Russian invasion: Putin meets Chinese commander in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin met China’s senior commander Zhang Youxia in Moscow for talks about expanding their military cooperation. Cooperation with China in the military high-tech sector is the top priority, Putin said in the Kremlin.

Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission and second-highest commander of the armed forces after state and party leader Xi Jinping, praised Moscow’s ability to withstand Western sanctions, according to a Russian translation.

Putin: Cooperation plays an important role

The West accuses China of supporting Russia with weapons in its war against Ukraine. Putin said at the meeting that cooperation between Moscow and Beijing plays an important role in stabilizing the international situation.

After the meeting, Xi is expected to be in Beijing to find out about the current situation in Russia’s war. He also wants to meet US President Joe Biden in San Francisco next week. China, which describes itself as neutral in the conflict, had called for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

China and Russia want to expand their military relations and cooperation between their armies, Zhang Youxia told the Interfax agency. He therefore spoke of an “all-encompassing partnership and strategic cooperation at the highest level”.

China currently has no defense minister

China currently has no defense minister after Beijing officially removed Li Shangfu a few weeks ago. A reason for this has not yet been officially given. Observers speculate that Li was being investigated for corruption. Normally, the defense minister represents China’s military interests abroad.

The US Treasury Department recently placed several Chinese companies on a sanctions list because of their ties to Russia. They were accused of helping Russia in its war against Ukraine. China criticized the decision and demanded that the US stop unduly repressing China’s companies.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing was not directed against third countries. “Unlike some aggressive Western states, we are not forging a military bloc,” said Shoigu, referring to NATO.

Ukraine extends martial law and mobilization

In view of the ongoing fighting against Russian troops, Ukraine has extended the current martial law and general mobilization for a further 90 days until February 14th. A clear two-thirds majority in parliament voted for both laws, as Ukrainian media reported. Martial law and mobilization were introduced immediately after the start of the Russian invasion more than 20 months ago.

Since there is no end to the war in sight, the period of validity has been extended several times since then. Men of military age between 18 and 60 are therefore only allowed to leave the Eastern European country in exceptional cases.

Germany ends the use of anti-aircraft systems in Poland

The Bundeswehr will end the deployment of soldiers with the Patriot air defense system in Poland on Friday. The defense ministry in Berlin announced that the air defense contract would again be taken over by Poland.

The German Patriot squadrons were deployed near Zamosc in southeastern Poland in January to protect the country’s airspace after a deadly missile strike. The city is located not far from the border with Ukraine. The Patriot systems were originally supposed to be stationed there for six months. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) thanked the soldiers on Wednesday and explained: “Poland and Germany, shoulder to shoulder in protecting NATO’s eastern flank – for me that is a very important sign of solidarity in the alliance as well as the friendship and solidarity between our nations. “

Reports: Kiev’s troops bring armored technology across the Dnipro

Ukrainian troops have expanded their presence on the southern bank of the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine’s Kherson region, according to Russian reports. There are signs of armored technology being relocated across the river, said the US Institute for War Studies ISW (local time), citing Russian military bloggers. In addition, more than 300 Ukrainian soldiers are said to have crossed over to the previously Russian-controlled bank near the village of Krynky. There was no confirmation of this from the Ukrainian side.

The Ukrainian-controlled bank on the lower reaches of the Dnipro has been heavily bombarded by Russian artillery and bombed by the Russian Air Force for weeks. Most of the Kherson region remains occupied by Russian troops.

Luhansk: Prominent crew representative killed in car explosion

According to consistent reports, a prominent representative of the Russian occupation administration in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk was killed in an attack. An explosive device was detonated in 48-year-old Mikhail Filiponenko’s car, several Russian state news agencies reported. In a statement, Ukrainian military intelligence claimed responsibility for the attack. “All war criminals and collaborators will receive their just punishment!” declared the authority.

According to the Ukrainian authorities, Filiponenko is said to have been responsible for torture in the territory annexed by Russia in violation of international law and to have also brutally tortured himself.

Born in 1975 in Ukraine, which was then still part of the Soviet Union, Filiponenko worked for Moscow’s interests long before Russia’s official invasion of Ukraine. After Moscow-controlled forces began to secede from Luhansk in 2014, Filiponenko temporarily led the breakaway region’s militia. Most recently he was a member of the parliament of the territory that has now been annexed by Russia. According to media reports, there had been attempts to attack him in the past.