“According to the first indications, our men at the front will see an increase in ammunition supplies in the near future,” said the head of Ukrainian diplomacy. “The Czech initiative is designed to be implemented throughout the year. The first ammunition will be delivered in the near future, after which new deliveries will arrive throughout the year.” he added.
Czech President Petr Pavel informed the Munich security conference in mid-February about the possibility of purchasing artillery shells in third countries for the Ukrainians, who have been resisting Russian armed aggression for over two years. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala then announced on Tuesday that that 18 countries have joined the purchase so far, from Canada to Germany and the Netherlands to Poland. He also announced that in addition to the binding confirmed purchase of 300,000 pieces of ammunition for Ukraine, the Czech initiative has a non-binding promise of another 200,000 pieces.
Russia bans entry of more than 200 American politicians, businessmen and journalists. The Russian Foreign Ministry has added 227 more US citizens to the list of persons banned from entering Russia, the state news agency TASS reported today.
Residents of the occupied areas are being bypassed by officials with ballot boxes, even though polling stations have been set up, according to the AP. There are even reports of some people being forced to vote at gunpoint. The Ukrainian mayor of occupied Mariupol, Vady Boychenko, told the agency that a woman with an urn arrived at his neighbor’s apartment accompanied by two Chechen soldiers with automatic rifles and made it clear that there was no other option but to vote.
According to AP, other people were threatened by the occupation authorities if they do not vote, they will lose social benefits or the possibility of health care. At least 24 Ukrainians who refused to vote were arrested, according to human rights activists.
View full online
“The Czech initiative is excellent, but not nearly enough,” said Kuleba today, according to whom Kyiv will seek other similar deliveries.
Ukraine has relied heavily on Western military aid since the start of the February 2022 Russian invasion. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said earlier this year that the lack of ammunition was a major problem for his country’s soldiers.