Ukraine conflict: Russia about to invade - new details on submarine incident

Created: 02/13/2022, 06:39

By: Tobias Utz, Nadja Austel, Nail Akkoyun, Marvin Ziegele, Lucas Maier, Delia Friess

The Ukraine conflict continues to escalate: the situation in the news ticker.

• Ukraine crisis: Russia* is holding several military exercises in Ukraine's neighborhood - states are calling on employees to leave Ukraine.

• USA*: US President Joe Biden* warns US nationals and directs clear words towards Vladimir Putin*.

• Germany and Chancellor Olaf Scholz* (SPD*) are still looking for a diplomatic solution.

  All information in our news ticker.

>>> Update news ticker <<<

+++ 6.30 a.m .:

The United States has contradicted Russia in the case of the alleged submarine incident.

A US Navy spokesman for the Indo-Pacific said: "Russian claims that we are operating in their territorial waters are not true." He would not comment on the exact location of US boats, "but we fly, sail and... operate safely in international waters,” the spokesman said.

A US Navy submarine.

An incident is said to have occurred in the Pacific in the middle of the Ukraine conflict.

(File photo) © US Marines/Imago Images

The Russian defense minister had previously reported a clash between a Russian “destroyer” and a US submarine.

The submarine entered Russian waters during a Russian naval exercise off the Kuril Islands.

This was reported by the Interfax news agency.

Russia then summoned the US military attaché (see update from February 12, 2022, 5:00 p.m.).

Ukraine conflict: Biden warns of "great suffering"

Update from Sunday, February 13th, 2022, 5:30 a.m.:

The situation in the Ukraine conflict remains tense.

After the USA warned of an immediate Russian invasion on Saturday, numerous statements followed.

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied reports of a possible invasion, Ukraine itself was not aware of any Russian plans and Germany, for example, issued a travel warning.

US President Joe Biden warned of an invasion of Russia in a phone call with Vladimir Putin.

This would "cause great human suffering and diminish Russia's standing," Biden said.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has repeatedly stated that one must be prepared for all scenarios.

“Our message is the same everywhere: we are ready for dialogue, but renewed aggression against Ukraine would have a drastic price.

Because we don't see any signs of de-escalation at the military level, on the contrary.” The signs in the Ukraine conflict do not actually point to de-escalation: the Russian troop build-up in Belarus has been accelerated since Friday.

Around 30,000 military personnel conducted exercises there.

Footage from the Russian Ministry of Defense of the military exercise.

© Russian Defense Ministry/AFP

+++ 10:10 p.m .:

The Dutch airline KLM announced on Saturday (February 12, 2022) that it would no longer fly to destinations in Ukraine until further notice.

When asked, Lufthansa also told the AFP news agency that it was monitoring the situation in Ukraine “very closely”.

"A cessation of air traffic is being examined, but there is no decision on this at the moment," the German airline told the agency.

The French airline Air France made a similar statement.

A flight to Kiev planned for Saturday evening had already been canceled by the Dutch airline KLM after the government in The Hague had published a travel warning.

In July 2014, a Malaysia Airlines plane that had taken off from Amsterdam was shot down over eastern Ukraine.

All 283 passengers, including 196 Dutch, and 15 crew members were killed.

In addition to the Netherlands, several other European countries, including Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands, called on their citizens to leave Ukraine on Saturday and issued travel warnings.

Great Britain, Australia and the USA, among others, had previously done so.

The US State Department announced on Saturday that it would also reduce staff at its embassy in Kiev “to an absolute minimum”.

The US military is also withdrawing forces from Ukraine who were there for training purposes.

Ukraine conflict: Biden and Macron on the phone with Putin, Scholz travels to Kiev and Moscow

+++ 19:23:

According to the White House, US President Joe Biden continues to promote diplomacy in a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Biden has also reiterated that Russia must expect a "quick and decisive response" if it invades Ukraine.

According to information from those close to Biden, the phone call did not lead to a significant change in the previous positions.

It is also unclear whether Russia is willing to rely on diplomacy.

It could also be that Putin continues to rely on military action.

+++ 5:55 p.m

.: President Vladimir Putin has rejected reports of an imminent Russian attack on Ukraine as “provocative speculation”.

In a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, the Russian head of state also accused Kiev's western allies of supplying Ukraine with "modern weapons", as the Kremlin announced on Saturday (February 12, 2022).

"Conditions are being created for possible aggressive actions by Ukrainian security forces in Donbass."

Late on Saturday afternoon (February 12, 2022), US President Joe Biden also called Putin, as the White House announced.

According to the Elysée Palace, a talk between Biden, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj was also scheduled for the same day.

Ukraine conflict: U.S. submarine incident in Pacific

+++ 5 p.m .:

According to information from Moscow, a Russian warship drove out a US submarine near the Kuril Islands in the Pacific.

The destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov has tracked down a US submarine in Russian waters near the Kuril Islands, the Defense Ministry said in Moscow on Saturday (February 12, 2022).

After the submarine ignored requests to heave to, the Russian destroyer "took appropriate action," it said without further explanation.

The US submarine then left Russian waters “at top speed”.

