Next round of EU sanctions will target Iranian entities supplying drones to Russia, commission chief says
From CNN's Niamh Kennedy in London
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a debate on the results of the war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine as part of a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on February 15. (Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images)
The European Commission has proposed to sanction Iranian entities that are responsible for supplying drones to Moscow, according to EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.
In a recorded statement from Strasbourg, France, von der Leyen announced the bloc's 10th round of sanctions against Russia which is due to be unveiled this month, and said it will include sanctions against seven Iranian entities to its dual use regime.
The EU controls the export, transit, brokering and technical assistance of dual-use items which are goods, software and technology that can be used for both civilian and military applications, according to the European Commission website.
The listed entities will be placed "under a complete ban to sell sensitive items to Russia," von der Leyen said, stressing that the bloc "stands ready" to add further entities if necessary.
Iranian-made drones have been used by Russia to attack Ukrainian infrastructure targets. The Iranian regime has only admitted to supplying Russia with drones in the months before the invasion.
8:44 a.m. ET, February 15, 2023
Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine "more aspirational than realistic," Western officials say
From CNN's Jim Sciutto
Ukrainian soldiers look towards Russian positions while atop an anti-aircraft gun on February 14, near Bakhmut, Ukraine. (John Moore/Getty Images)
As Russia is expected to carry out a new offensive in eastern Ukraine, the US and its allies are skeptical that Russia has amassed the manpower and resources to make significant gains, according to US, UK and Ukrainian officials..
“It’s likely more aspirational than realistic,” a senior US military official told CNN.
"The meat grinder:" Russia has been increasing the number of forces situated on its border and inside Russian-held territory in Ukraine, some of the forces drawn from a partial mobilization ordered in September last year. Despite the increased numbers, Western allies have not seen evidence of sufficient changes to those forces’ ability to carry out combined arms operations needed to take and hold new territory.
“It’s unlikely Russian forces will be particularly better organized and so unlikely they’ll be particularly more successful, though they do seem willing to send more troops into the meat grinder,” a senior British official told CNN.
Even the head of Russia’s Wagner private military company on Tuesday warned that the capture of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was far from imminent.
“Bakhmut will not be taken tomorrow, because there is heavy resistance and grinding, the meat grinder is working,” Yevgeniy Prigozhin said in a statement distributed on a Wagner Telegram channel. “For the meat grinder to work properly, it is impossible to suddenly start festivities. There won't be any festivities anytime soon.”
The US military had assessed it would take as long as until May for the Russian military to regenerate enough power for a sustained offensive, but Russian leaders wanted action sooner. The US now sees it as likely that Russian forces are moving before they are ready due to political pressure from the Kremlin, the senior US military official told CNN.
Though Ukrainian officials have been sounding the alarm about new Russian attacks in the east, there is also skepticism on the Ukrainian side about Russian capabilities as those forces currently stand.
“They massed enough manpower to take one or two small cities in Donbas, but that’s it,” a senior Ukrainian diplomat told CNN. “Underwhelming, compared to the sense of panic they were trying to build in Ukraine.”
There is also no indication of any pending massive aerial assault. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that the US is not seeing Russia “massing its aircraft” ahead of an aerial operation against Ukraine.
8:36 a.m. ET, February 15, 2023
Russian journalist sentenced to 6 years in prison for reporting on Mariupol theater strike, state media says
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
Russian journalist Maria Ponomarenko is seen during a court hearing in Barnaul, Russia, on February 14. (Aleksandr Lizratov/Kommersant/Sipa USA/AP Images)
A Russian court has sentenced journalist Maria Ponomarenko to six years in prison for a Telegram post that the court said spread “false information,” state news agency TASS said on Wednesday.
Ponomarenko was detained last April and charged with publishing “false information” on her Telegram channel about a Russian airstrike on a theater in Mariupol, Ukraine, that killed hundreds, and for which Russian authorities deny responsibility.
Her employer, RusNews, said on Telegram that the journalist spent time at a pre-trial detention center, which impacted her psychologically, leading to a suicide attempt in September. Ponomarenko is a mother of two.
The court in Russia’s city of Barnaul in Western Siberia sentenced Ponomarenko to six years in jail at a general regime correctional colony, with no right to engage in activities related to the internet and other types of public communication for five years, according to court's press service quoted by TASS.
Earlier in February, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Russian authorities to "immediately release" Ponomarenko along with columnist Iskander Yasaveyev and “stop prosecuting members of the press over their reporting and commentary on the war in Ukraine." Per CPJ's most recent prison census, at least 19 journalists were behind bars in Russia as of December 1, 2022.
With previous reporting by CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq and Josh Pennington.
8:29 a.m. ET, February 15, 2023
NATO chief says war in Ukraine is now "a war of attrition"
From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, on February 15. (Olivier Matthys/AP)
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that the conflict in Ukraine is now becoming a “grinding war of attrition,” adding that it now focused on logistics.
