The war continues. Russian drone attacks left at least two dead during the night from Friday to Saturday in Ukraine, in the regions of Kharkiv (north-east) and Odessa (south), according to Kiev authorities. The deadly attacks occurred amid ongoing air alerts in Ukraine’s eastern regions as authorities detected the arrival of Shahed explosive drones. Russia seeks to achieve a breakthrough in the Donetsk region.
Information to remember
⇒ Navalny funeral: Macron salutes the “courage” of the Russians who paid tribute to him
⇒ Two dead in Russian drone attacks in Ukraine
⇒ Ukraine: investigation into possible wiretapping targeting the German army
Navalny funeral: Macron salutes the “courage” of the Russians who paid tribute to him
Emmanuel Macron praised Friday the “courage” of Russians who came in their thousands to Moscow, despite the risk of being arrested, to attend the funeral of Alexeï Navalny, the main detractor of Vladimir Putin who died on February 16 in troubled circumstances in prison . “It took courage to go and pay tribute to Alexeï Navalny. Thousands of Russians did not miss it. His legacy is there. Eternal memory,” wrote the French president in a message on the social network X.
Two dead in Russian drone attacks in Ukraine
Russian drone attacks left at least two dead during the night from Friday to Saturday in Ukraine, in the regions of Kharkiv (north-east) and Odessa (south), Kiev authorities reported. A young man was killed and several people, including a three-year-old child, were injured when a Russian drone struck an apartment building in the port city of Odessa, authorities said. “The three-year-old child suffers from abrasions on his leg and is under medical supervision,” said the region’s governor, Oleg Kiper, who reported six adults also injured.
Investigation into possible wiretapping targeting the German army
The German Ministry of Defense indicated this Saturday, March 2, that it was investigating possible wiretapping of confidential discussions between high-ranking officers of its air force on the war in Ukraine. “We are examining whether communications linked to the air force have been tapped, military counter-espionage (BAMAD) has taken all necessary measures,” a spokesperson told AFP. of the ministry. The case emerged after the broadcast, according to German media, on Russian social media accounts close to the Kremlin, of what strongly resembles the recording of a conversation between German officers.
Russian disinformation: France decides to show its fangs
After having remained on the defensive for a long time in the face of Russian informational assaults, Paris has launched in recent weeks a muscular and methodical denunciation of the multiple attempts at destabilization targeting France, remotely guided by Moscow to undermine public opinion’s support for the Ukrainian cause.
“It’s not just a war against Ukraine that Vladimir Putin has started […]. Russia has also chosen to attack France and the allies of democracy,” French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal accused on Tuesday, referring to a “massive destabilization enterprise” via “informational and interference maneuvers.” , denounced in all directions since the beginning of the year.
In fact, Russian information attacks seem to be increasing against France while Paris recently concluded a bilateral security agreement with kyiv, with Moscow denouncing Paris’ “growing involvement” in the conflict.
Russia: novelist Lioudmila Oulitskaïa classified as a “foreign agent”
The novelist Lyoudmila Oulitskaïa, critic of the Russian assault in Ukraine and who lives in exile in Germany, was classified on Friday as a “foreign agent” by the Russian authorities, a symbol of the repression which also affects artists. Hundreds of people, human rights activists, opponents or independent journalists, have been classified in Russia in recent years as “foreign agents”, which is accompanied by strict administrative constraints and the obligation to appear as such in all public communication. Lioudmila Oulitskaïa, 81, is known in Russia for her books “Sonietchka” – won the Medici Prize in 1996 – and “Le Chapiteau Vert”.
Gas exporters, including Russia, meet in Algeria
The main gas exporters met in Algeria on Friday against a backdrop of persistent market tensions since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while strong growth in demand is expected this year. A ministerial meeting of representatives of members of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) was held in the morning in Algiers, on the eve of a summit of their leaders which are notably expected, around Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raïssi and the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Lavrov in Türkiye, eager to reunite Moscow and kyiv again
The head of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov began a two-day visit to Turkey on Friday, whose leaders are trying to once again bring together Russian and Ukrainian officials around a table. The Russian Foreign Minister participated in the Diplomatic Forum in Antalya (south), an annual meeting to which countries friendly to Ankara are invited, where he met with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Turkey has maintained close ties with the two belligerents, and twice hosted direct negotiations between Moscow and kyiv in March 2022.