The incident happened against the background of high tensions between the US and Russia over the Ukraine crisis.

According to Western sources, Russia has massed more than 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border in recent weeks.

The troop build-up and Russian military exercises in neighboring Belarus and in the Black Sea are fueling fears in the West of an invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow rejects any attack plans and at the same time accuses Kiev and NATO of "provocations".

+++ 15:42:

According to US officials, the United States is withdrawing around 150 soldiers responsible for military training from Ukraine.

The background is the concern of an invasion of Russia, explain two officials familiar with the matter.

At the same time, the West's diplomatic efforts are ongoing in the face of growing concerns about an invasion by Russian troops.

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to call each other on Saturday.

According to the Russian news agency Tass, Putin is also expecting talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday.

The announced talks have already taken place between the defense ministers of the USA and Russia, Lloyd Austin and Sergei Shoigu;

this was confirmed by both sides.

The US Department of Defense also said it was about the deployment of Russian forces near Ukraine and in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia.

The Russian news agency Interfax also reports on the phone call and cites information from the Russian armed forces.

Ukraine conflict: Russia on the verge of invasion – German government issues urgent warning

+++ 2:00 p.m .:

After renewed US warnings of a Russian invasion of Ukraine in the coming week, the government in Kiev was surprised.

“If you or anyone else has additional information about a 100 percent invasion on February 16 [Feb.

Red.], then please give us this information,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyj said on Saturday.

The government is well aware that there are risks.

Heavily armed Russian soldiers.

(Archive photo) © Marco Longari/AFP

Still, there would be too many reports in the public space of a major war by Russia against Ukraine.

Kiev is prepared for everything.

But: "The best friend for the enemy is panic in our country," says Zelenskyj.

All this information would only create panic and would not help Ukraine.

Ukraine conflict: Federal government with urgent warning

+++ 1:20 p.m .:

After the Federal Foreign Office issued a travel warning for Ukraine, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock spoke in detail about Germany’s further action in the Ukraine conflict.

"We will keep our embassy in Kiev open," she said in Cairo, Egypt, on Saturday afternoon.

However, the embassy staff will be massively reduced, according to Baerbock (see update from 12 p.m.).

This applies, for example, to the Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Baerbock explained that the meeting between Olaf Scholz and Vladimir Putin on Tuesday was of central importance: "We are ready for dialogue," stressed the Foreign Minister.

However, one must be prepared for all possible scenarios.

Ukraine conflict: Russia starts naval maneuvers

+++ 12.45 p.m .:

Russia started a naval maneuver in the Black Sea, near the Crimean peninsula, in the middle of the Ukraine conflict.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday morning that "more than 30 ships of the Black Sea Fleet" had set sail from Sevastopol and Novorossiysk.

The background to Russia's military exercise is to protect "the seacoast of the Crimean peninsula, the bases of the Black Sea Fleet forces" and the facilities of the "economic sector" from possible "military threats", it said.

The latest naval maneuvers are fueling fears in the West of an invasion of Ukraine.

The US government has warned of this several times.

According to an assessment by the CIA, an invasion is expected in the coming weeks (see updates from 6:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.).

Ukraine conflict: Federal government with urgent warning

+++ 12.00 p.m .:

The German federal government has called for Ukraine to leave immediately.

“If you are currently in Ukraine, check whether your presence is mandatory.

If not, leave at short notice, ”said the Federal Foreign Office.

The US had previously warned of a Russian invasion on Wednesday (see updates from 6 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.).

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also announced that Germany will withdraw embassy staff that are not absolutely necessary from Ukraine.

Family members of embassy employees should also leave immediately.

+++ 11.30 a.m .:

The Russian embassy in the USA has rejected the CIA’s warnings of an invasion of Ukraine as “unfounded”.

“Alarmism” is currently being spread without having any evidence.

This was announced by Ambassador Anatoly Antonov.

The US is engaged in a "propaganda campaign" against Russia.

A fighter jet of the Russian Air Force.

(Archive photo) © Lev Fedoseyev/Imago Images

Ukraine conflict: US plans to evacuate embassy

+++ 8.30 a.m .:

The USA is apparently planning to evacuate its embassy in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev.

This was reported by the AP news agency on Saturday morning.

Accordingly, the US State Department published plans during the night for 200 embassy employees to leave the city.

For the time being, a transfer within Ukraine is planned: in the extreme west of the country, near the border with Poland.

They should not be taken out of the country to maintain the diplomatic presence.

Already on Friday (02/11/2022) all US citizens were asked to leave Ukraine.

"The danger is great," said national security adviser Jack Sullivan.

The CIA expects an invasion of Russia on Wednesday (see update from 6 a.m.).

Ukraine conflict: Biden on the phone with Putin

+++ 6.45 a.m .:

The situation in the Ukraine conflict continues to deteriorate.

According to media reports, Russia is on the verge of an invasion (see update from 6 a.m.).

This is one of the reasons why a phone call between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden was scheduled for Saturday.

"They will speak on Saturday morning," a US government official said on Friday.

Russia initially suggested a phone call for Monday, the spokesman said.