“Things are happening, but we need to continue, and we need to step up even more because there is a big need out there to provide Ukraine with ammunition,” Stoltenberg said at a NATO defense ministers press conference in Brussels.
“This is now becoming a grinding war of attrition — and a war of attrition is a war of logistics,” he said.
Stoltenberg said that it is crucial that Ukraine is “able to retake territory and launch offensives” to ensure that it is able to defeat Russia and continue as an independent nation.
The NATO chief’s comments were in response to a reporter’s question on whether he was worried that Ukraine could run out of ammunition in the coming months and whether there were more countries that are ramping up their production capacity to Ukraine.
“Now we see that things are actually moving in the right direction,” he said.
“And there are also others who have already signed contracts with the defense industry, meaning that production is now ramping up,” Stoltenberg said.
On Tuesday, Germany's defense minister announced that the country will increase ammunition production and has signed contracts with ammunition manufacturers to provide for the Gepard air defense systems it has delivered to Ukraine.
Stoltenberg added that NATO countries adding more production has enabled them to replenish depleted supplies.
“We see no signs that Russia is preparing for peace; on the contrary, Russia is launching new offensives,” Stoltenberg said. “This is critical. Ukraine has a window of opportunity to tip the balance and time is of the essence,” he said.
He added that besides stepping up support for Ukraine, ministers also discussed their “commitment to our others partners at risk, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Moldova.”
12:11 p.m. ET, February 15, 2023
It's mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know
From CNN staff
Russian forces are escalating attacks in eastern Ukraine in an effort to capture the strategically important city of Bakhmut, as the battle for control of the Donetsk region intensifies.
Here are the latest developments:
Battle for Bakhmut: A Ukrainian soldier has told CNN of the "difficult" attempts to defend the few remaining routes into the city, as more than 25 settlements were shelled in eastern Ukraine Tuesday, according to the military.
Moscow stepping up attacks: Russian forces have increased heavy shelling, rocket fire and missile strikes alongside attempted advances in several regions of Ukraine, including on settlements along the Kharkiv-Luhansk border.
UK delivery of fighter jets: The delivery of British fighter jets for Ukraine is likely to be years away, the UK defence secretary said Wednesday, reiterating that its decision to train Ukrainian pilots is aimed at “long-term resilience,” rather than the current war.
Russian aircraft reported near border: Western intelligence shows that Russia is amassing aircraft near its border with Ukraine in an apparent attempt to bolster its faltering land offensive with jets and helicopters, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing two officials briefed on the matter.
"Battles for every meter": Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the situation in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions remains extremely difficult but Russia's prolonged involvement in the battles there reduces its capacity to fight elsewhere in Ukraine.
7:42 a.m. ET, February 15, 2023
Moscow ramping up attacks in multiple Ukrainian regions
From CNN's Tim Lister and Julia Kesaieva
A Ukrainian military vehicle drives by as an apartment building hit by Russian artillery burns in the distance on February 14, in Bakhmut, Ukraine. (John Moore/Getty Images)
Russian forces have increased heavy shelling, rocket fire and missile strikes alongside attempted advances in several regions of Ukraine, as Kyiv officials anticipate a spring offensive from Moscow in the nearly years-long war.
The Ukrainian Defence Forces had "repelled attacks in the vicinities of more than 20 settlements" from the north of Kharkiv region through the Luhansk border and further south along the very active Donetsk front line, the General Staff said.
Moscow has been especially active to the east of the town of Kupyansk in Kharkiv region, which was recaptured by the Ukrainians in their sweep across Kharkiv in September, according to the military. There has also been a notable rise in the Russian shelling of settlements along the Kharkiv-Luhansk border, where the front lines have been largely settled since the autumn.
A Ukrainian rescuer walks through the remnants of a destroyed building in Kupyansk, Ukraine, on February 13 (Sofiia Bobok/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Russian troops leveled nearly 70 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems Tuesday, a higher number than is usually reported, the General Staff said. These included a number of attacks in the south.
In addition, Russian occupiers conducted 68 multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) attacks, including against civilian objects in the southern Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.
The General Staff also claimed that the Russians had begun burning the bodies of soldiers near the city of Simferopol in Russian-annexed Crimea.
"Recent reports prove constant presence of military vehicles numbering up to 10 units near the local crematorium. The occupiers use these trucks to bring dead Russian servicemen and mercenaries. Cremation is carried out 24/7," it added.
CNN is unable to verify the claim.
6:47 a.m. ET, February 15, 2023
Ukrainian soldier speaks of "difficult" situation defending remaining routes to Bakhmut
From CNN's Tim Lister and Julia Kesaieva
A Ukrainian soldier has told CNN of the "difficult" attempts to defend the few remaining routes into the city of Bakhmut, as the grinding battle for control of the eastern Donetsk region intensifies.
