German Diplomats Leave Russia A group of German diplomats has left Russia a week after they were expelled. Wagner chief Prigoschin warned Moscow of possible consequences of a Ukrainian offensive. Follow developments in the live blog.
US: Russia Has Lost 100,000 Men in Bachmut
According to the US, Russia has lost around 100,000 soldiers and mercenaries through death or injury in the battles around the city of Bachmut over the past five months. This includes about 20,000 who have fallen, half of whom were members of the Wagner group, according to White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.
The figures are based on estimates by US intelligence agencies. Kirby describes Russia’s offensive on Bachmut as failed.
Kyiv Defense Minister: Offensive Preparations in Final Phase
Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov says Ukraine’s preparations for the expected spring offensive to reclaim Russian-occupied territory are “in the final stage.” He said in state television that he believes in their success and that a lot has been done for it. “I believe that from today on, we can say we are on the home stretch and ready,” emphasized Reznikov.
“Then the General Staff, the Supreme Commander, and his team will decide how, where, and when based on the decision and understanding of the situation in the field,” the minister said. He, like Ukraine’s international partners, is convinced of the success of the offensive. After all, the partners of Kyiv understood that success “is in the security interests of their countries and peoples.”
Putin-Loyal Motorcyclists Set Out for Rally Toward Berlin
A group of Putin-loyal motorcyclists has set out from Moscow on a rally that will take them to Berlin. A journalist from the AFP news agency observed the column starting in the southeast of the Russian capital on Saturday. It consisted of hundreds of members of the Night Wolves club, which strongly supports Kremlin Chief Vladimir Putin. Several rally participants carried Russian and Soviet flags. Some had the letter Z on their motorcycles, which is the symbol of the Kremlin’s officially designated “military special operation” in Ukraine.
The rally is called “The Routes of Victory.” It is led by Alexander Saldostanov, the leader and founder of the Night Wolves, who refers to himself as a “friend” of Putin’s. Saldostanov is subject to Western sanctions because of his support for Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea peninsula in 2014.
Expelled German Diplomats Leave Russia
A group of German diplomats has left the country just over a week after they were expelled from Russia. The German Foreign Office announced this without giving a number. Last week, the Russian government announced that more than 20 Germans would have to pack their bags. This was reportedly in response to the forced departure of Russian diplomats from Berlin.
The German Foreign Office explained: “With the aim of reducing the presence of Russian intelligence services in Germany, the German government has been in contact with the Russian side in recent weeks. As a result, members of Russian representations in Germany left the country in the middle of the month.” Their activities did not match their diplomatic status, unlike the Germans, who always acted in accordance with their diplomatic status.