"We then suggested Saturday, and they accepted it." Saturday morning in Washington DC corresponds to noon or early afternoon in Germany.

Ukraine conflict: Russia is about to invade

Update from Saturday, February 12th, 2022, 6 a.m.:

Russia will apparently invade Ukraine.

Media reports suggest so.

Accordingly, the US government expects an invasion in the coming week.

This is reported by the news magazine Spiegel.

The US medium PBS News Hour had previously reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin had informed the military of his decision.

Part of it were therefore concrete routes.

According to the reports, next Wednesday (02/16/2022) is set as the time of the invasion.

Ukraine conflict: US sends thousands more soldiers to Poland

+++ 10.30 p.m .:

In view of the Ukraine crisis, the USA is relocating around 3000 more soldiers to the NATO partner country Poland.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered this at the behest of President Joe Biden, the Department of Defense said in Washington on Friday.

The soldiers of an airborne division from the state of North Carolina would leave in "the next few days" and should be on site early next week, it said.

The US government had only announced the transfer of around 2,000 soldiers to Europe at the beginning of February.

Around 1,700 of these were also to be relocated to Poland, a neighboring country to Ukraine.

Two-thirds of them have already arrived, the Pentagon said on Friday.

The 300 additional soldiers who were transferred to Germany are already on site.

"All in all, these 5,000 additional soldiers comprise a highly mobile and flexible force capable of multiple deployments," the ministry said.

It is about reassuring the eastern NATO partners and averting possible aggression, it said.

Ukraine conflict: EU and other countries are asking employees to leave the country

+++ 8.45 p.m .:

Other countries have asked their nationals to leave the country immediately.

"British nationals who are in Ukraine should leave now while commercial means are still available," the UK Foreign Office said on Friday (02/11/2022), according to AFP.

Norway clarified the "serious and unpredictable situation" in Ukraine.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Friday US citizens should leave Ukraine within "the next 24 to 48 hours."

+++ 8.10 p.m .:

Employees of the European Union (EU) are currently being asked to leave Ukraine.

On Friday (02/11/2022) a spokesman for the European External Action Service (EEAS) said: “Until further notice, non-essential staff have been given the opportunity to leave the country.

We will continue to assess the situation in line with our duty of care towards our employees and in close consultation and coordination with EU Member States.”

Matti Maasikas, the EU ambassador to Ukraine, also called on employees to leave the country: "I call on all foreign employees, with the exception of key employees, to leave Ukraine as soon as possible."

Ukraine conflict: US moves F-16 fighter jets to the region

+++ 18.45:

The US Air Force moves F-16 fighter jets to Romania.

An unknown number of F-16 fighter jets are being transferred from the US air force base in Spangdahlem in Rhineland-Palatinate to the Romanian base in Fetesti, AFP reports, citing the US Air Force.

According to this, the jets are scheduled to land at the NATO base in Romania this Friday (02/11/2022).

Less than 100 kilometers separate the base from the Black Sea.

The reason for the transfer was the tension "caused by Russia's military deployment near Ukraine".

Together with Italian F-16 fighter jets, the jets formerly stationed in Germany will take part in NATO airspace surveillance, the US Air Force announced.

Only on Thursday (February 10, 2022) US long-range B-52 bombers landed in Great Britain.

According to the US Air Force, however, this was a "long-planned" exercise.

Ukraine conflict: Scholz, Biden and allies discuss strategy today

+++ 16:57:

US President Joe Biden wants to talk to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and other allies about the Ukraine conflict today.

At the switch at 5 p.m., EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council President Charles Michel, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Poland's President Andrzej Duda, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend, the White House said.

The talks are said to be about "common concerns about Russia's continued military build-up" on the Ukrainian border.

The aim is to continue to exchange views on the "coordination of diplomacy and deterrence".

Ukraine conflict: Spanish Air Force sends several fighter jets

+++ 3.43 p.m .:

 In view of the increasing tensions due to the Russian troop deployment on the borders with Ukraine, NATO member Spain relocated four combat aircraft to Bulgaria on Friday (February 11th, 2022).

The Spanish Air Force announced that 130 soldiers as ground personnel had already arrived at the Graf Ignatievo air force base in NATO member Bulgaria in the past few days.

The Eurofighter aircraft are to increase airspace surveillance over the Black Sea and intercept Russian aircraft by the end of March, reports the newspaper La Vanguardia.

The four fighter jets would then be relocated to the Baltic States.

US on Ukraine conflict: "Invasion could start at any time"

+++ 11.31 a.m .:

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns of an escalation of the Ukraine conflict.

According to him, a Russian invasion of Ukraine could begin at any time.

He continues to see very worrying signs of escalation from Russia, Blinken said at a press conference in Melbourne, Australia.

This also includes the arrival of new armed forces at the Ukrainian border.

 "As previously stated, we are in a window where an invasion could begin at any time." This could also be during the 2022 Winter Olympics*, which are currently taking place in China*.

The US State Department has already urged US citizens to leave Ukraine immediately.

Soldiers of the 92nd Ivan Sirko Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ride on a tank during a military exercise.

© dpa

(df/nak/lm/tu/marv/na with dpa/AFP)

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