Photo: EPA

Wednesday’s Coverage: Accused of War Crimes, Russia Denied Seat on UN Human Rights Council

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1216 GMT:

Ukraine Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has posted about new agreements with Bulgaria after meeting his counterpart.

Umerov wrote that the document “provides a basis for future defence interaction and military cooperation”, with Bulgaria helping with English courses for Ukrainian pilots of F-16 fighter jets.

UPDATE 1103 GMT:

In his first foreign visit of 2023, Vladimir Putin is in Kyrgyzstan.

Putin’s movement has been restricted by an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, issued in March over the mass deportations of Ukrainian children.

He said as he was greeted by Kyrgyz leader Sadyr Japarov in the capital Bishkek, “I would like to thank the President for the invitation. We have good reasons [to be here], but even without reasons this visit is long overdue.”

He said he expects an expansion of military and defense cooperation.

UPDATE 0852 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Ukrainian forces are still defending the settlement of Avdiivka, in eastern Ukraine, against an intense Russia assault.

Avdiivka is just over 20 km (12.5 miles) from Donetsk city, the center of Russia’s occupation of the region.

UPDATE 0649 GMT:

The Ukraine Air Force says air defenses downed 28 attack drones launched by Russia overnight.

The air force said at least six regions faced the assault, with the drones “flying in different directions”.

Damage was reported at port warehouses and private residences in the Odesa region, including on the Danube River. One person was injured.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attended a NATO Defense Ministers summit in Brussels on Wednesday, obtaining new commitments to Kyiv’s defense against the 19 1/2-month Russian invasion.

Zelenskiy unexpectedly arrived in Belgium’s capital in the morning, having conferred in Bucharest on Tuesday with Romania’s top officials about air defense and protection of shipping in the Black Sea and on the Danube River.

He participated in the 54-country Ukraine Defense Contact Group and the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, as well as sitting down with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

At the end of the day, he posted thanks to a series of countries “for their powerful decisions on military aid for Ukraine and reaffirming earlier commitments” and “for their significant commitments strengthening Ukraine’s capabilities in defense and protection of life”.

Important steps, especially as winter approaches,” he wrote. “The international coalition works to ensure our common victory.”

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced another $200 million in military aid, including air defense munitions, artillery and rocket ammunition, and anti-tank weapons. Belgium’s De Kroo declared a €1.7 billion ($1.8 billion) fund for Ukrainian recovery — financed from tax on frozen Russian assets — and confirmed that Brussels will send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from 2025.

European countries committed another £100 million ($123 million) in military support through the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine. The finance is for equipment for crossing of minefields and the bridging of rivers and trenches, and for supply of heavy duty plant vehicles to destroy Russian non-explosive obstacles.

NATO’s “United and Determined Response” If Finland-Estonia Gas Pipeline Sabotaged

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also assured that NATO would react with a “united and determined response” if Sunday’s explosions of the Baltic Connector gas pipeline and a communications cable between Finland and Estonia were found to be sabotage.

Investigators and “Finnish Government sources” said on Tuesday that sabotage was possible, following observation of the Russian survey vessel Sibiryakov conducting “underwater activities” in the area in June, August, and September.

Estonia’s Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur followed on Wednesday with the statement that the damage was caused by “quite heavy force”.

Stoltenberg cautioned, “It remains to determine what caused the damage and therefore I think it is a bit too early to say exactly how Nato will respond – it depends on what the investigation will reveal.”