Russia continues to arm itself: under the pretext of military exercises, warships and ICBMs are positioned.
- War is raging in Ukraine*. After the invasion of Russia*, heavy fighting breaks out.
- Vladimir Putin* can be militarily upgraded in numerous ways.
- The news situation on rearmament in the Ukraine conflict* at a glance.
+++ 16.35: near the southern Ukrainian port of Odessa, a foreign cargo ship apparently sank after being shelled. The “Helt”, which belongs to an Estonian company and sailed under the Panamanian flag, was hit below the waterline and then disappeared from the radar, the Ukrainian port administration announced on Thursday (03/03/2022).
A spokesman for the Estonian Foreign Ministry said the six crew members had been rescued and were safe. There were no Estonian citizens among them.
Ukraine War: Russian ships form up in Black Sea
+++ 2:00 p.m .: Concern about an attack by the Russian Navy from the Black Sea in the Ukraine war is growing. Warships are positioning themselves in the Black Sea, according to a Twitter video posted by Fox News journalist Lucas Tomlinson. They could possibly attack the city of Odessa on the Black Sea, reports the Tomlinson.
+++ 11.45 a.m .: While parts of the Russian fleet are taking part in so-called military maneuvers, President Vladimir Putin is positioning new weapons in the country. According to British Defense Secretary Ben Wallache, thermobaric weapon systems have been deployed. Apparently, these can cause devastation of devastating proportions.
Update from Thursday, March 3rd, 2022, 7.30 a.m .: Russia’s military naval maneuvers on Monday and Tuesday are still having an effect, especially given that Vladimir Putin had put his nuclear forces on alert at the weekend. (see first report). However, it must be borne in mind that the Russian nuclear weapons are in principle ready for use at any time. Major General Boris Solovyov told the newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda. According to the report, Solojow used to be part of the armed forces concerned. “The red button can be pressed at any moment,” he explained.
Russia positions nuclear submarines: Major General warns of “red button”
In fact, there is no “red button”, but three nuclear suitcases. In addition to President Putin, the chief of staff and the defense minister have one. “This system serves as a safeguard against any mistake in the use of nuclear weapons,” Soloyov said.
From the US perspective, however, Putin’s threat should be taken very seriously. US military historian James Acton told the news magazine Spiegel that such a situation last existed 50 years ago. “The last time that happened in a crisis between the US and Russia/the Soviet Union was during the Yom Kippur War,” in 1973, Acton said. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock* saw it similarly on Sunday. Putin had long ago warned against attacking Russia: “The aggressor should know that retaliation is inevitable. And then we go to paradise as martyrs, and they just perish before they even manage to show remorse.” For Putin, sanctions apparently represent such an aggression against Russia: he has already announced “retaliation” in the Ukraine conflict .
Ukraine War: Russia deploys ICBMs and nuclear submarines
First report from Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022, 9:00 a.m.: Moscow/Kiev – There is war in Ukraine. Since Russian forces marched in on Thursday (February 24, 2022), reports of new battles have been reported daily. There are currently two main sources of fire in the Ukraine conflict: the siege of the capital Kyiv and the bombing of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
But away from these theaters of war, the Kremlin plans to strengthen its position by sea. Russian nuclear submarines and other warships held naval maneuvers in the Barents Sea in the Arctic on Tuesday (03/01/2022). With mobile rocket launchers, Russia’s fleet practiced the emergency in Siberia. Vladimir Putin had already ordered the Russian nuclear forces to be on alert at the weekend.
Ukraine War: Russia places ICBMs in forest
The official side said that the military maneuvers only serve to test the military ships under storm conditions. Russia’s Defense Ministry also said that ICBMs had been positioned next to the naval maneuvers in the forests of eastern Siberia. This is also a routine exercise of an inconspicuous stationing. This is reported, among other things, by the AP news agency. The Kremlin left it open to what extent the military activities go beyond normal naval training. It also remained unclear whether the naval maneuvers related to Putin’s transfer to the state of alert over the weekend are still ongoing.
There was sharp criticism of the Russian President’s order, including from alleged allies: China, for example, said that “all sides should remain calm”. “Another escalation” should be avoided, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, according to a report by the Tagesspiegel.
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