Ukraine news: Drones over the training place for Ukrainian soldiers in Germany | Current Europe | DW

Lambrecht with Ukrainian colleagues in front of a tank

The essentials in brief:

  • Investigations after drone sighting at Bundeswehr training area
  • Defense Minister Lambrecht is in Odessa for the first time
  • After the city of Lyman, Selenskyj wants to reconquer other areas
  • Another explosion at a military airport in Crimea
  • Russia restricts gas transport to Moldova

Unknown persons have flown several drones over the Bundeswehr troop training area in Wildflecken, Bavaria, according to a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense. The police were informed immediately and began investigating. These were still ongoing.

According to a report by the online medium “Business Insider”, it is suspected behind the scenes that Russia could be hiding behind the action. According to the magazine, the Bundeswehr is training Ukrainian soldiers on Dingo armored vehicles at the training ground.

As early as the end of August, Russian secret services are said to have tried to spy on the training of Ukrainian soldiers on western weapon systems in Germany. The Military Shielding Service (MAD) noticed suspicious vehicles in the vicinity of the military bases in Idar-Oberstein in Rhineland-Palatinate and Grafenwöhr in Bavaria, from which access roads to the barracks were probably being observed, the “Spiegel” reported at the time. In Idar-Oberstein, the Bundeswehr trained Ukrainian soldiers on the Panzerhaubitze 2000, in Grafenwoehr the US armed forces trained Ukrainians on western artillery systems.

Lambrecht with Ukrainian colleagues in front of a tank

Defense Minister Lambrecht and her Ukrainian colleague Resnikov (right) inspect a “Gepard” anti-aircraft tank in Odessa

Federal Defense Minister Lambrecht in Odessa

German Defense Minister Christine Ukraine has promised Ukraine the rapid delivery of the first unit of the Iris-T SLM ground-based air defense system. The system should arrive in a few days for Ukraine’s defense against Russia, said the SPD politician during a visit to the port city of Odessa. There she was received by her Ukrainian colleague Oleksiy Resnikov.

Germany initially wants to make four of the 140 million euro systems available to Ukraine, and funding for three more has been secured. A system consists of four vehicles – a fire control unit and three rocket launchers. It should be able to protect a medium-sized city from air attacks.

According to the German manufacturer Diehl Defense, the air defense system can protect against attacks by aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles. According to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, it is the most modern air defense system in Germany. The Bundeswehr itself is not yet using the system.

The minister said in a television interview that according to her impressions in Ukraine “air defense and artillery are now in the foreground”. You have experienced “how the population is tortured with drones”. With regard to the tank deliveries demanded by Kyiv, Lambrecht reiterated the attitude of the federal government that Germany would not go it alone. Modern tanks of the Leopard and Marder type, which Kyiv would like to have, have so far been refused by Berlin. Lambrecht added that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats must be taken seriously. She advises everyone “not to trivialize it”. However, it should not lead to “that we let ourselves be paralyzed”.

Selenskyj wants to recapture more areas

After the Russian withdrawal from Lyman, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the recapture of further areas controlled by Russia. “During the week, new Ukrainian flags waved over the Donbass,” Zelenskyy said in his daily video address. “In the coming week there will be even more.” Ukrainian forces had previously reported an advance in the strategically important city in eastern Ukraine, which had been occupied by Russian troops since the spring.

Ukraine |  Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine

The Ministry of Defense in Kyiv tweeted a video of soldiers holding up a Ukrainian flag next to a sign with the city’s name. “The Ukrainian flag is already flying in Lyman in the Donetsk region,” Zelenskyy said in his video address. Fighting is still going on in the city, but there is no longer any trace of the “pseudo-referendum,” he said.

Shortly thereafter, Moscow confirmed the withdrawal of its troops from the city because of the “danger” of encirclement. Earlier, Ukrainian army spokesman said that thousands of soldiers were surrounded near Lyman. Lyman is located in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, for which Russia sealed the illegal annexation on Friday – as well as for the three other Russian-controlled regions of Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Cherson.

Again explosions in Crimea

There have apparently been another explosion at a military airport on the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia. Moscow-appointed governor of the city of Sevastopol, Mikhail Rasvozhayev, wrote on Telegram: “According to information from the rescue workers, a plane overshot the runway and caught fire.” The fire brigade is on duty. However, videos circulating on social networks showed thick clouds of smoke with strong explosions. Observers suspected that an ammunition store could have caught fire.

The Ukrainian military has already struck several times at Russian Air Force bases on the peninsula. In August, the military airport near Saki in Crimea was attacked. The Belbek military airport near Sevastopol is considered one of the most important for the Russian military.

IAEA boss Grossi wants to travel to Moscow and Kyiv

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has announced new travel plans in the Ukraine conflict. Accordingly, he would like to visit Moscow and Kyiv next week. There he wants to hold talks about setting up a protection zone around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in south-eastern Ukraine, which is occupied by Russian troops. This was announced by his authority. Grossi and the Ukraine are pushing for a protection zone around the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which is constantly coming under fire.

EU discusses security of energy infrastructure

After the leaks in the two Nord Stream pipelines, the EU heads of state and government want to discuss the safety of the infrastructure next week. “The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines is a threat to the EU. We are determined to secure our critical infrastructure. The heads of state and government will deal with this at the next meeting in Prague,” writes EU Council President Charles Michel Twitter after a conversation with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The informal meeting of EU leaders is scheduled to take place in the Czech capital on October 7th.

Russia restricts gas transport in Moldova

Russia has cut gas supplies to the ex-Soviet Republic of Moldova, which lies between Romania and Ukraine, and has threatened to shut them down entirely. The Russian energy company Gazprom blamed Ukraine for the reduction. The country refuses to “conduct Russian gas through the Sochranovka distribution station.” According to Gazprom, the daily delivery volume is now 5.7 million cubic meters. The Republic of Moldova, which is striving to join the EU, has ordered 8.06 million cubic meters a day.

Gazprom logo

The logo of the Gazprom concern on a plant in St. Petersburg

In addition to the failure of a pipeline in Ukraine, which has been known for months, Gazprom cites the small republic’s outstanding gas debts in its justification for the supply cutback. Moldova is constantly in arrears with its gas payments. According to the group, the former Soviet republic’s gas debt, including penalties, totals $709 million. The government in Chişinău disputes the amount and insists on a review.

kle/wa/fab/qu (dpa, rtr, afp)

This article will be continuously updated on the day of its publication. Reports from the combat zones cannot be independently verified.


LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here