Zelensky: Russia “forgot all the lessons of World War II”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s proposal that World War II Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler be a Jew shows that “the Russian leadership has forgotten all the lessons of World War II.” Lavrov’s suggestion that Hitler, who was responsible for ordering and organizing the deaths of 6 million Jews, was a Jew, shows that Moscow “never learned these lessons.” Zelensky, who is Jewish, commented on his nightly video speech.

Bolshoi cancels performances directed by war critics

The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow abruptly canceled opera and ballet performances this week, replacing “Don Pasquale” and “Nureyev” with “The Barber of Seville” and “Spartacus”. Although no comment was made on the change of schedule, the directors of the originally scheduled performances were under pressure for their outspoken opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Opera director Timofey Kulyabin, who spoke out against Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade and is considered to be living in Europe, has not commented on the cancellation. Kirill Serebrennikov, who left Moscow in March and has been under pressure from Russian authorities for years, says he was not surprised by the cancellation of a ballet for Rudolf Nureyev, a gay ballet genius who surrendered to the Soviet Union. “This ballet has to do with man’s longing for freedom. Freedom in creation and freedom of life. These days ‘Nureev’ is inappropriate and impossible on the Bolshoi stage. They are afraid of unnecessary associations and uncomfortable artists,” he said. calling the movement a return to the Soviet era. The Bolsheviks have lost several key performers in recent years, most notably ballerina Olga Smirnova, as well as lead dancers Jacopo Tissi and Bruna Galiagnone. The St. Petersburg Mariinsky Ballet has also seen several of its main dancers leave the country due to the war.

The EU is preparing for a possible shutdown of Russian gas supplies

The EU has warned that Russia could cut off gas supplies to member states at any time, following Moscow’s decision to suspend exports to both Poland and Bulgaria. Russia has demanded that “unfriendly countries”, including the EU, pay for their ruble imports following sanctions against Russia’s central bank. European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson has said that trying to pay for gas and oil in rubles, even with one solution, would be a breach of EU sanctions. EU countries are discussing a possible embargo on Russian oil – a move blocked by Hungary – but several countries are heavily dependent on Russian gas imports. Simpson said the 27 member states would begin storing gas as part of preparations for a possible collapse in Russian fuel imports.

Ukraine calls on Germany to block Russian cargo ships

Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk has called on Berlin to stop letting Russian ships unload their goods in German ports. In an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel on Monday, Melnyk called on Germany to “boycott all Russian ships or ships with Russian cargo – especially oil tankers”. Port workers in Amsterdam returned a Russian tanker on Saturday after being barred from entering a port in Sweden. Melnyk clarified a tanker moored in the German port of Rostock, which is to be unloaded on Monday or Tuesday, asking not to be unloaded. Rostock plays a key role in the supply of oil and petroleum products to German refineries. Melnik has repeatedly pushed Berlin to take a tougher stance against Moscow, sometimes even being criticized for it.

German Chancellor Olaf Solz defended his approach to Ukraine and arms surrender in an interview with German state broadcaster ZDF. Despite criticism that he was very reluctant to send heavy weapons, Scholz said “every decision must be weighed carefully.” He added that contributions from Germany and its partners meant that “the Ukrainian army, which was really successful, was able to withstand so much against a much stronger enemy.” The chancellor said Russian President Vladimir Putin had not considered the effectiveness of Ukrainian forces and support from Western states. “We will not lift the sanctions [against Russia] “without the consent of Ukraine,” said Scholz. “Our goal must also be for Russia not to achieve its intentions,” he added. Solz had met earlier in the day with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss, among other things, the situation in Ukraine.

UEFA excludes Russian teams from the Champions League

All Russian football clubs have been excluded from the 2022/23 season of the Champions League, UEFA announced on Monday. “Russia will not have subsidiaries participating in the UEFA inter-club competitions in the 2022/23 season,” it said in a statement. The Russian national team and clubs were excluded from the tournament “until recently” shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Confirmation that Russian men’s soccer clubs will not be allowed to play in the Champions League came as UEFA also confirmed Russia’s exclusion from the European Women’s Championship in England in July. Russia’s bids to host the Men’s Euro 2028 or 2032 were also rejected. Both offers had started after the start of the war. Russia has been hit by a series of sports bans since its invasion of Ukraine, including a ban on participating in this year’s Men’s World Cup in Qatar.

Fire in a Russian weapons factory with two dead

Two workers at a weapons factory in the Russian city of Perm have lost their lives in a fire that broke out on Sunday, the local labor protection authority said. “Three workers were injured in the accident, one of whom died on the spot, two were taken to hospital. One of them later died at the clinic,” the authority said. The gunpowder plant produces multiple rocket launchers used by the Russian military in Ukraine. The city of Perm is located deep in Russia, far from the Ukrainian border. Accidents and fires have been reported at several military and weapons production facilities since the start of the war. There were reports of up to 20 deaths after a rocket research institute was set on fire in the northern Moscow city of Tver in mid-April. There is no indication that the various incidents are related.

Russian blow hits the main bridge in Odessa

Ukraine announced on Monday that a Russian strike had hit a strategically important road and rail bridge in the coastal city of Odessa. The bridge had already been destroyed in previous strikes. The loss of this logistical route would have hampered the supply of arms and other goods from neighboring Romania. The bridge crosses the mouth of the Dniester River and is the only connection to the area south of the city. Russian officials have previously stated that their military goal is to take control of southern Ukraine, linking the occupied territories in eastern Donbass with the pro-Russian Transnistrian region of Moldova, where Russian troops are already stationed.

Anti-War Russians Can Use Tor to Contact US CIA: CIA

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has said that Russians opposed to President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine and want to help stop him could use his darknet-accessible website. Tor browser. The browser has encryption features that are not available in most browsers and covers the identity and locations of users. CIA social media channels began showing instructions in English and Russian on Monday on how to access the dark network through the Tor. A CIA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP news agency that the CIA was aware that “there are anxious Russians desperately trying to reach out to the CIA.” Tor works by routing Internet traffic through many third parties, making it difficult or impossible to trace its origin. It has proven to be an extremely useful tool, among other things, for dissidents in authoritarian countries who wish to remain anonymous in their communication with the outside world. DW also provides information on how to access its services through the Tor to circumvent censorship in some countries, including Russia, which has cracked down on independent media. DW also provides information in Russian about access to Tor

The death toll in Ukraine has exceeded 3,000: UN

A total of 3,153 civilians have been confirmed dead in military operations since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the UN Office for the Coordination of Human Rights (OHCHR) said on Monday. The OHCHR said the actual toll was probably much higher, with some sites difficult to access and the verification process still ongoing. Most of the victims were killed by explosive weapons with a wide range of impacts, such as rocket attacks and airstrikes, the rights office said. He did not take responsibility for the deaths of civilians. Russia has said it never targeted civilians during what it calls a “special military operation” in the country.

German anti-Semitism commissioner says Lavrov distorts the truth

Felix Klein, the German government’s anti-Semitism commissioner, strongly condemned a statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying that Adolf Hitler “had Jewish blood”. “Lavrov has distorted cynical victims and perpetrators, historically and today,” he told Funke Media Group. “This distortion of the truth becomes particularly clear in view of the fact that among the countless people who have suffered as a result of …