for Russia.

Since the invasion more than a year ago, China has been giving Russian President Vladimir Putin political backing and has portrayed the USA and NATO as primarily responsible for the conflict Pouring oil on the fire.

Putin is in a quandary over attacks on the Russian border

09:29: According to British intelligence experts, the Russian military leadership is in a dilemma because of the repeated attacks by “pro-Ukrainian partisans” on Russian territory. Moscow must decide whether to strengthen the defense of its own border region or the positions in the occupied areas of Ukraine, according to the daily intelligence report from the Ministry of Defense in London on Friday.

A renewed attack by “partisans” in the Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine was contained more quickly on Thursday than before, but Russia says it has resorted to the full range of military firepower on its own territory. This also included attack helicopters and heavy rocket launchers. Moscow blames Ukraine for the attacks, but Kiev denies it.

Swiss parliament rejects “Lex Ukraine”.

Friday, June 02, 2023 at 06:27: The Swiss parliament has rejected an exemption for the transfer of armaments to Ukraine. On Thursday evening, the majority of members of the National Council voted against a corresponding proposal that had been drawn up by the security policy committee of the upper chamber of parliament. The “Lex Ukraine” would have provided for other states to be allowed to deliver Swiss-made war material to Ukraine.

The laws of neutral Switzerland prohibit aid to countries involved in acts of war. With this justification, the Confederates have so far prohibited the transfer of tank ammunition to the Ukraine, which was sold from Switzerland to Germany years ago.

Those in favor of an exception argued that Switzerland must provide more support to Ukraine and contribute to European security. The opponents, including the Greens and right-wing conservatives from the SVP, feared a violation of neutrality and a too close rapprochement with NATO.

However, the vote does not end the discussion about a fundamental change in the War Material Act. Among other things, the Security Policy Committee is currently considering the idea of ​​allowing the transfer of weapons and ammunition if the UN Security Council or two-thirds of the UN General Assembly decide that a war of aggression is in violation of international law.

More ammunition for Ukraine – EU Parliament wants to boost production

5:51 p.m.: In view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU Parliament has spoken out in favor of increasing European production of ammunition. MEPs approved a corresponding draft law in Brussels on Thursday. This should give Ukraine faster ammunition for the war against Russia.

The measure is also intended to help EU countries to stock up on their arsenals. The EU Parliament now has to negotiate with the EU countries on the final design of the project. According to the draft, the EU’s production capacities would be boosted with targeted measures, in particular with a financial injection of 500 million euros.

This decision marks a significant step forward for the “security and defense of our Union” and for the unwavering support of Ukraine, said the head of the European Parliament’s negotiating team, Christian Busoi (EPP).

Baerbock warns Putin at NATO foreign ministers’ meeting

10.55 a.m.: In the discussion about Ukraine’s desire to join NATO quickly, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock pointed out clear limits. “The open-door policy applies,” said the Green politician on Thursday at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Oslo. At the same time, it is clear “that we cannot talk about a new membership in the middle of a war.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had called on the alliance states to clear the way for inclusion in the western military alliance at the next summit in July. Finland has been in NATO since April. Sweden is also trying to get admission.

Selenskyj justifies the wish with the fact that hardly anyone contributes more to Euro-Atlantic security than the Ukrainian soldiers. Neither in Ukraine nor in Europe nor in NATO would the majority of the population understand if Kiev did not receive a “well-deserved invitation” to the summit meeting in Lithuania, he said in April.

Baerbock also warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against attempted nuclear intimidation, also citing China’s role. “It is the Russian President’s cynical game to keep threatening new horror scenarios.” However, many states, including “China as a member of the Security Council”, had “made it clear to Russia that you should not play with these horror scenarios,” said the Foreign Minister.

Not only the NATO members, but the entire world community had “made it clear in the last 450 days” since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine that we would not get involved in such a cynical game,” said Baerbock. Instead, the community stands by the rule-based international order, “particularly with regard to the ban on the use of nuclear weapons”.

Swiss arms company wants to deliver tanks to Ukraine

8:30 a.m.: There is new movement in the dispute over arms deliveries from Switzerland to Ukraine. Despite negative signals from the government, the Swiss armaments group Ruag has officially submitted an export application for 96 Leopard 1 tanks, as the national State Secretariat for Economic Affairs confirmed on Thursday. According to Ruag, the German armaments group Rheinmetall is interested in the purchase. The used tanks that are currently not operational should then later be passed on to Ukraine, said RUAG spokeswoman.

In response to an informal request from RUAG, the State Secretariat (Seco) announced in March that there would be no approval for such a deal. Switzerland insists on its neutrality, according to which no country involved in acts of war may be supported. With this justification, Switzerland has so far refused to pass on tank ammunition that it had sold to Germany years ago. It always has a contractual guarantee that it can prohibit resales.

Spokeswoman Kirsten Hammerich explained why RUAG now submitted an official request despite an implied rejection: “We would like an official decision from Seco so that we can better assess the business options.” Ukraine has been defending itself against attacks from Russia for more than 15 months . The tanks were bought from Italy a few years ago. The Swiss army wanted to process them and sell them on or use them as a spare parts store. The tanks are still in Italy.

Russian border region complains about renewed shelling

Thursday, June 1st, 7.50 a.m.: According to the authorities, at least five people were injured by intensive shelling on Thursday night in the western Russian region of Belgorod on the border with Ukraine. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that the small town of Shebekino was under “unending fire” from Ukrainian forces. Both the center and outskirts had been shelled since midnight with Soviet-made Grad multiple rocket launchers.

There was initially no confirmation from the Ukrainian side. In many cases, the information from the war zone can hardly be verified by an independent party. According to the Russian governor, a man was found unconscious with numerous shrapnel wounds. Most of the other people suffered minor injuries. A residential building was burned out, the roof of an administration building was damaged. Gladkow rejected reports of a planned evacuation of the small town on the border.

Russian army reports destruction of last large Ukraine warship

12:42 p.m.: According to their own statements, the Russian army destroyed the Ukrainian warship “Yuri Olefirenko”. This is a medium-sized landing ship that was docked in the port of Odessa. According to the report, it was hit by a “high-precision strike.”

Exciting: According to information from Russia, it is the last large warship that Ukraine had left. Kiev has not yet commented on the alleged destruction of the Yuri Olefirenko.