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Strategically important outpost: satellite image of Snake Island in the Black Sea
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Farmer President Rukwied warns of dramatic food shortages in the event of a gas shortage
6.44 a.m .:
The President of the German Farmers’ Association, Joachim Rukwied, has warned of a dramatic food shortage in Germany if agriculture is not given priority in gas distribution.
"Without gas, no milk, no butter, no yoghurt," said Rukwied of the Düsseldorfer, "Rheinische Post" on Friday. "We need to prioritize gas for the entire agricultural and food sector."
The development and the declaration of the alert level of the gas emergency plan made him very concerned, said Ruckwied.
»To ensure stable harvests, the availability of fertilizers is essential.
We need gas to produce nitrogen fertilizer.« If this were to become scarce or disappear, »yields would immediately drop by 30 to 40 percent«.
Ukrainian rescue workers: 14 dead in rocket attack in Odessa region
6.15 a.m .:
At least 14 people were killed in a Russian rocket attack on a residential building in the southern Ukrainian region of Odessa, according to Ukrainian sources.
The Ukrainian rescue services spoke of 14 dead and 30 injured on Friday.
Three children were among the injured.
The rescue work would continue, but they would be complicated by a fire.
The spokesman for the Odessa regional administration, Serhiy Brachuk, had previously said that the rocket hit a nine-story apartment building in the Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky area, about 80 kilometers south of the port city of Odessa.
The rocket was fired from a plane flying over the Black Sea.
At least 18 people were killed in a rocket attack on a shopping center in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk on Monday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied any responsibility of his country's armed forces.
Ukraine starts exporting electricity to the EU
5.21 a.m .:
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, Ukraine has started to export electricity to the EU.
"An important stage in our rapprochement with the European Union has been reached," said Zelenskyy in a video message on Thursday evening.
Ukraine "has started to export electricity to the territory of the EU via Romania in significant quantities." This is "only the first stage.
We are preparing an increase in deliveries.”
"Ukrainian electricity can replace a significant part of the Russian gas consumed by Europeans," the president said.
"It's not just about export earnings for us, it's a question of security for all of Europe."
Ukraine was connected to the European power grid in mid-March.
Before the Russian war of aggression against the country began on February 24, the Ukrainian network was synchronized with the Russian network.
Zelenskyy: Russian withdrawal from Snake Island improves situation
1.34 a.m .:
The Russian withdrawal from Snake Island gives Ukraine a better position, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"The Snake Island is a strategic point and that changes the situation in the Black Sea considerably," said Zelenskyj in his daily video speech on Friday night.
This significantly restricts the freedom of action of the Russian military, even if this does not guarantee security.
Russia occupied Snake Island shortly after attacking Ukraine on February 24.
The fact that the few Ukrainian soldiers in front of it obscenely recommended the later sunk Russian cruiser »Moskva« to go to hell made the small island famous and boosted the morale of the Ukrainians.
The reconquest of the island is also a symbolic success for them.
Zelenskyy said that in this way the Russian troops would be pushed out of the entire Ukrainian territory.
According to the Ukrainian military, Snake Island allows control over parts of Ukraine's coast and shipping lanes.
With the withdrawal of the Russians from the island, the area around the port city of Odessa need not fear a landing of Russian units.
You can read an analysis of the Russian retreat here: Why the Russians gave up Snake Island
oka/AFP/dpa/Reuters
