5 minutes ago
Russia approves new navy chief after Black Sea attack
The new commander of the Russian Navy, Alexander Moiseyev, is pictured in the Arctic port of Severomorsk on May 13, 2021.
Maxim Popov | AFP | Getty Images
Admiral Alexander Moiseyev was confirmed on Tuesday as the new head of the Russian Navy.
Moiseev accepted the role in an acting capacity two weeks ago. Local media reported that his predecessor, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov, was dismissed following a series of successful attacks by Ukrainian forces against the Russian fleet in the Black Sea.
Ukraine does not have its own navy, but Kiev has targeted Russian warships in the Black Sea multiple times since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in 2022, and last month destroyed a Russian amphibious ship. he claimed.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced Moiseyev's appointment in a conference call on Tuesday, Reuters reported. The prime minister also announced the appointment of Vice Admiral Konstantin Kavantsov as commander of Russia's Northern Fleet and Vice Admiral Sergei Pinchuk as commander of the Black Sea Fleet.
— Jenny Reid
1 hour ago
Defense Minister says Russian forces are pushing Ukrainian forces westward
Ukrainian soldiers prepare artillery on the way to Siversk, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, April 1, 2024.
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed on Tuesday that Russian forces had captured more than 400 square kilometers (155 square miles) of Ukrainian territory since the start of the year and said Russian forces continued to push Ukrainian forces westward.
“After the failed counterattack, the enemy is trying to gain a foothold in certain directions and positions, but has not been able to achieve its objectives in any direction,” Shoigu reportedly said in a conference call with Russian military leaders. said. NBC News translation.
“Groups of Russian troops continue to push Ukrainian military formations westward,” Shoigu said.
CNBC could not independently verify developments on the ground.
— Sam Meredith
1 hour ago
Blinken warns of 'critical moment' for Ukraine
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with French Foreign Minister Stephane Séjourne at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 2, 2024 in Paris, France.
Benoît Tessier | Reuters
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that Ukraine is at a “critical juncture” in its war with Russia and urgently needs more Western aid, as a multibillion-dollar U.S. aid package stalls in Congress. warned that it was necessary.
Blinken told reporters during a visit to Paris that it was “absolutely essential” to get more military supplies to Ukraine, especially munitions and air defense supplies, according to Reuters and other media outlets.
House Republicans are holding up the White House's supplemental budget request for Ukraine, citing other domestic priorities such as border security.
– Elliott Smith
2 hours ago
President Putin: “Russia will find out who ordered the Moscow concert shooting''
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday vowed to find out who ordered last month's mass shooting at a Moscow concert hall that killed at least 144 people.
According to Reuters, President Putin said at a meeting of Interior Ministry officials, “We will definitely deliver it to the person who ordered it.'' He also reportedly stressed that the Kremlin's investigation “must be extremely objective and professional.”
The terrorist organization ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.
3 hours ago
Russian spy chief says US intelligence on Moscow terror attack is too general
Russia's Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday that the head of Russia's foreign intelligence service, Sergei Naryshkin, said the information provided by the United States ahead of last month's deadly terrorist attack at a Moscow theater was too general. Ta.
U.S. intelligence agencies notified the Russian government of an impending attack two weeks before the attack, which killed more than 130 people. The terrorist organization ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, but provided no evidence.
– Elliott Smith
5 hours ago
Ukrainian drone attacks major oil refinery deep in Russian territory
On Tuesday, Ukraine carried out a drone strike in the highly industrialized Tatarstan region, about 1,300 miles from the front lines of the conflict, hitting one of Russia's largest oil refineries.
According to Reuters, Kiev also claimed to have caused significant damage to military targets. Rustam Minikhanov, head of Tatarstan's regional administration, confirmed in a Telegram post that industrial areas in the cities of Nizhnekamsk and Yelabuga were targeted by drone attacks.
According to the report, Minikhanov said: “There has been no serious damage and the technological processes of the enterprises have not been interrupted. Unfortunately, there have been casualties in Yelabuga as a result of the site destruction. They will receive all necessary assistance. It's given to me,” he said. Google Translate.
Reuters reported that a drone crashed into the primary refining unit of Russia's largest Taneko refinery, which has a production capacity of about 360,000 barrels per day. Russia's state-run RIA news agency reported that a fire broke out at the refinery but was extinguished within 20 minutes.
