A fire burns in Kharkiv in northeast Ukraine after Russian drone and missile strikes, April 6, 2024
Friday’s Coverage: NATO Discusses Air Defense and Weapons for Kyiv
Map: Institute for the Study of War
UPDATE 1230 GMT:
In an interview with the German tabloid Bild, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the bloc’s headquarters expelled several Russian personnel for engaging in intelligence activities rather than diplomatic work.
We have seen that Russian intelligence services have operated across European countries for many years. We’re also seeing attempts to step up their activities, but of course, NATO allies are monitoring, following this very closely.
In October 2021, NATO expelled eight members of Moscow’s mission as “undeclared Russian intelligence officers”. The size of the mission was reduced to 10 personnel.
It is unclear if Stoltenberg was referring to the later expulsion of some of those 10 staff.
UPDATE 1225 GMT:
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has commented on the latest Russian mass killing in Kharkiv:
We must put an end to this terror. It’s crucial to strengthen the air defense for Kharkiv region. And our partners can help us with this.
Russian terror against Kharkiv continues. New strikes against the city and the region. Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure have been damaged.
Unfortunately, six people have been killed. My deepest condolences to their families and loved ones. More than 10 people… pic.twitter.com/Sl6hA8mWn0
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 6, 2024
UPDATE 0749 GMT:
A woman in Russia’s Volgograd region has been sentenced to 10 months of forced labor for her Instagram video in which she pretends to tickle a World War II statue.
Alyona Agafonova posted the 12-second clip to her stories in July. She stands next to the base of Volgograd’s World War II monument, The Motherland Calls, and pretending to tickle its chest while humming a circus tune.
After pro-Kremlin bloggers shared the video online, Agafonova was charged with “rehabilitating Nazism”. The Russian Investigative Committee accused her of “carrying out immoral and cynical actions that insulted a symbol of the resilience of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War”.
Agafonova is banned from Internet posts for two years.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: At least six civilians have been killed and 11 injured in Russia’s latest assault on Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv.
Moscow has tried and failed to overrun Kharkiv, only 30 km (19 miles) from the Russian border throughout Vladimir Putin’s 25-month invasion. But as Russia tries to seize more territory in eastern Ukraine, it has stepped up its deadly drone and missile strikes on the city.
Just after midnight on Saturday, Russia launched three S-300 anti-aircraft missiles from its Belgorod region. Drones struck a residential quarter in the Mala Danylivka area, and there were fatalities in the Shevchenkivskyi district. At least nine high-rise residential buildings, local businesses, three dormitories, several administrative buildings, a service station, and cars were destroyed or damaged.
Awful night for Kharkiv. Russia again massively attacked the city with Shahed drones. At least six killed. This is pure, blatant terrorism. pic.twitter.com/DLxhrCWxcJ
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) April 6, 2024
Russia also fired 32 Iran-type “kamikaze” drones on Ukraine overnight, 28 of which were downed; two Kh-101/555 cruise missiles, and a Kalibr cruise missile.
The cruise missiles and some drones targeted the Kyiv region. All were intercepted. There were no casualties.
In Zaporizhzhia city, industrial enterprises and an aid center for displaced people were struck.
Airstrikes and Threatened Russian Offensive
Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, have emphasized to the international community that bolstered air defenses are needed in the face of the Russian attacks on Kharkiv and other areas.
On Thursday, Zelenskiy said of Russia’s killing of four civilians, including three rescuers:
Russian terrorists will be held accountable for their actions in Kharkiv and for all acts of aggression against our people. We are working with our partners to strengthen the protection of our cities and villages and to protect our citizens. Strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities directly translates into saving lives.
Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak warned on Friday that Russia could target Kharkiv in an offensive at the end of May or beginning of June.
Yermak noted that “Ukraine is approaching a critical moment” amid the six-month blockade of $60.1 billion in aid by Trumpists and hard-right Republicans in the US House.
He expressed hope that Congress would finally break the blockade “this month”:
I don’t believe anybody who represents the party of Ronald Reagan will abandon Ukraine.
Reagan understood the Soviet Union and Russia, and anyone who does will continue to support our fighters because they understand that dictators never stop voluntarily and have to be stopped.
Yermak reiterated, “Without modern air defense systems, it is impossible for us to defend our cities.”
[Editor’s Note: I was in those discussions in 2008 at the University of Birmingham.
When Jean — who was in that class — says “students predicted more conflict” if Putin’s “red lines” were crossed, he means that *he* and he alone took that position.]
Quoting — “I don’t believe anybody who represents the party of Ronald Reagan will abandon Ukraine.
Reagan understood the Soviet Union and Russia, and anyone who does will continue to support our fighters because they understand that dictators never stop voluntarily and have to be stopped.”
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Since the end of the Cold War, the Clinton admin, and the administrations that followed, have not respected Russia’s “red lines.” Reagan did not like Brezhnev, Andropov, and Chernenko; but he did respect Moscow’s red lines. Students at the University of Birmingham (UK) talked about Moscow’s red lines during the Russia-Georgia war in 2008. They predicted more conflict in the coming years if red lines were crossed again. Well, here we are.