The essentials in brief:
- Ukraine wants to stop corruption in military service
- SSix dead in helicopter crashes
- Russia seeks North Korean arms assistance
- Germany is sending ten Leopard tanks to Ukraine
The Ukrainian authorities should crack down on corruption in the recruitment of men for military service. All cases of decommissioning due to alleged unfitness for service since the beginning of the war in which there is suspicion of bribe payments are being examined, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj in his evening video address. Zelensky reported that bribes of between $3,000 and $15,000 were paid for exemption from military service. A separate check is carried out if someone has left the country after a suspicious decision by the muster commission.
In view of the Russian war of aggression, all men in Ukraine are obliged to do military service. Many volunteer to join the army to fight against the invaders. But others buy their way out of military service or pay bribes to border officials in order to be able to leave the country. Zelensky has already replaced all heads of the muster authorities because of corruption.
The widespread corruption in Ukraine also stands in the way of the desired EU membership.
Six dead in helicopter crashes
Two Mi-8 helicopters crashed in eastern Ukraine. All six men on board the military helicopter were killed. The cause of the accident is still unclear, a spokesman for the Ukrainian army aviation said on television. There was no mention of a shot down. The bodies were found in the wreckage of the two completely destroyed planes near Kramatorsk.
According to information from circles close to the military, the helicopters were on an operational flight. The men on board were officers.
Russia seeks North Korean arms assistance
According to US information, Russia is holding secret talks with North Korea about possible deliveries of ammunition for the fight in Ukraine. Negotiations on arms sales between Russia and North Korea are “actively progressing,” said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. One focus of the talks is artillery ammunition for Moscow’s armed forces.
Kirby said North Korea delivered infantry missiles and other projectiles to Russia last year for use by the Wagner mercenary force, despite its denials. Recently, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu traveled to North Korea to obtain additional ammunition for the war. In mid-August, Moscow and Pyongyang spoke out in favor of increased cooperation, including in the defense sector.
Germany is sending ten Leopard tanks to Ukraine
Germany has delivered ten more Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks to Ukraine. Kiev also received, among other things, an air surveillance radar, 13.1 million rounds of small arms ammunition and four heavy-duty tractor-trailers and four semi-trailers.
This emerges from the Federal Government’s list of military aid for Ukraine, which is updated weekly. After initial hesitation, the Federal Republic is now Kiev’s largest supporter after the USA in the fight against the Russian invasion.
Ukrainian pilots learn to fly the F-16 in Denmark
Several Ukrainian military pilots may begin training on the F-16 fighter jet in Denmark. According to Danish information, the pilots had successfully completed the preparation and could begin the actual flight training, wrote the Ukrainian commander Valeriy Zalushnyj on Telegram. At the same time, Copenhagen and Kiev wanted to prepare the logistics so that they could service and repair the F-16 in Ukraine in the future.
Denmark will hand over 19 of its F-16 jets to Ukraine. More of these US-built fighter jets are said to come from the Netherlands and Norway. However, the F-16 will probably only strengthen the Ukrainian armed forces next year.
Russia reports new airstrikes from Ukraine
According to local information, anti-aircraft defense forces on the Russian-annexed Black Sea peninsula of Crimea shot down a Ukrainian cruise missile late on Wednesday evening. The east of the peninsula near the city of Feodosiya was affected.
Photos are circulating on the Internet that allegedly show fires in the region. The Russian military said two combat drones from Ukraine were intercepted over the Bryansk region near the border. The night before, Ukraine had carried out its most massive drone attack to date against targets in Russia.
rb/wa (AFP, AP, dpa, epd, KNA, Reuters)
This article will be continuously updated on the day of its publication. Reports from the combat zones cannot be independently verified.
Source: DW
