Breaking News & Live Updates on 02-05-2024

The self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic announced the death of its Minister of Emergency Situations following a strike on a local bakery reportedly frequented by collaborators.

The world in focus, as seen by a Canadian leading global affairs analyst, writer and speaker, in his review of international media.

WORLD BRIEFING: February 5, 2024

The US carried out more strikes against Houthi missiles in Yemen on Sunday, US Central Command (Centcom) said in a statement. It said US forces struck a land-attack cruise missile and four anti-ship missiles that "were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.” The latest action comes a day after joint US-UK strikes on Houthi targets. The UK says these were in self-defense to stop the Houthis' attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis have vowed the strikes will "not go unpunished" - BBC

Exclusive video obtained by Kyiv Post shows Ukrainian special forces interrogating captured Russian mercenaries from the Wagner “Private Military Company” (PMC) in the Republic of Sudan.

The Russian cosmonaut has no space flight experience, having served in technical and operational units of the Russian Air Force before joining the cosmonaut detachment.

Alexander Grebenkin, a former Russian military officer and current Roscosmos cosmonaut, is set to travel to the International Space Station as part of the NASA team, as announced on the NASA website, where Ukrainians have commented their outrage.

NASA, in collaboration with SpaceX, plans to launch Crew-8 to the International Space Station no earlier than Thursday, Feb. 22.

Among the dead were two men aged 45 and 50 who were in a car, a woman on the street and a 60-year old man in the city centre.

Russian shelling of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson killed four people and injured one other person on Monday, a local official said.

Since being recaptured by Ukrainian forces in November 2022, Kherson has faced near continuous Russian bombardment.

South Africa’s allegations of genocide against Israel come in the wake of its UN abstention following Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, and its joint naval drills with Russia and China.

With its suit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel for allegedly violating the 1948 UN Genocide Convention through its actions in Gaza, the South African government is challenging the Western-dominated international order.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has long been accused by African countries of persecuting Africans in particular. And the presence of double standards in the US and Europe is indeed undeniable. Either you condemn the bombing of civilians and imminent ethnic cleansing – no matter whether in Ukraine, Syria or Gaza – or you do not.

As disconcerting rumors continue to circulate, Ukraine's citizens and its supporters expect greater transparency from President Zelensky and the Office of the President.

During almost two years of Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has earned the reputation of being a great communicator.

But in recent days he has been uncharacteristically vague and evasive on issues of major concern both within his beleaguered country and among its Western supporters, thereby raising questions about what is going on behind the scenes in Kyiv.

In a letter addressed to network providers, a government agency in Ukraine warned of renewed cyberattacks and asked the providers to review backup measures and vet personnel with back-end access.

Russian hackers could’ve gained access to Ukraine’s communication systems as of Jan. 25, and network providers in Ukraine should review the backup systems and vet personnel with back-end access to mitigate the risks, warned Kyiv officials.

The State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine said the recent cyberattacks, conducted by Russian intelligence and hacker groups affiliated with the agencies, had the intention to “disrupt the stable functioning of electronic communication systems” that support Ukraine’s national security and defense.

Aerial scouts from Ukraine’s Armed Forces used a drone to deliver hot tea and a note to the wounded border guard, which read: “Drink, friend, and follow the drone.”

Drone footage posted on the Telegram channel of the State Border Service of Ukraine showed how aerial scouts of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) assisted in evacuating wounded Ukrainian border guard, Serhiy Kupin.

The deal marks an end to two decades of Western investment in Yandex, which was seen as a darling of Russia's fast-growing tech industry and an example of successful Western investment in Russia.

Technology giant Yandex on Monday announced long-awaited plans to split its Russian and international units in a corporate divorce worth $5.2 billion.

The deal marks an end to more than two decades of Western investment in Yandex, which for years was seen as a darling of Russia's fast-growing tech industry and an example of successful Western investment in Russia.

UP sources said that in addition to the potential dismissal of Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny, the Presidential Office is also allegedly contemplating replacing Chief of the General Staff Shaptala.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is considering not only the dismissal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Valery Zaluzhny, but also Serhiy Shaptala, the AFU’s Chief of the General Staff, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda, citing sources in government and military circles.

According to the outlet, the Presidential Office is already discussing replacing Shaptala.

The package of restrictions that the EU is preparing to coincide with the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion will be limited in scope and number of individuals and legal entities targeted.

