Latest news about Russia and the war in Ukraine

Russian news agencies reported that a senior Russian official and close ally of President Vladimir Putin claimed Thursday that the West wants to tear Russia apart.

Security Council Vice President Dmitry Medvedev told Russian media on Thursday that “the West’s desire is very simple – to destabilize the political situation, divide the country into several parts that would be large enough, make agreements with each of these parts, denuclearize and disarm Weapons from all over the world. Theirs is then provided [security] services,” This was reported by the state news agency TASS.

Medvedev, who has been associated with Russian nationalist rhetoric and swordsmanship during the war in Ukraine, has claimed — like other Russian officials including President Putin — that the real motive for the West in helping Ukraine is to see Russia destroyed, without providing any evidence of this. this. Ukraine’s Western allies say they are helping Kiev defend itself from unprovoked Russian aggression and restore its territorial integrity.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Medvedev claimed that once the West divides Russia, the separate parts “will have a chance to join NATO, especially if they give up our national resources.”

“they [Western countries] They don’t want an equal partnership with us because they don’t need it,” Medvedev said, adding that the same applies to the West’s attitude towards China.

Medvedev is widely seen as a stooge of Russian President Vladimir Putin, having served as Russia’s president and prime minister for the past 20 years, taking turns with Putin to circumvent constitutional rules that prohibit leaders from serving more than two consecutive terms in office.

While this is called “Tandemocracy” Medvedev has always been seen as Putin’s vassal, no matter what role he played.

– Holly Ellytt

The White House has played down the importance of Russian President Vladimir Putin presenting an award to one of the pilots involved in shooting down a US drone over the Black Sea.

“I don’t know of another military in the world that would award a pilot for crashing into a drone,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

Kirby added, “I have to throw a flag at this, I don’t know why they would throw a bravery award at a pilot who was foolish at best.”

Last week, Russia’s Defense Ministry said its fighter jet had not come into contact with the US drone.

Amanda Macias

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the federal department she oversees has imposed more than 2,500 Russia-related sanctions in the wake of Moscow’s all-out invasion of Ukraine last year.

“We have weakened the Kremlin’s ability to replace more than 9,000 pieces of heavy military equipment lost on the battlefield. We have also successfully stabilized global energy markets and reduced Kremlin revenue by applying innovative caps on Russian oil prices.” Yellen said in her opening remarks to the Senate Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Yellen also mentioned her visit to Kiev in February, where she met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials.

“As part of a broad coalition, we are responsibly disbursing vital economic assistance to Ukraine,” Yellen said. She added that “on my visit to Kiev a month ago, Ukrainian officials told me directly about the dangerous impact of our work.”

Amanda Macias

The Utah Unmanned Aircraft System, developed and manufactured by Fortem Technologies, is helping Ukrainian forces capture drones used by Russia on the battlefield.

Unmanned aerial system, called Hunter F700 droneIt was initially donated to Ukrainian forces at the start of the war and then appeared on the battlefield in May.

In Ukraine, the Drone Hunter, as its name suggests, captures Russian surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft by shooting a net around them either on the ground or pulling the system away from the battlefield.

“The Ukrainians like the system because they’re able to reuse some of the drones they capture. They’re actually getting additional assets out of this,” John Groen, chairman and CEO at Fortem Technologies, told CNBC.

Warren Brown, vice president of marketing for Fortem Technologies, echoed Gruen and said that in some cases, Ukrainian forces have been able to take fingerprints of captured drones.

“If you blow up the drone, you don’t have any reconnaissance of where it is and its mission,” Brown added.

Gruen explained that Fortem Technologies developed the Drone Hunter system after receiving specific feedback from Ukrainian forces.

The anti-drone aerial system, which can be used completely autonomously, was recently modified to help counter Iranian-made drones used by Russian forces in Ukraine.

Groen said Ukraine has about 10 of the Fortem drones currently in operation, but more are on the way.

“From start to finish, it takes about three days to learn how to operate the system,” Groen added.

Amanda Macias

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said that the last remaining backup power line at the Zaporizhia NPP still needs to be repaired.

Without the backup line, there will be no damage to the 750 kV line. [main external power line] “It would result in a total loss of all off-site energy for the plant,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a statement.

Grossi said the backup power supply line had been cut and damaged since the beginning of March, and that the general situation at the station “remains precarious.”

“I call again for a commitment from all parties to secure nuclear safety and protect security at the plant,” he said.

Amanda Macias

At least seven people were killed in a Russian drone strike on the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Chief of the Kiev Regional Police Andrei Nepetov he said on Telegram He explained that “a total of 12 drones were shot down by security and defense forces in the Kiev region during the attack of the occupiers.”

Nepetov said that nine people were injured so far as a result of the attack, which was carried out by Iranian-made drones.

Amanda Macias

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Ukrainian soldiers on the front line in Pakhmut, eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian Presidency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images