Ukraine War, Day 841

Explanation: Russia used starvation as a tactic during the siege of Mariupol

According to a report submitted to the International Criminal Court, Russia systematically used starvation as a tactic during its 85-day siege of Mariupol early in the war. A study conducted by the Global Human Rights Compliance Organization in cooperation with the Ukrainian government concluded that Russia’s actions met the characteristics of war crimes. News on the subject guardian.

Russia laid siege to Mariupol at the start of the war. The heavily bombarded city ran out of water, gas and electricity. Ukrainian estimates put the death toll at more than 20,000 during the siege and capture of the city.

A Russian soldier walks in Mariupol in April 2022. Licensed by Story Picture Agency/Shutterstock

– We see four phases of the Russian attack, first the attack on civilian infrastructure, then the cutting of electricity, heat and water supplies. It is estimated that after that humanitarian evacuations were prohibited and even attacked, and the delivery of aid was blocked. Catriona Murdoch From the Global Rights Compliance Organization.

According to Murdoch, attacks then followed targeting critical infrastructure and bombing of aid and water points to terrorize civilians. In the final stage, Russia destroyed or took over the remaining infrastructure.

The report said Russian troops and their leadership deliberately denied food and other necessities of life, a war crime.

The ICC accepts reports from third parties but is not obliged to act on them. According to The Guardian, causing famine is a relatively new area of ​​international law and no one has been convicted before.

Last month, the International Criminal Court Seeking a warrant Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and the Secretary of Defense Yoav Galantista Causing famine among Palestinians in Gaza.

Click here for more information on the Siege of Mariupol.

G7 countries agree to use billions of dollars frozen by Russia to benefit Ukraine

Leaders of the Group of Seven major economies agreed on Thursday to provide Ukraine with a $50 billion loan, financed by interest on funds frozen as a result of Russia’s war of aggression.

A diplomatic source told Reuters that technical details of the deal would be finalized in the coming weeks. Ukraine would receive the money by the end of the year, the source said.

About $300 billion in Russian funds have been seized in the West.

G7 meeting to be held in Italy, Ukraine’s president to attend Vladimir Zelensky.

Zelensky said he signed a 10-year security agreement with Japan during the summit. Japan will provide $4.5 billion in aid to Ukraine this year.

Source: Germany becomes the “new Hungary”

The EU was supposed to announce new sanctions against Russia at the G7 meeting in Italy on Thursday, but according to a source at the German news agency DPA, the EU prime minister Olaf Schoelzin The government did not accept the proposed sanctions.

EU sources told dpa that Germany wants to change the sanctions.

One EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Germany appeared to be the new Hungary when it came to sanctions. Hungary repeatedly blocked decisions to impose new sanctions on Russia during the war in Ukraine.

Russia practices missile launches in nuclear weapons drill near Finland

Russia has conducted an Electron missile launch as part of a military exercise to test the use of tactical nuclear weapons. Reuters reported on the topic.

– In the second part of the exercises of non-strategic nuclear forces, the missile forces of the Leningrad Military District conducted combat training missions, secretly advancing to predetermined positions and conducting electronic missile launches at conditional enemy targets, the Ministry of Defense said, according to Reuters.

Iltalehti reported yesterday that the exercises, previously conducted in Belarus, will be expanded to the Leningrad Military District, which borders not only Finland but also NATO countries Norway, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The first phase of the exercises took place in May in the Southern Military District near Ukraine.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Defense, troops are conducting training using the Iskander-M missile system. In April, it was reported that Russia has placed the system within the territory of the Leningrad Military District.

Missiles launched with this system can be equipped with nuclear warheads. They have an operating range of up to 400-500 km.

According to the country’s Ministry of Defense, the purpose of the exercise is to “maintain the readiness of troop personnel and equipment for the combat use of Russian and Belarusian non-strategic nuclear weapons.”

Russia strengthens air defenses in Crimea

Ukraine’s military BroadCast Unitedligence chief says Russian troops have deployed the latest S-500 air defense system in Crimea Kerilo Budanov explain kyiv independent go through.

– Russia’s air defense system is being strengthened. This is quite obvious and understandable. The latest components of the S-500 have appeared. In principle, this is an experimental use of them, but they have already appeared there (in Crimea).

Earlier this week, reports emerged that Ukraine had successfully destroyed two S-300 and S-400 air defense system radars in multiple regions of Crimea.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the S-500 is designed to counter short- and medium-range threats. The system is said to be able to defend against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hypersonic missiles.