More than 25 settlements were shelled in eastern Ukraine Tuesday along what the Ukrainian military calls the "Bakhmut axis," including in the city and a number of nearby villages.
One of the villages -- Paraskoviivka -- is immediately to the north of Bakhmut and adjacent to the village of Krasna Hora. Fighters of the Russian private military group Wagner occupy parts of Krasna Hora, according to geolocated video.
The Ukrainian military on Monday disputed Russia's claim that it had taken control of Krasna Hora.
One Ukrainian soldier stationed in the area said that the defense of Paraskoviivka is ongoing -- and was essential to prevent a further advance westwards by Russian forces. He described the situation in the village as "difficult."
"Both we and the enemy understand the importance of this settlement," he said.
He dismissed reports on pro-Russian social media channels that 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers were surrounded as "nonsense" but said the situation in the city was "very difficult, everyone understands this."
CNN has spoken to the soldier several times in recent weeks.
The Ukrainians' defense of Paraskoviivka is intended to protect one of the last remaining routes into Bakhmut, as most of the main roads into the city are either controlled by Russian troops or under their fire control.
Some of the routes into the city are dirt roads, which may become impassable as the weather warms, and frozen ground turns to mud.
6:41 a.m. ET, February 15, 2023
Limiting Bakhmut access is necessary for safety and operational security, say Ukrainian officials
From CNN's Olga Voitovych in Kyiv and Mick Krever in London
A person walks through a nearly deserted downtown area of Bakhmut, Ukraine, on February 14. (John Moore/Getty Images)
Ukrainian officials say that the decision earlier this week to limit civilian and journalists’ access to the eastern city of Bakhmut was necessary both for the safety of those groups, and to protect operational security.
Ukrainian officials this week said non-local civilians would not be allowed to enter the city, and that stricter protocols had been put in place for journalists to travel there.
“Bakhmut is not closed, but a procedure has been introduced there to help preserve health and life, and prevent unnecessary information from leaking,” Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesman for the Eastern Grouping of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said on national television on Monday.
He said that it was necessary “to ensure maximum control over who is there.” He denied that “censorship” was a goal saying that authorities were trying to protect “the troops, so that there is no unnecessary information, and the people who will work there.”
The Ukrainian military was trying to limit movement to, and within, the city, a deputy commander in the National Guard said on television Monday.
“Unfortunately the two roads [into the city] are under enemy fire control,” meaning Russia is capable of regularly striking any Ukrainian vehicle on the road, said Volodymyr Nazarenko of the 4th Brigade’s Svoboda Battalion. “The roads have not been cut off but the enemy is capable of firing at any means of transportation. There are lots of UAVs.”
“Lots of roads are under enemy fire control. This is why we need to reduce visual presence within the city."
6:39 a.m. ET, February 15, 2023
UK delivery of fighter jets for Ukraine likely years away, says defence secretary
From CNN's Mick Krever in London
UK defence secretary Ben Wallace, left, takes part in a meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on February 15. Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images
The delivery of British fighter jets for Ukraine is likely to be years away, the UK defence secretary said Wednesday, reiterating that its decision to train Ukrainian pilots is aimed at “long-term resilience,” rather than the current Russian invasion.
“When it comes to fighter jets, I don’t think it’s going to be in the next few months, or even years, that we are going to necessarily hand over fighter jets,” Ben Wallace told BBC television.
“You just can’t learn to fly in a week or two. It will take a long time. But also they come with effectively a pit crew, like a Formula One team. You come with hundreds of engineers and pilots. And that’s not something you can just generate in a few months. And we’re not going to deploy two hundred RAF personnel into Ukraine in the time of a war.”
The UK government said last week during a visit by President Volodymyr Zelensky that it will begin training Ukrainian pilots on NATO-standard fighter jets. “The training will ensure pilots are able to fly sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future,” a statement from Downing Street read.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks inside the Palace of Westminster in London on February 8. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)
Wallace said that the British decision to begin training Ukrainian pilots was about the long-term.
“We have to plan not only for the fight at the moment, where we help Ukraine through seeing off Russia’s illegal invasion, but we have to help Ukraine with its long-term resilience, in making sure that after this conflict, or this war, Ukraine is able to defend itself for the long run.”
Some background: Zelensky lobbied strongly last week for allies to send modern fighter jets to Ukraine. On Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said a decision by NATO allies on whether to send fighter jets to Ukraine is "not the most urgent issue" right now.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels before a meeting of NATO defense ministers, Stoltenberg said: "The urgent need now is to deliver what has always been promised. To deliver the armored vehicles, the infantry fighting vehicles, the German martyrs, the US Bradleys and of course also the main battle tanks, the Leopards and the other battle tanks that have been pledged."