— Elliott Smith
6 hours ago
Germany sends 180,000 shells to Ukraine through Czech ammunition initiative – Reuters
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius speaks with soldiers during a live-fire exercise with the Bundeswehr Panzergrenadier Battalion, 122nd Panzer Infantry Battalion, ahead of its deployment to Poland and then Lithuania, February 28, 2024, in Weiden, Germany.
Leonhard Simon | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Germany will send an additional 180,000 shells to Ukraine as part of a Czech-led effort to supply ammunition for the Kiev war, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a German Defense Ministry spokesperson. It is expected to be.
CNBC could not independently verify the information.
The shell damage reportedly cost Europe's largest economy 576 million euros ($619 million), on top of a separate 478 million euro response announced by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius last month.
– Elliott Smith
6 hours ago
U.S. House of Representatives speaker hints that a vote on aid to Ukraine may be imminent
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) heads into the House chamber on Friday, March 22, 2024. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia introduced a motion in the second half to remove him as speaker of the House. that day.
Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call Inc. | Getty Images
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) suggested over the weekend that Congress could soon vote on new funding for Ukraine.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Fox News on Sunday that “significant innovations” to the potential aid package could result in a vote soon after Parliament returns from its Easter recess on April 9.
The speaker is facing pressure from within his own party through hardline House Republicans in the Freedom Caucus after passing a recent budget and making key concessions to avoid a government shutdown.
Many right-wing House Republicans have voiced opposition to continued aid to Ukraine, threatening Johnson's position if he moves the Ukraine bill to a vote without giving in on other spending and border demands. ing.
The innovations Johnson mentioned are aimed at alleviating some of those concerns, such as including loans rather than subsidies and using assets confiscated from the Russian oligarchy to fund Ukraine's reconstruction.
– Elliott Smith
8 hours ago
Belarus begins military exercises near Ukraine and EU borders
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attend the Supreme State Council of the Russian Federation of Belarus held at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on April 6, 2023.
Mikhail Klimenchev | Sputnik | Reuters
Belarus began military exercises on Tuesday in areas along the border with European Union members Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine, according to the ally Russia's Defense Ministry.
The exercise will take place over three days in the Gomel and Grodno regions and is aimed at preparing officers and territorial defense personnel to defend their regions and practicing procedures in the event of martial law being declared in the country. The ministry made the announcement on the messaging app Telegram.
According to Google Translate, the document also emphasized that April 2 is the “Day of Unification” between Belarus and Russia, commemorating the “long-standing friendly relations” between Belarus and Russia.
“The Armed Forces of Belarus and Russia regularly conduct joint military exercises and work shoulder to shoulder to protect peace and security,” the Defense Ministry added.
— Elliott Smith
8 hours ago
Russia targets energy infrastructure in Ukraine with night drone attacks
Ukraine's Southern Operations Command announced on Facebook on Tuesday night that Russia targeted various energy facilities in drone strikes in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kirovograd regions.
Air defense forces destroyed three drones over Dnipropetrovsk, the rest were intercepted by other forces, and infrastructure targets in Kirovograd were hit without causing any casualties, the military said.
— Elliott Smith
8 hours ago
President Zelensky meets with officials over Ukraine's drone production plan
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy gives a speech on “Ukraine”. On February 25, 2024, the “2024'' conference was held in Kiev, Ukraine, during the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Valentin Ogilenko | Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with military and government officials on Monday about Kiev's drone production plans and a project to build an “integrated electronic warfare control system” to protect Ukraine's military from Russian drone attacks.
“We have revised and identified production plans for all types of unmanned aircraft this year, including FPV, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, and long-range unmanned aircraft for special missions,” the president said in a post on X.
“We talked about how to ensure flexibility in the defense industry. Frontline needs are constantly changing and manufacturers need to respond in a timely manner.”
He added: “Important decisions have been taken to streamline procurement procedures and imports of parts, increase production of charges for drones and train operators.”
— Elliott Smith
8 hours ago
Ukraine's state electricity transmission chief says energy system collapse unlikely despite Russian attack
The head of Ukraine's state electricity transmission company said on Monday that Russian drone attacks have caused significant damage to Ukraine's electricity system, but a complete collapse is unlikely.
Russian forces have been regularly attacking thermal and hydroelectric power plants since March 22nd, causing power outages in many areas.
“their [the Russians’] The goal is to impose power outages in some major cities in Ukraine, and our goal is to prevent that,” Ukrenergo chairman Volodymyr Kudritsky said in an interview with Reuters.
— Elliott Smith
9 hours ago