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A woman is hugged by her neighbor in Ozera near Kyiv - her husband had been kidnapped and killed by the Russians
Photo: Emilio Morenatti / dpa
This article will be continuously updated.
Politicians from the CDU, FDP and Greens are calling for sanctions against Schröder
5.52 a.m .:
Politicians from the FDP, Greens and CDU have spoken out in favor of sanctions against former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) because of his pro-Russian attitude.
"He belongs as soon as possible on the sanctions list of Putin profiteers," said FDP presidium member Moritz Körner to the "Handelsblatt".
Schröder is now the most important man of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Germany.
»He no longer belongs to the crème de la crème of German domestic politics, but to the crème de la Kremlin.«
The CDU foreign politician Roderich Kiesewetter also called for sanctions: "The fact that Schröder still hasn't distanced himself from Putin and Russia only shows how deeply he is in their service," the member of the Bundestag told the "Handelsblatt".
"Therefore, sanctions are to be advocated, which should also hit Putin's clique.
This includes Schröder.« The Green MEP Reinhard Bütikofer also called for sanctions to be examined against Schröder and other former European politicians »who have since sold themselves to Vladimir Putin«.
Australia sends six M777 howitzers to Ukraine
5.49 a.m .:
Australia supports Ukraine in the war against Russia with six British M777 howitzers.
In addition, the country has promised Ukraine ammunition for the artillery weapons, the government in Canberra announced on Wednesday.
The US and the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia had previously asked the government for more heavy weapons for the fighters, Australian broadcaster ABC reported.
This brings the total amount of military aid from Canberra to AUD 225 million (EUR 151 million).
The Scott Morrison government has already sent large amounts of military equipment to Ukraine and imposed many sanctions.
Most recently, 20 Bushmaster armored vehicles requested by Ukraine were flown to the crisis country.
Zelenskyj: Moscow's goals go far beyond Ukraine
5.16 a.m .:
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Moscow’s goals go far beyond Ukraine.
"The ultimate goal of the Russian leadership is not only the conquest of Ukraine, but the destruction of the entire center and eastern Europe," said Zelenskyj in his nightly video message, which was published on Telegram on Wednesday night.
A "global strike against democracy" is also part of the goal.
In the "free world" there is practically no one who has not understood that Russia's war against Ukraine is only the beginning, Zelensky said.
US Secretary of Defense: Talking about nuclear war is dangerous
5:15 a.m .:
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has criticized Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s recent warnings of a Third World War and the use of nuclear weapons.
Any talk about the possible use of nuclear weapons is "very dangerous and unhelpful," Austin said after an international meeting at the US air force base in Ramstein, Rhineland-Palatinate.
“No one wants nuclear war.
Nobody can win this.«
ADAC calls for fuel savings because of the Ukraine war
5:00 a.m.:
In view of the war in Ukraine, the ADAC calls for fuel savings.
"Every liter of fuel saved can help to reduce dependency on oil imports and thus indirectly influence the further development of the war," said ADAC President Christian Reinicke to the newspapers of the Funke media group.
It is also possible "to go to the bakery by bike instead of an SUV".
»For many short journeys, driving by car makes no sense.
On other routes, you can also use public transport," Reinicke continued.
He advised ever to drive sparingly.
“I myself also try to drive about 20 percent slower.
If all 21.2 million members of the ADAC did it that way, the savings would be huge,” he said.
Steinmeier travels to Slovakia
4.26 a.m .:
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier travels to Slovakia on Wednesday for a one-day visit.
According to the Office of the Federal President, the focus is on the Ukraine war.
A meeting with Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova is planned in the eastern city of Kosice, followed by a press conference.
Chinese drone maker suspends business with Russia and Ukraine
4.21 a.m .:
The world’s largest Chinese drone manufacturer DJI Technology is temporarily ceasing its business in Russia and Ukraine.
"DJI condemns any use of our drones to cause harm, and we are temporarily suspending sales in these countries to prevent anyone using our drones in combat," a company spokesman told Reuters.
This is “not a statement about a country, but a statement about our principles”.
This makes DJI the first major Chinese company to halt sales to Russia amid the Ukraine war.
More explosions in Belgorod, Russia
3:53 a.m.:
According to Russian sources, a series of explosions can be heard in the Russian city of Belgorod near the border with Ukraine.
Attempts are being made to determine the exact location and cause of the explosions, explains Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov on social media.
The authorities in southern Russian regions have repeatedly reported incidents in recent weeks that they claim were attacks from Ukraine.
Ukraine reports deaths and injuries in hostilities
2.54 a.m .:
After new Russian attacks, Ukraine has reported further deaths and injuries in several regions of the country.
In the Donetsk region in the east, three civilians were killed in three separate incidents, the governor of the region, Pavel Kyrylenko, said on Telegram on Tuesday evening.
At least six other people were injured.
No details were given about the incidents.
In the large city of Kharkiv in the east of the country, three people were killed and another seven injured as a result of shelling, the governor of the region, Oleh Synyehubov, said on Telegram on Tuesday evening.
From the Sumy region in the north-east of the country it was said that on Tuesday a place on the border with Russia was again shelled by the Russian side.
In the past few days, heavy artillery shelling has taken place in practically the entire area on the border, the governor of the region, Dmytro Shyvytskyi, said on Telegram.
Nothing was initially known about damage or victims.
The mayor of the central Ukrainian city of Poltava announced that explosions could be heard in the city on Wednesday night.
He asked residents not to post photos.
At first there were no details.
The information could not be independently verified.
Johnson: Thanks to censorship, Putin has a lot of “political leeway” in the Ukraine war
1.42 a.m .:
According to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Russian President Vladimir Putin has the “political leeway” to end his invasion of Ukraine face-saving – also thanks to censorship in Russia.
This is due to "the massive Russian support for his actions and the apparent forgetfulness of the Russian media," Johnson told TalkTV on Tuesday.
"People say we have to make concessions, we have to worry about what Putin might do because he risks defeat," Johnson said.
However, this is not necessary, since Putin's position of power is secured because of his control over the media.
As a result, Putin could tell the Russian people that the operation launched in Ukraine was "complete" and "technically a success" - even if that might not be factual.
Lithuania's President Nauseda to Berlin: "I would deliver tanks"
1.02 a.m .:
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has asked the federal government to also equip Ukraine with tanks.
»I am not in the position of Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
I can only say what I would do in his place: I would deliver tanks," Nauseda told the newspapers of the Funke media group and the French newspaper Ouest-France.
Germany should become clear more quickly about where it stands in this conflict.
»Ukraine needs full military support – including from Germany.«
Ukraine's presidential advisor warns of war by the end of the year
0.18 a.m .:
According to the Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych, the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine can drag on for many months.
The weapons newly received by Ukraine could have "serious effects" on the fighting in late May or early June, Arestovych said in a YouTube interview published on Tuesday evening, as reported by the Ukrainian agency Unian.
The war itself could last until the end of the year.
"We have to be prepared for a long story," said Arestovych accordingly.
If, after the current offensive, active combat operations in the Donbass are stopped and positions are taken up, this will by no means mean the end of the war.
mrc/dpa/AFP/Reuters