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Greece offers F-16 training to Ukrainian pilots, says Zelensky
Greece will take part in training of Ukrainian air force pilots for F-16 jets, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday. Greece has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion, providing humanitarian aid and weapons including infantry fighting vehicles and Kalashnikov assault rifles. Zelensky’s visit to Greece came after Kyiv announced advancements near the war-battered eastern town of Bakhmut over the weekend. Read our live blog to see how all the day’s events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).
Issued on: 21/08/2023 – 10:20
Modified: 21/08/2023 – 21:42
8 min
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, August 21, 2023.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, August 21, 2023. © Stelios Misinas, Reuters
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9:40pm: US approves $12 billion Apache helicopter sale to Poland
The United States on Monday approved a $12 billion sale of Apache attack helicopters to Poland, a giant deal with a frontline ally supporting Ukraine in its war against Russian invasion.
The State Department said in a statement that it notified Congress of approval for the sale requested by the Polish government, which would include 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
8:34pm: Russian-installed court sentences five Ukrainian soldiers to 20 years in prison
Russian-installed courts in Ukraine’s eastern regions sentenced five Ukrainian soldiers to lengthy prison terms, Russia’s Investigative Committee said Monday.
“The court sentenced (Andrey) Klementovich, (Artur) Sivitsky and (Ivan) Melnikovich to 20 years’ imprisonment each, to be served in a strict regime penal colony,” the Investigative Committee said in a statement.
It published footage of three men handcuffed inside a court’s defendant’s cage.
The Investigative Committee said the three men were found guilty of “cruel treatment of the civilian population” and “attempted murder”.
The court alleged the three soldiers fought in Mariupol, which was captured by Russian forces in May 2022 after a devastating siege, and had been “preventing civilians from leaving the city using the humanitarian corridor”.
7:31pm: Greece offers F-16 training to Ukrainian pilots, Zelensky says
Greece will take part in training of Ukrainian air force pilots for F-16 jets, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday.
Denmark and the Netherlands on Sunday announced they would supply the first F-16s to Ukraine.
“Today, we have the important result for aviation coalition. Greece will participate in training of our pilots for F-16. I am grateful for this proposal,” Zelensky said during joint press-conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens.
He did not provide details of the training programme.
5:16pm: Russian high school pupils to learn how to operate drones
Russian teenagers will learn how to operate and counter military drones in the upcoming school year, according to a curriculum published Monday by the education ministry.
Moscow announced last November it was re-introducing Soviet-style military training for children from 2023, as it presses ahead with its nearly 18-month offensive in Ukraine.
The drone course, which will be offered to pupils aged 15 to 17, comes as Russian territory is targeted by almost daily Ukrainian drone attacks and as their use becomes pivotal in the conflict.
According to the education ministry’s website, pupils will gain “an understanding of the ways in which unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used in combat”.
They will also “perform practical tasks on drone piloting” as well as “learn the algorithm to counter enemy drones”.
“The introduction of such a programme in schools will make it possible to systematically prepare our citizens for a possible confrontation with the enemy,” lawmaker Sergei Mironov said in November 2022 as he advocated for the reintroduction of the training.
The revised military program also includes a module dedicated to Kalashnikov assault rifles, hand grenades and shooting.
4:58pm: Zelensky in Athens to meet EU, Balkan leaders
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday landed in Athens for an official visit, the Greek prime minister’s office said, and would later join an informal dinner with EU and Balkans leaders.
Greece has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion, providing humanitarian aid and weapons including infantry fighting vehicles, Kalashnikov assault rifles, launchers and ammunition.
3:56pm: Ukraine mulls new Black Sea route for grain shipments
Ukraine is considering using its newly-tested wartime Black Sea export corridor for grain shipments after the first successful evacuation of a vessel along the route last week, a senior agricultural official said on Monday.
Russia has blockaded Ukrainian ports since it invaded its neighbour in February 2022, and threatened to treat all vessels as potential military targets after pulling out of a UN–backed safe-passage deal for Black Sea grain exports last month.
In response, Ukraine announced a “humanitarian corridor” hugging the western Black Sea coast near Romania and Bulgaria. A Hong Kong-flagged container ship stuck in Odesa port since the invasion travelled the route last week without being fired upon.
“Only one commercial vessel has passed through so far, (and this) has shown readiness to move by alternative routes,” Denys Marchuk, deputy head of the Agrarian Council, Ukraine’s largest agribusiness group, told national television.
