In the midst of a military offensive in the Russian region of Kursk, and as fighting intensifies in the east of the country, Ukraine is expected to receive a new American shipment in the coming days, straight from its own army’s stocks. No less than 125 million worth of military equipment, mainly airborne, was announced by Washington on Friday, August 23. At the same time, several dozen technology companies contributing to Russian defense or financing the invasion of Ukraine are being hit by American sanctions.
The day after a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called for peace between the two belligerents, Volodymyr Zelensky warned this Saturday morning: the war is “back” in Russia, which “will know what the reprisals are”.
Key information to remember
⇒ New shipment of US air weapons to be sent to Ukraine
⇒ The war is “back” in Russia, which “will know what reprisals are”, warns Volodymyr Zelensky
⇒ Dozens of Russian defense companies hit by US sanctions
Volodymyr Zelensky: “War is back in Russia”
War is “back” in Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech broadcast on Saturday, August 24, adding that Moscow “will learn what retaliation is.” Russia wanted to “destroy us” but the war has “returned home,” he said in a video on the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day, which he said was recorded in the border area from where kyiv launched its surprise incursion into Russia, in the Kursk region, on August 6. The Ukrainian head of state also announced that he was promulgating the law making the Moscow-linked Orthodox Church illegal in his country.
Washington announces new military aid package
The United States announced this Friday, August 23, a new package of military aid to Ukraine estimated at 125 million dollars, equipment directly taken from the stocks of the American army. It includes in particular aerial equipment and missiles to shoot down attack drones in order to “protect Ukraine’s essential infrastructure”, Joe Biden said in a press release. But also ammunition for Himars rocket launchers, anti-tank missiles, artillery shells, ambulances and medical equipment.
In a phone call, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his counterpart Joe Biden for the new deliveries, telling X that his country “urgently” needs them, especially air defense, in order to “reliably protect our cities, communities and critical infrastructure.”
Sanctions against Russian defense companies
A set of US sanctions targeting Russia was also unveiled, targeting 400 entities and individuals as well as some 60 defense technology companies in Russia, Belarus and other countries. The sanctions specifically target technology companies involved in “supporting and developing the Russian defense industry,” including those involved in developing and modernizing its arsenal, but also “automation, robotics, online surveillance, the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence (AI),” according to the US Treasury.
They also target companies involved in the financial sector and providing software and technological solutions to the country’s banks. Finally, it is about further limiting Russian access to strategic minerals and the mining sector, in particular iron, steel and coal.
Fighting intensifies in Pokrovsk
Over the past 24 hours, 149 battles have taken place in Ukraine between the armies of kyiv and Moscow, including 44, or “nearly a third, in the direction of Pokrovsk”, a city in the Donetsk oblast, in eastern Ukraine, around which Russian forces are advancing, the Ukrainian General Staff said in its daily bulletin.
Modi calls for peace between kyiv and Moscow
Sitting alongside Volodymyr Zelensky, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi explained that he was “resolutely in favour of peace” between the two belligerents. Narendra Modi reiterated his call for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine on Friday during a visit to kyiv, while India traditionally maintains excellent relations with Moscow.
The White House said that if the visit could help “end the conflict in line with Zelensky’s vision for a just peace, then we think it could be helpful.” The Indian foreign minister justified Russia’s energy ties with India, which continues to import Russian oil, recalling that New Delhi “generally does not impose sanctions on any country.”
Russian journalist denied Paralympic accreditation
A journalist from the Russian news agency RIA Novosti has been denied accreditation for the Paris Paralympic Games for security reasons, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday. “Anyone applying for accreditation for the Paris 2024 Games is subject to an administrative security investigation. At the end of this procedure, it was decided not to grant accreditation to this journalist.” During the Olympics, four journalists from the Russian news agency TASS had their accreditation revoked.
“Respect for the rights of journalists and freedom of expression are empty words for Macron,” the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had reacted at the time. Russia was banned from the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games because of the war in Ukraine. Only 15 Russian athletes had been accredited to the Olympics with a neutral status.