Russo-Ukrainian war, day 749: EU unblocks €5 billion for Ukraine’s military aid fund after weeks of disagreement

The EU has approved a €5 billion military fund for Ukraine after weeks of internal disagreement. The decision comes as Putin's nuclear threats and warnings of military escalation along the Finnish border heighten tensions in the region.

Mar 14, 2024 - 08:16

Russo-Ukrainian war, day 749: EU unblocks €5 billion for Ukraine’s military aid fund after weeks of disagreement

Exclusives

Oscar winner “20 days in Mariupol” shows raw reality of war. From bombed hospitals to mass graves, Oscar-winning documentary “”20 Days in Mariupol”” presents an unvarnished look at the human cost of Russia’s invasion.

Masters of illusion: Ukraine’s decoy makers outwit Russia. From $30 Stugna fakes to indistinguishable HIMARS doppelgangers, Ukrainian volunteers and defense firms have become experts at fooling Russian surveillance at bargain prices.

EU unveils sweeping strategy to get “defense ready” amid Russia-Ukraine war. EU will ramp up arms production, boost cooperation, and strengthen its defense industrial might in the face of rising geopolitical threats.

Military

Frontline report: Ukrainian forces ambush Russian supply convoys, destroy vehicles and tanks near Bakhmut. Ukrainian forces ambush Russian supply lines, destroy vehicles and tanks near Bakhmut. They fortify Chasiv Yar with defensive positions and obstacles, anticipating Russian offensive.

Russian aerial bomb hits Vovchansk, leaving 1 injured and shops destroyed. Emergency services are clearing the rubble of buildings, as there may be people trapped underneath.

Kryvyi Rih mourns as Russian strike claims 5th life, 49 injured. Another victim found in rubble, Kryvyi Rih missile strike death toll rises to 5.

Russian drone strike kills 2 in Sumy apartment building, rescue ongoing. 30 apartments damaged, 15 destroyed in Russian drone strike on Sumy residential complex.

Russian night attack injures 13, kills at least 2 in Sumy, Myrhorod in Donetsk Oblast. In Sumy, there still may be three people among the missing due to an attack on the 5-story residential buildin

ISW: Russian conscripts deployed to defend border ahead of sham presidential elections. Russia uses conscripts to defend its border with Ukraine against limited incursions ahead of the Russian presidential election, the Institute for the Study of War said in its new report.

Russian units to strike at Russian army positions in Belgorod, Kursk, calls on civilians to evacuate. “”Every day, dozens of ordinary innocent people (in Ukraine) are killed by shelling from Belgorod…. We forced to strike at military positions located in the cities of Belgorod and Kursk,”” they said in the joint statement.

Russian Defense Ministry claims to shot down 65 Ukrainian drones overnight. The drones hit on an oil refinery in Ryazan, a residential building in Belgorod, according to local governors. Russian Telegram channels also reported an attack on an FSB (Federal Security Service) building in Belgorod overnight.

As of 13 Mar 2024, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

- - Personnel: 426870 (+980)
  - Tanks: 6752 (+5)
  - APV: 12921 (+20)
  - Artillery systems: 10554 (+32)
  - MLRS: 1017 (+1)
  - Anti-aircraft systems: 715 (+2)
  - Aircraft: 347
  - Helicopters: 325
  - UAV: 8205 (+22)
  - Cruise missiles : 1919 (+1)
  - Warships/boats: 26
  - Submarines: 1
  - Vehicles and fuel tanks: 13932 (+62)

Intelligence and technology

Scholz refuses Taurus delivery to Ukraine again, media speculate “”secret reasons””. Despite Ukraine’s appeals, German Chancellor Scholz is repeatedly refusing to provide Taurus long-range missiles.

International

Amid Russia threat, Denmark to draft women, extend military service. Women currently make up around a quarter of Danish conscripts.

Estonian PM refuses to rule out sending Estonian Forces to Ukraine. Just a week ago, Kaja Kallas said that Estonian troops would not be sent to Ukraine.

Macron, Scholz, and Tusk to hold Ukraine talks in Berlin. The Weimar Triangle meeting with the French President, German Chancellor, and Polish PM will take place in Berlin on 15 March.

EU approves € 5 bln military fund for Ukraine. After weeks of disagreement, the EU has agreed to a €5 billion boost to the fund for Ukraine’s military aid.

Thousands of Slovakians came out against government’s pro-Russian policies. The protest was directed at Prime Minister Robert Fico’s foreign policy, which has raised concerns among critics for its strong criticism of Europe’s military aid to Ukraine and its push to renew Russian ties both culturally and politically.

Bloomberg: EU leaders to call for new sanctions on Belarus, North Korea, Iran. EU leaders will next week call for new sanctions targeting Belarus, North Korea, and Iran over their alleged role in helping Russia conduct its war against Ukraine.

Political and legal developments

Polish authorities detain, deport Ukrainian journalists probing Russia trade to EU. Polish authorities detained, seized equipment, and deported two journalists from the Ukrainian news agency Raion.in.ua who were investigating cargo transportation from Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast.

Putin says Russia always ready to use nuclear weapons. In an interview for Kremlin-controlled media on 12 March, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia is “ready” for a nuclear war and “”a nuclear weapon in Russia is in constant combat readiness.””

Putin says military escalation possible on Finnish border. In a defiant response to Finland and Sweden joining NATO, citing it as the countries’ “meaningless” move, Putin has threatened to deploy troops and “”systems of destruction”” along the Finnish border.

Read our earlier daily review here.

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!