Because the Russia-Ukraine warfare enters its 357th day, we check out the primary developments.
Right here is the state of affairs because it stands on Wednesday, February 15, 2023:
Preventing:
- Russian forces have made incremental progress within the final day or two in attempting to seize Bahkmut, however it’s unclear if it can fall, White Home spokesperson John Kirby mentioned.
- Moscow’s troops have been concentrating on Ukrainian positions alongside the entrance line within the Donetsk area, in accordance with native officers. Solely about 5,000 civilians are left within the metropolis of a pre-war inhabitants of about 70,000, regional Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko mentioned.
- Greater than eight million Ukrainians have been compelled to flee because the warfare broke out, the UN refugee company mentioned, in what has grow to be the biggest refugee disaster in Europe since World Struggle II.
Weapons:
- Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin has mentioned that the US and its companions are “working onerous” to produce Ukraine with the tools it wants earlier than an anticipated offensive within the coming months.
- The Polish defence minister mentioned that discussions on supplying F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine would seemingly be fruitful, however stress have to be utilized on allies to obtain them.
- NATO defence ministers met in Brussels to debate new arms provisions for Kyiv and sustaining present provides.
- The Norwegian authorities will ship eight Leopard 2 battle tanks and different tools to Ukraine to assist within the warfare with Russia.
Diplomacy:
- The Kremlin mentioned NATO demonstrates its hostility in direction of Russia day by day and is changing into more and more concerned within the battle.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met the Canadian overseas minister, Melanie Joly, in regards to the assist Ukraine’s forces want.
- Moldova briefly closed its air house, the nation’s nationwide airline mentioned, after Chisinau claimed that Russia is planning to destabilise the previous Soviet republic.
- Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin mentioned that he based and financed the Web Analysis Company, an organization Washington says is a “troll farm” which meddled within the 2016 US presidential election.
- A US jury has convicted a rich Russian businessman with ties to the Kremlin of conspiracy, wire fraud and securities fraud following a trial.
- The European Union will launch an advert hoc group to analyze how frozen Russian funds, together with central financial institution reserves, can be utilized for reconstruction work in Ukraine, the Swedish authorities mentioned.