The new 13th package of sanctions against Russia, which the European Union plans to introduce around the time of the second anniversary of the launch of Putin’s war against Ukraine, is likely to the weakest so far.

Radio Liberty journalist Rikard Jozwiak researched and analyzed the future package of sanctions, before writing about this on his X (formerly Twitter) page.

Andrei Volna, a 61-year-old medical professional from Moscow, moved to Ukraine with his wife and three children to use his skills and help the locals.

Andrei Volna had long started losing faith in his homeland before Russian tanks entered Ukraine.

That was when the Russian surgeon's disillusionment passed the point of no return and he decided to flee.

The Latest Overview on the Situation of Religious Dissenters in Russia from Human Rights Without Frontiers International.

The current HRWF Database of comprises 149 documented individual cases of believers of all faiths: 127 Jehovah's Witnesses - 6 Protestants - 6 Muslims (Said Nursi) - 5 Muslims (Faizrakhman) - 2 Greek Catholic - Orthodox (2) - Shaman (1)

31.01.2024 - Another trial of Muslims meeting to study Nursi's works

On Italy’s Rai News 24 TV channel, President Zelensky explained that his considerations extend beyond the military, indicating a broader overhaul of senior officials in various government areas.

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed rumours that he is contemplating replacing Ukraine's current military leadership.

Speaking in a recent interview with the Italian Rai News 24 TV channel on Sunday, Feb. 4, Ukraine’s President emphasized the need for a leadership reboot and the importance of a "fresh beginning" for the country.

Local media have mentioned February 12 as a likely date, but the office of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hasn't confirmed it.

Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday confirmed an imminent visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, without announcing an exact date.

"This visit will provide us the opportunity to discuss numerous issues," the minister told state television station TRT Haber.

A selection of what European papers are saying.

According to media reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has attempted to dismiss Valerii Zaluzhnyi as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Several newspapers reported that Zelensky had offered the general the post of defence minister instead, but Zaluzhnyi refused. The Ministry of Defence and the Presidential Office have denied the allegations. Zaluzhnyi had warned of a deadlock on the front in November. The press takes a closer look.

Incompetent behaviour

It is not clear that the 370-page bill has the 60 backers it will need to advance from the first procedural vote in the 100-seat, Democratic-controlled Senate, expected on Wednesday at the latest.

US senators on Sunday released the text of a much-anticipated deal that would unlock billions in new aid for Ukraine and Israel while tightening US border laws, but the top House Republican quickly vowed to shoot it down.

The national security supplemental provides for $118.3 billion in total funding, including $60 billion to support war-torn Ukraine, matching the White House's request, and $14.1 billion in security assistance to Israel, according to a summary released by Senate Appropriations Committee chair Patty Murray.

According to the popular politician and Ukrainian cheerleader, Russian missiles and drones mostly fly and get shot down over the Mykolaiv region where he’s governor and military administration chief.

Head of Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration Vitaliy Kim is a politician who has become popular during the war. Nearly two years ago, when Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he cheered and motivated Ukrainians with his daily videos, becoming one of their favorites.

This was at the time when the Russians tried to occupy Mykolaiv and mercilessly shelled it.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Russia's reported reserve concentrations throughout Ukraine largely align with Russia’s assessed priorities along the front, although they are not necessarily indicative of future Russian operations.
• The Russian defense industrial base (DIB) is unlikely able to fully support Russia’s reserve manpower despite Russia’s ability to sustain its current tempo of operations and ongoing efforts to expand the Russian DIB.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the frontline near Robotyne, Zaporizhia Oblast and the Ukrainian Eastern Air Command in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on February 4.
• Russian milbloggers continued to criticize Russian authorities’ failure to properly equip Russian forces with drones and electronic warfare (EW) systems in response to a recent unsuccessful Russian mechanized assault near Novomykhailivka, Donetsk Oblast.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to face the authoritarian’s dilemma, whereby his authoritarian regime is itself systematically preventing him from receiving accurate information about military-political realities in Russia.
• Russian forces made confirmed advances near Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka amid continued positional engagements along the entire frontline.
• Kremlin newswire TASS reported on February 4 that Vladimir Oblast will be a patron of the new Knyaz Pozharsky Borei-A class nuclear submarine.
• Ukrainian officials continue international efforts aimed at returning Ukrainian citizens whom Russian authorities illegally deported to Russia.