War in Ukraine: head of the Russian navy, Ukrainian munitions, frozen assets, asks the FSB… an update on the situation

Le point sur la situation ce 19 mars 2024. (illustration) MAXPPP – RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE/HANDOUT

Tous les jours, Midi Libre fait le point sur la situation en Ukraine. Ce mardi 19 mars 2024, découvrez les dernières actualités autour de ce conflit.

Le nouveau chef de la marine russe officiellement intronisé

The new head of the Russian Navy, Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, was officially presented in his new role for the first time on Tuesday, during a ceremony, reported the Russian Navy. #39;state news agency RIA.

Alexandre Moïsseïev fills the role on an interim basis, replacing Nokolaï Yevmenov. His appointment comes after a succession of Ukrainian attacks on Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which is historically based in Crimea, a region annexed by Moscow in 2014.

Alexander Moiseyev, who is decorated with the title of Hero of Russia, the highest Russian military honor, was appointed acting commander, then commander of the Black Sea Fleet in 2018. He then was appointed Commander of the Northern Fleet in 2019 before taking up his current role.

Putin asks FSB to help Russia circumvent Western sanctions

Vladimir Putin on Tuesday asked the Federal Security Service (FSB), responsible for ensuring internal security in Russia, to help Russian companies circumvent sanctions imposed by Western countries due to the war in Ukraine and to find new markets around the world.

In a speech at the annual meeting of FSB officials in Moscow two days after his re-election, Vladimir Putin called on counterintelligence officers to strengthen the security of Russia's banking and financial systems .

He also called the FSB, heir to the KGB of which the Russian president himself was an agent, to "provide support to our companies which are actively developing despite the obstacles that stand before them and which are exploring new markets but are facing openly hostile actions" from the& #39;West.

"Yes, they are creating temporary problems for us", declared Vladimir Putin, referring to the difficulties encountered by some major projects, such as the Arctic LNG 2 gas project. "But of course, everything will be done anyway", he assured .

Ukraine hopes to have enough ammunition from next month

Ukraine hopes to have enough ammunition from next month to allow its troops, who are sorely lacking, to repel Russian offensives in the east of the country, declared his Prime Minister, Denis Chmihal, on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian army, deprived for months of support from the United States due to obstruction by Republican elected officials close to Donald Trump in Congress, is counting on the arrival of the first shells purchased by European countries at the initiative of the Czech Republic.

Prague says it has identified at least 800,000 shells in third countries which could fuel the Ukrainian war effort while waiting for production to ramp up in the countries of the Soviet Union. European Union, and having secured financing for a first batch of 300,000 shells which should be delivered no later than June.

Traveling to Luxembourg, who joined "the'Czech initiative"by financing the purchase of shells, Denis Chmihal said he hoped that the first effects of this supply would be felt from the month of April on the front, where the army Ukrainian army was forced to give up some ground after abandoning the town of Avdiivka last month.

"We are also counting on the supply of long and medium range missiles to cut Russian logistical links in the occupied territories. It's also of crucial importance, like artillery shells", the Ukrainian Prime Minister said.

Borrell wants to devote 90% of revenue from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, announced on Tuesday that he will propose to allocate 90% of the income from frozen Russian assets to the purchase of ;#39;arms for Ukraine, via the fund "European Peace Facility".

The remaining 10% would be transferred to the European budget and used to develop the Ukrainian defense sector, the official told journalists in Brussels. Josep Borrell specified that profits from Russian assets held in Europe could total three billion euros per year.

The proposal will be submitted to Member States on Wednesday, ahead of the European Council summit scheduled for Thursday and Friday, and which will focus in particular on aid granted to Ukraine.