Moscow has signalled its readiness to target French military trainers should they arrive in Ukraine to assist Kyiv’s forces, as reported during a spate of international movements amid the ongoing conflict. Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, issued a stark warning: “No instructor involved in training the Ukrainian military has immunity. It doesn’t matter whether they’re French or not.”
This statement followed the mention by Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, that French trainers would arrive in Ukraine shortly, a claim which both Paris and Kyiv had downplayed. The French President Emmanuel Macron had earlier stated in February that the situation in Ukraine was dynamic, indicating a possibility for various developments.
In a related development, the UK is set to enhance Ukraine’s military capabilities by supplying 1,000 first-person view drones, as part of an international support effort. A public appeal worth £300,000 is sourcing up to 15 batches of 20 drones, described as “first-person view racing quadcopter style,” which would potentially add a significant aerial reconnaissance and tactical advantage to Ukrainian forces.
As the support for Ukraine continues to solidify from Western nations, Russia’s response has been to strengthen its own alliances and influence, particularly in Africa. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been actively visiting African nations such as Guinea, Congo, and Burkina Faso, with a bid to garner military allies in the face of isolation from the West. Lavrov’s extensive African tours serve as a testament to Russia’s attempt to craft a new, multipolar world vision, free from what they perceive as Western imperialism.
Moreover, as tensions ratchet up, reports have emerged claiming Ukrainian forces utilized American weapons to strike the Russian city of Belgorod for the first time, after the U.S. lifted a ban that previously prevented Kyiv from using its weapons inside Russia. These reports indicate that Ukraine deployed the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, in this cross-border attack.
Mr Lavrov announced that Moscow will send additional military supplies and instructors to Burkina Faso to help the west African country boost its defence capabilities, Russian state media reported.
Relevant articles:
– Moscow ready to strike French troops as UK sends Kyiv 1000 drones – latest updates , The Independent, 06/05/2024
– Ukraine-Russia war – latest: Moscow ready to strike French troops as UK sends Kyiv 1,000 drones, Yahoo New Zealand News, 06/05/2024
– Ukraine-Russia war latest: French instructors in Ukraine would be ‘legitimate target’, Lavrov says on visit to West Africa, Sky News, 06/05/2024
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