Recent Updates on Ukraine: Belarus Conducts Military Exercises with Wagner Mercenaries near Belarus-Poland Border.
As European Union foreign ministers convened on Thursday to discuss a proposed $22.4 billion military aid plan for Ukraine over four years, the last of the Wagner Group’s convict-prisoner mercenaries are slated to complete their mandated service in the next few days, according to a statement from the British Defense Ministry on Friday.
In the ministry’s daily intelligence report concerning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it was revealed that a substantial number of pardoned convicts are expected to continue their association with Wagner as professional contractors. The recruitment pipeline for Wagner is now under Russian control, as per the ministry’s report.
Notably, the Wagner Group, which was responsible for staging a mutiny against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s authority last month, recently concluded its prison recruitment program, marking one of the bloodiest episodes in modern military history, with an estimated death toll of up to 20,000 convict-recruits in just a few months.
In response to the ongoing attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the nation, reporting that Russia has unleashed nearly 70 missiles of various types against Ukraine since Monday, with a significant focus on southern cities like Odesa, Mykolaiv, and other communities. Despite their efforts, Ukrainian defense forces faced challenges in fully protecting the country’s airspace, prompting the country to seek additional air defense systems.
The aggression from Russia persisted as they targeted Ukraine’s southern cities with drones and missiles for a third consecutive night, with Odesa, a vital Black Sea port, being particularly affected. Tragically, the attacks resulted in two fatalities in Odesa and at least 19 injuries in Mykolaiv, a city located close to the Black Sea, according to Ukrainian officials.