A wrecked car, damaged by Russian shelling, near Kherson.
(Photo: dpa)
Kyiv President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the start of training of Ukrainian crews on the British Challenger 2 main battle tank. “This is a good vehicle and will be a serious reinforcement on the battlefield,” Zelensky said in his video address on Saturday night. He thanked Great Britain for military aid. He described the situation at the front as difficult, but said he was confident of victory.
“The enemy is always throwing in new forces to break through our defenses. Now it’s very tough in Bachmut, in Wuhledar and in the direction of Lyman,” said Selenski. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that Ukrainian “steadfastness” would ultimately prevail and thwart Russia’s plans for conquest.
London: Training of Ukrainians on Challenger 2 tanks has started
Earlier, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a phone call to Zelensky on Saturday that Ukrainian crews are already being trained on British Challenger 2 main battle tanks. Training started this week. The Ministry of Defense in London had published pictures of the training at a military training area.
Selenski confirmed the start of the training via the short message service Telegram and said that he had thanked Sunak for it in the conversation. “We also talked about expanding the capabilities of the Ukrainian army and various aids to Ukraine in the short and long term,” the 45-year-old wrote.
Talks about tank delivery for Ukraine – first commitments
After its decision to supply Leopard main battle tanks, the federal government is still waiting for concrete participation from partner countries. While there are already announcements for the older Leopard model 2A4, the supply situation for the newer type 2A6 was initially thin, as government circles said on Saturday.
Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa promised a delivery, but left the exact number open. His country is currently in contact with Germany about the overhaul of Leopard tanks, the Portuguese state news agency Lusa reported.
We carefully weighed every arms shipment, closely coordinating it with our allies, first and foremost with America. This joint approach prevents the war from escalating. Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Meanwhile, Canada has already started loading and shipping Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, Defense Minister Anita Anand said on Twitter on Saturday. Ottawa has promised Kyiv four main battle tanks of the type.
Scholz: Joint action prevents escalation
With regard to the delivery of battle tanks to Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has countered fears that Germany could be drawn into the war. He told the “Bild am Sonntag”: “We carefully weighed every delivery of arms, closely coordinated with our allies, above all with America. This joint approach prevents the war from escalating.”
In telephone calls, he made it “very clear” to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia was solely responsible for the war. Putin threatened neither him – Scholz – nor Germany.
Moscow reports expulsion of Kiev military from location in Kharkiv region
The situation at the front remains difficult for Ukraine. According to the Russian military, Ukrainian forces have been expelled from the village of Dvorichne in the Kharkiv region in north-eastern Ukraine.
“In the direction of Kupyansk, the enemy was pushed back by attacks by units of Army Group West from the western outskirts of the village of Dvorichne in the Kharkiv region,” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in Moscow on Saturday. The information cannot be verified independently. The Ukrainian armed forces had almost completely recaptured the Kharkiv region in the course of their autumn offensive.
This is how the Handelsblatt reports on the Ukraine war:
Dvorichne is located on the east side of the Oskil River. After withdrawing from the Izyum area, the Russian armed forces initially tried to set up new defense lines behind the river. However, the Ukrainian military was able to quickly cross the river and initially continue the advance to the east.
In telephone calls, he made it “very clear” to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia was solely responsible for the war. Putin threatened neither him – Scholz – nor Germany.
Moscow reports expulsion of Kiev military from location in Kharkiv region
The situation at the front remains difficult for Ukraine. According to the Russian military, Ukrainian forces have been expelled from the village of Dvorichne in the Kharkiv region in north-eastern Ukraine.
In the course of a difficult negotiation process, 63 Russian soldiers were withdrawn from territory controlled by the Kiev regime. Russian Ministry of Defense on Telegram on Saturday.
“In the direction of Kupyansk, the enemy was pushed back by attacks by units of Army Group West from the western outskirts of the village of Dvorichne in the Kharkiv region,” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in Moscow on Saturday. The information cannot be verified independently. The Ukrainian armed forces had almost completely recaptured the Kharkiv region in the course of their autumn offensive.
Dvorichne is located on the east side of the Oskil River. After withdrawing from the Izyum area, the Russian armed forces initially tried to set up new defense lines behind the river. However, the Ukrainian military was able to quickly cross the river and initially continue the advance to the east.
However, the Ukrainian offensive in the direction of the Luhansk region has now been stopped – also due to the hasty transfer of Russian mobilized troops to the region. Both sides are now fighting for the initiative in the sector of the front.
Russia and Ukraine carry out new prisoner exchange
According to information from Moscow, Russia and Ukraine have carried out the largest number of prisoner exchanges since the beginning of the year. “During a difficult negotiation process, 63 Russian soldiers were withdrawn from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on its Telegram channel on Saturday. Ukraine later confirmed the exchange and return of 116 prisoners.
Selenski confirmed the exchange in the evening. Since the beginning of the war, 1,762 Ukrainians have been brought back from Russian captivity, he explained. The aim is to liberate all Ukrainians.
What will be important this Sunday
On the battlefield, events continue to take place primarily in eastern Ukraine. Especially the town of Bachmut is being fought with all hardness. Economically, the West is opening a new front against Russia: the new oil sanctions will come into force on Sunday. The European Union will then no longer buy Russian oil products. In addition, a price cap on oil products such as diesel or heating oil will apply from this point in time. This is intended to reduce the Kremlin’s income for further warfare.
More: Don’t miss any developments in the Ukraine war – everything new in our news blog