“Further, there should be a movement of potentially 7-8 more ships … then perhaps in the future these alternative routes will become a corridor for the movement of ships that are travelling with cargoes of grain and oilseeds,” he said.
3:35pm: German prosecutors raid home of pro-Kremlin activists
German prosecutors said on Monday they searched the home of two pro-Kremlin activists under suspicion that they violated a law that regulates the production and transfer of war weapons.
The activists – Max Schlund and his romantic partner Elena Kolbasnikova – have organised multiple rallies protesting against Germany’s support of Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion last year.
Reuters reported in January that Schlund and Kolbasnikova donated funds collected from supporters in Germany to a Russian army division fighting in Ukraine, and the money was used to purchase walkie-talkie radios, headphones and telephones.
German prosecutors searched the couple’s home in March as they looked for evidence to corroborate Reuters’ reporting.
Ulf Willuhn, a representative of the Cologne public prosecutors, confirmed on Monday the raid was conducted over suspicions of a violation of the War Weapons Control Act, but denied it was connected to their aid for Donbas in eastern Ukraine.
2:22pm: Iranian delegation arrives in Moscow to discuss ground forces co-operation
An Iranian military delegation has arrived in Moscow to discuss co-operation between Iranian and Russian ground forces, state news agency TASS reported on Monday, citing Russia’s defence ministry.
Russia and Iran, both under Western economic sanctions, have forged closer relations in military and other areas since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.
The West has accused Iran of selling large numbers of drones for use against Ukraine, something Tehran denies.
2:05pm: Turkish FM could soon visit Russia to discuss Black Sea grain deal, Erdogan says
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan could soon visit Moscow to discuss the Black Sea grain deal, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on his flight back from a visit to Hungary, a text of his comments showed on Monday.
“Soon, our minister of foreign affairs might undertake a trip to Russia. Because discussing this matter face-to-face holds significant importance, and obtaining results in this manner would be much more accurate.”
1:20pm: Turkish foreign minister ‘may soon’ visit Russia to discuss Black Sea grain deal
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan could soon visit Moscow to discuss the Black Sea grain deal, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on his flight back from a visit to Hungary, a text of his comments showed on Monday.
“Soon, our minister of foreign affairs might undertake a trip to Russia. Because discussing this matter face-to-face holds significant importance, and obtaining results in this manner would be much more accurate,” he said.
12:27pm: Russian envoy calls Danish F-16s for Ukraine an ‘escalation’
Denmark’s decision to supply Ukraine with American F-16 fighter jets to fend off Russia’s invasion represents an “escalation” of the conflict, Russia’s ambassador to Denmark warned Monday.
Denmark and the Netherlands on Sunday announced they would provide the advanced jets to strengthen Kyiv’s Soviet-era air force, as it pursues a grinding counteroffensive against Russian forces in the east.
“The fact that Denmark has now decided to donate 19 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine leads to an escalation of the conflict,” Russian ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin said in a statement.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in July that Moscow would consider the F-16s a “nuclear” threat because of their capacity to carry atomic weapons.
12:58pm: Zelensky tells Danes he is ‘confident’ Russia will lose war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he was “confident” Russia would lose the war in Ukraine.
“Today we are confident that Russia will lose this war … I’m sure that we will win because the truth is on our side,” Zelensky said in a speech outside the Danish parliament, as a large crowd of Danes cheered and waved Ukrainian flags.
9:21am: Ukraine says it has recaptured three square kilometres near Bakhmut
Ukrainian forces have recaptured a clutch of territory around the eastern war-battered town of Bakhmut but made no major advances on the southern front, the deputy defence minister said Monday.
“Another three square kilometres have been liberated. In the south, the situation has not undergone significant changes. Our defenders continue to advance in the Berdyansk and Melitopol sectors,” Ganna Malyar told state television.
8:52am: Russia says thwarted Ukraine drone attack near Moscow
Russia’s defence ministry said on Monday it had thwarted a Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region.
The drone was “suppressed by means of electronic warfare” and crashed in the Odintsovo district, to the southwest of the Russian capital, it said. No casualties were reported.
In recent weeks, two drone attacks were repelled over Moscow’s financial district, each causing minor damage to the facades of high-rise buildings. In May, drones were shot down near the Kremlin.
Key developments from Sunday, August 20:
Denmark and the Netherlands on Sunday announced they would provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets to fight off the Russians. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the decision by the two countries as “historic”.
Zelensky also vowed retaliation for the Russian missile strike on the city of Chernihiv the day before in which seven people were killed and over a hundred wounded, including 15 children.
Read yesterday’s live blog to see how the day’s events unfolded.
