US Patriot air defense systems at the airport in Warsaw, Poland, February 7, 2023 (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

EA on Dublin NewsTalk: “Axis of the Isolated” — Putin in North Korea

Ukraine: How “Peace Talks” in 2022 Failed to Halt Russia’s Invasion

Thursday’s Coverage: What is in Putin-Kim “Strategic Partnership Agreement”?

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1244 GMT:

Echoing the message of his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu (see 0948 GMT), Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has welcomed the confirmation that both countries’ accession talks with the European Union will begin next week.

UPDATE 1039 GMT:

The US has banned Russia-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky from selling its anti-virus products in the US, citing national security concerns.

The Commerce Department said in a statement, “Kaspersky will generally no longer be able to, among other activities, sell its software within the United States or provide updates to software already in use.”

An investigation found Kaspersky’s “continued operations in the United States presented a national security risk due to the Russian government’s offensive cyber-capabilities and capacity to influence or direct Kaspersky’s operations”.

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said, “Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive US information.”

UPDATE 1013 GMT:

Arseny Turbin, 15, has been sentenced to five years in prison by a Russian court for “participation in a terrorist organization”.

The Russian State security service FSB claimed Turbin, from the Lipetsk region in western Russia, was spreading “propaganda on instructions from the curators” for the Freedom of Russia Legion fighting in Ukraine. They said he distributed, leaflets, “Do you need a President like this?” during his summer break; took selfies with a white-blue-white flag, a symbol of opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and created a channel called “Free Russia” on Telegram.

Turbin denied any connection with the Legion and said all actions were on his own initiative.

An art teacher in Lipetsk has been sentenced to 20 years in prison over a transfer of $230 to his brother in the Russia-occupied Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine.

Daniil Klyuka was charged with treason and facilitating terrorism. The State security service claimed the transfer was to the crypto wallet of the Ukrainian Azov Regiment.

Klyuka’s problems began he drew horns, mustaches, and beards on photos in a local newspaper, to which he and other school employees were forced to subscribe.

Klyuka’s former colleagues handed over the drawings to the FSB, saying the art teacher was “interested in explosives”. A few days later, he was detained.

UPDATE 0948 GMT:

Moldova has formally launched negotiations for accession to the European Union.

President Maia Sandu signed the decree for the start of the talks in Luxembourg on June 25: “Moldova has implemented all the recommendations of the European Commission. Thus, two years after receiving candidate status, the first Moldova-EU intergovernmental conference will take place.”

On June 7, the European Commission approved the start of the process for Moldova and Ukraine to become the 28th and 29th members of the bloc, saying both had taken all necessary steps to meet preconditions.

Sandu noted on Thursday that Moldova will hold a referendum this fall, possibly alongside Presidential elections on October 20. Citizens will be asked, “Are you for Moldova joining the European Union?”.

She said, “We need unity, the participation of every party, public organization, citizen, so that together we guarantee the peace and well-being of Moldovans.”

UPDATE 0917 GMT:

Two civilians have been killed and three injured by a Russian guided bomb on Selydove in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

Six houses, five high-rise buildings, and a car were damaged.

UPDATE 0908 GMT:

Ukrainian drones have struck oil installations in southwest Russia for the second day in a row.

Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed attacks on four refineries in the Krasnodar region in the southwest and in the Astrakhan region near the Caspian Sea. The UAVs also targeted sites where Iran-type drones are stored.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the downing of more than 100 drones in Russia-occupied Crimea, Krasnodar, and the Volgograd region. As usual, the Ministry did not acknowledge any damage; however, Russian Telegram channels claimed a military airfield in Yeysk in the Krasnodar region was hit.

Early Thursday, drone strikes set afire oil depots in the Adygea Republic in southwest Russia and the Tambov region in the west.

UPDATE 0849 GMT:

For their first time, Japan has sanctioned China-based companies supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The new measures also targeted companies based in India, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, as well as 11 Russian entities and 42 individuals.

