Ukraine: realities | «The Weekly Five»

The Hague Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin

The Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of involvement in the illegal deportation and transfer of children from the occupied regions of Ukraine to Russia since February 2022. 

The arrest warrants were issued based on petitions filed by the prosecutor's office on February 22, 2023. The Chamber notes that the warrants are secret in order to protect the victims and witnesses and to ensure investigation, but it decided to disclose information about the existence of the warrants to prevent further crimes. 

The International Criminal Court is preparing to open two cases regarding Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
 

Slovakia will transfer 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine

The government of Slovakia, during an extraordinary online meeting, has decided to transfer 13 MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine. 

Prime Minister Eduard Heger announced this at a press conference on Friday. Heger stated that the government unanimously approved the agreement to gift the MiG-29 jets to Ukraine and will provide the aircraft jointly with Poland. 

«Today the government unanimously approved an international agreement, based on which the decision was made to provide Ukraine with MiGs and part of the 'Kub' air defense system,» Heger was quoted as saying by the Aktuality publication.

It is worth noting that the Polish government also approved the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine the day before. We reported on this in this article.
 

Russian fighter jet shoots down American drone over the Black Sea

A Russian Su-27 fighter jet intercepted an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea, causing the drone's turboprop engine to fail, resulting in the complete loss of the aircraft. The American command stated that the MQ-9 was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and shot down by the Russian plane. As a result of the incident, the MQ-9 was submerged in international waters. 

The American command blames the Russian fighter for the dangerous and unprofessional interception that nearly caused the crash of both aircraft.
 

Media: Medvedev ordered «Wagner» mercenaries to carry out an attack on the Italian Minister of Defense for $15 million

Italian intelligence services reported a planned attack on Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, for which a reward of $15 million was offered. 

According to intelligence reports, the angry outbursts of former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev were the cause of concern for Italian intelligence services. Medvedev is the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Russia and has influence over decision-making. 

The request for an attack on the minister was intercepted, presumably from the former Russian president, and addressed to the private military company "Wagner." The attack was to be carried out by «Wagner» fighters from one of their bases in Serbia or Estonia.
 

Chinese companies sold rifles and body armor to Russia during the war in Ukraine – media

Several Chinese companies, including those affiliated with the government, supplied Russian enterprises with thousands of assault rifles and other military equipment, including drone parts and body armor. 

From June to December 2022, China North Industries Group Corporation Limited shipped CQ-A rifles to the Russian company «Techkrim», which collaborates with the Russian state and military. DJI sent drone parts in November and December 2022, and Russia also imported body armor from Chinese company Xinxing Guangzhou Import & Export Co and Turkish company Ariteks. 

This occurred against the backdrop of Russia's war against Ukraine, during which Russia relied on other countries to support its military efforts.
 

The project «Ukraine: realities» is implemented by the News agency «Konkurent» together with the Civic Movement «SVIDOMI» and the charity organization Global Empowerment Mission in English for readers from other countries to tell the stories of people who survived the horrors of the Russian occupation.

Проєкт «Ukraine: realities» реалізовується Інформаційним агентством «Конкурент» спільно з Громадянським Рухом «СВІДОМІ» та благодійною організацією Global Empowerment Mission на англійській мові для читачів з інших країн аби розповісти історії людей, які пережили жахи російської окупації.