Latest news about the war in Russia and Ukraine

A top Russian official and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the West wants to dismember Russia, Russian news agencies reported.

Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev told Russian media on Thursday that “the desire of the West is very simple, to destabilize the political situation, divide the country into several regions, make agreements with each of these regions, and do everything denuclearized and demilitarized. They will then deliver it.” [security] Services,” State news agency Tass reported.

Associated with Russian nationalist rhetoric and saber-rattling during the war in Ukraine, Medvedev — like other Russian officials, including President Putin — said the West’s real motive in helping Ukraine was to see Russia destroyed. This is. Ukraine’s Western allies say it is helping Kyiv defend itself from Russia’s unprovoked aggression and restore its territorial sovereignty.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Medvedev said that if the West dismembers Russia, the separate regions “will have a chance to join NATO, especially if they give us our national resources.”

“They are [Western countries] They don’t want to have an equal partnership with us because they don’t need it,” Medvedev said, adding that the same goes for the West’s attitude toward China.

Medvedev, widely seen as a stooge of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has served as both president and prime minister in Russia over the past 20 years, switching roles with Putin to avoid constitutional rules barring leaders from serving two terms.

When this is called “Integrated Democracy” Medvedev, in whatever capacity, was seen as subservient to Putin.

– Holly Elliott

The White House downplayed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s award to one of the pilots involved in downing a US drone over the Black Sea.

“I don’t know of another military in the world that awards a pilot who crashes a drone,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

“I’ve got to throw this flag away, I don’t know why they would throw a bravery award on a great pilot, an idiot,” Kirby added.

Last week, Russia’s Defense Ministry said two of its fighter jets did not make contact with a US drone.

– Amanda Macias

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the federal department she oversees has imposed more than 2,500 Russia-related sanctions following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.

“We have crippled the Kremlin’s ability to replace more than 9,000 pieces of heavy military equipment lost on the battlefield. We have stabilized global energy markets and reduced the Kremlin’s revenue by implementing innovative caps on Russian oil prices.” Yellen said in opening remarks before the Senate Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Yellen also noted a visit to Kyiv in February, where she met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials.

“As part of a broader coalition, we are responsibly providing vital economic assistance to Ukraine,” Yellen said. “During my visit to Kyiv a month ago, Ukrainian officials told me directly about the critical impact of our work,” he added.

– Amanda Macias

The Utah-based drone system, developed and manufactured by Fordem Technologies, is helping Ukrainian forces intercept drones used by Russia on the battlefield.

Counter-Unmanned Aerial System, Dubbing Drone Hunter F700Initially donated to Ukrainian forces at the start of the war, it made its combat debut on the battlefield in May.

In Ukraine, Drone Hunter, as its name suggests, shoots a net around Russian surveillance and spy drones and captures them to either land them from the battlefield or tow the system.

“The Ukrainians like this system because they’re able to reuse some of the drones they capture. They’re actually getting additional assets out of it,” John Grune, president and CEO of Fortem Technologies, told CNBC.

Warren Brown, vice president of marketing at Fortem Technologies, echoed Gruen and said that in some cases, Ukrainian forces have been able to fingerprint captured drones.

“If you blow up a drone, you don’t have intelligence on where it came from and what its purpose was,” Brown added.

Gruen explained that Fortem Technologies developed the Drone Hunter system after receiving specific feedback from the Ukrainian forces.

The fully autonomous anti-unmanned aerial system has recently been adapted to help counter Iranian-made drones used by Russian forces in Ukraine.

Grune said Fortem currently has 10 drones in operation in Ukraine, but more are on the way.

“From start to finish, it took three days to learn how to operate the system,” Grune added.

– Amanda Macias

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said the last remaining backup line at the Saborgia nuclear power plant still needs to be repaired.

“Without backup line, 750 KV [main external power line] “There will be a total loss of all off-site power at the plant,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Croci said in a statement.

Croci said the backup power line has been cut and damaged since early March, and the overall situation at the plant “remains dangerous.”

“I call once again for commitment from all parties to safeguard nuclear safety and security at the plant,” he said.

– Amanda Macias

At least seven people were killed in a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian capital Kiev early Wednesday.

Andriy Nebytov, head of Kyiv regional police said in Telegram “A total of 12 drones were shot down by defense and security forces during an attack by invaders in the Kyiv area.”

Nebitov said nine people have been injured so far in strikes carried out by Iranian-made drones.

– Amanda Macias

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Ukrainian soldiers on the Pakmut front in eastern Ukraine.

-Presidency of Ukraine | Anadolu Agency | Good pictures