Those blacklisted include Hong Kong-based Asia Pacific Links, which have provided microchips for Russian drones, and China-based Yilufa Electronics Limited.

UPDATE 0805 GMT:

Six civilians were killed and 13 injured by Russian attacks across Ukraine on Thursday.

Russia targeted 10 Ukrainian regions — Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Luhansk, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Donetsk.

In the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, three people were killed and four injured in the village of Rozkishne. One resident was killed and three wounded in the town of Mykolaivka, and one killed and one wounded in the town of Kostiantynivka.

The other fatality was in the Kherson region in southern Ukraine, where five houses and an administrative building were damaged.

UPDATE 0653 GMT:

Vladimir Putin’s high-profile trip to North Korea is causing difficulties for Russia.

South Korea is considering military aid to Ukraine in response to the declaration by Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un of a “strategic partnership agreement” with a mutual defense pact.

The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said, “It’s absurd that two parties with a history of launching wars of invasion – the Korean war and the war in Ukraine – are now vowing mutual military cooperation on the premise of a pre-emptive attack by the international community that will never happen.”

A South Korean official added, “There are various options for providing weapons, and our position on the recent developments between Russia and North Korea depends on how Russia approaches the situation going forward.”

Throughout Russia’s 28-month invasion, South Korea has provided only non-lethal assistance to Kyiv, including humanitarian aid and financial support.

Seoul summoned the Russian ambassador to protest. Alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said the Putin-Kim pact is a “serious threat” to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. Blinken said the US is consider “various measures” in response.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said at the UN that Russia’s violation of UN sanctions against North Korea — which Moscow had helped implement through the Security Council — was “deplorable”.

Visiting Vietnam, Vladimir Putin blustered that South Korea’s supply of weapons to Ukraine would be “a very big mistake”. He said he might do the same, inverting the reality that it is North Korea sending artillery shells and ballistic missiles to Russia for Putin’s invasion.

UPDATE 0644 GMT:

The US has further relaxed the ban on Ukraine’s use of American-supplied weapons in Russia.

The Pentagon said on Thursday that Ukrainian troops can fire on any Russian position supporting cross-border attacks. “It’s self-defense and so it makes sense for them to be able to do that,” said spokesperson Pat Ryder.

Last month the Biden Administration said the US weapons could target Russian positions enabling the offensive into the Kharkiv position in northeast Ukraine.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed this week that Ukraine can use air-defense systems on Russian warplanes preparing to fire.

US officials said Thursday that the provision applies to Russian units attacking the Sumy region in northwesst Ukraine as well as those assaulting Kharkiv.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: The US will send the latest Patriot air defense systems “rolling off the production line” to Ukraine rather than other countries who have ordered them, the White House has confirmed.

“We’re going to reprioritize the deliveries of these exports,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Thursday, referring both to Patriots and to NASAMS air defense missiles. “Deliveries of these missiles to other countries that are currently in the queue will have to be delayed.

Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder added, “What we’re seeing is Russia once again trying to destroy Ukraine’s energy system and infrastructure ahead of winter, and so they urgently need…additional air defense capabilities.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has asked for 7 Patriots to bolster air defense against Russia’s daily missile and drone strikes. Last week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz committed to provision of a third US-made Patriot and Washington said it was sending a second, with President Joe Biden saying five more were in the pipeline.

On Thursday, Romania said it is sending one of its two Patriots to Kyiv. The Supreme Council of National Defense cited the “deteriorating security situation” and “the regional consequences of this situation, including for Romania’s security” because of Russia’s attacks.

With the Russian assault this spring knocking out half of Ukraine’s power generation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced measures to protect power plants and to develop alternative and renewable energy sources.

The development includes solar energy and energy storage facilities and “decentralized energy capacities”. Critical infrastructure sites will pursue timetables for alternative energy sources, with the work to be completed before winter.

Russian attacks early Thursday hit four regions and cut power to more than 218,000 consumers.