Togo nationals have been “captured and detained” by the Ukrainian armed forces, the authorities of this small country in West Africa said.
They would have participated “in military operations alongside the Russian armed forces” after having for the most part “left Togo as part of alleged scholarships offered”.
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Ukraine: 4ᵉ year of war
The striking elements
Togolese in Ukraine?
Togo nationals, a small country in West Africa, have been “captured and detained” by the Ukrainian armed forces after participating in military operations alongside the Russian armed forces, “the Togolese authorities said.
In a statement consulted by AFP, the Togolese Foreign Ministry specifies that the “majority of these compatriots, in particular young students, would have left Togo in the context of alleged scholarships offered by structures presenting themselves as based in Russia”. The ministry therefore calls on citizens, “especially young people wishing to continue their studies abroad, to the greatest vigilance”.
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The Russian leader said Wednesday that hexagon nationals were fighting alongside Russian forces as part of “the special operation”. They would be grouped together at the heart of a unit called “Normandy-Niémen”. A historical reference to a hunting regiment that fought within the Red Army during the Second World War.
Togolese in Ukraine?
Togo nationals, a small country in West Africa, have been “captured and detained” by the Ukrainian armed forces after participating in military operations alongside the Russian armed forces, “the Togolese authorities said.
In a statement consulted by AFP, the Togolese Foreign Ministry specifies that the “majority of these compatriots, in particular young students, would have left Togo in the context of alleged scholarships offered by structures presenting themselves as based in Russia”. The ministry therefore calls on citizens, “especially young people wishing to continue their studies abroad, to the greatest vigilance”.
ESPIONAGE
Greek police announced that they had arrested a 59-year-old man in the Alexandroupolis strategic city city in the northeast of the country, where he is suspected of having photographed Russia for Russia for rejection for Ukraine. It was presented this Friday to an investigating judge, a police source told AFP.
The man “admitted to having taken photos and videos of military equipment” and to have acted “on behalf of another person to whom he sent the sequences via an encrypted application,” added the police in his statement. A police source added that the suspect, who had served in the Russian army in his youth, had apparently been enlisted by the Russian military intelligence service GRU through an intermediary.
Nearly 30 injured in a Russian strike in Zaporijia
Nearly 30 people, including a young teenager, were injured in the night of Thursday to Friday in a Russian strike aimed at civil infrastructure in the city of Zaporijia in eastern Ukraine, local officials announced. “29 people were injured due to the enemy’s night attack on Zaporijia. A 13 -year -old boy is by the wounded,” Ivan Fedorov, region’s governor, added that 12 people were treated in health establishments.
Ivan Fedorov had previously indicated that “the Russians had struck civil infrastructure (such as) residential buildings, a university”, while the injured report continued to climb on the night of Thursday to Friday.
“Fair” Ukraine Agreement according to Zelensky
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the agreement on Thursday “truly fair” signed with the United States and relating to the exploitation of the mining resources of Ukraine, a document which has been the subject of harsh negotiations for weeks.
This text plans to give access to American companies to the extraction of minerals, oil and gas in Ukraine and the creation of a common investment fund between the two countries. Its conditions are more favorable for kyiv than those of a previous version which had aroused tensions with Washington.
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Hello everyone. Welcome to TF1info to follow the latest news around the war waged by Russia in Ukraine this Friday, May 2.
French diplomacy Jean-Noël Barrot said on Thursday that Russian president Vladimir Putin was the “Only obstacle” for peace in Ukraine, and indicated that Europeans were preparing for new sanctions against Moscow. “It must be recognized, I believe that now it is clear as rock water that the only obstacle to peace in Ukraine today is Vladimir Putin“said Jean-Noël Barrot in an interview with AFP, stressing that Ukraine had “Hold on its market share”.
The French minister spoke shortly after meeting his American counterpart Marco Rubio in the State Department, with whom he said he had “an exchange without filter”. His visit to Washington intervenes the day after the signature between Washington and kyiv (new window) of an agreement on minerals which could ultimately perpetuate an American presence in Ukraine.
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An agreement on minerals finally signed between kyiv and Washington: a major victory for Ukraine?
L’Ukraine “Accepted an unconditional ceasefire and yesterday she agreed to conclude an agreement on critical minerals with the United States”argued Mr. Barrot. “During this time, Russia by Vladimir Putin has made no effort, has given no sign that it is ready for ceasefire and peace to which President Donald Trump aspires and to which Europeans aspire and of course Ukrainians”he said.
He also indicated that Europeans were preparing a new series of sanctions against Russia, which they wish to coordinate with the United States, in the event of a persistent refusal of Moscow of any ceasefire in Ukraine. “”We are going to be Europeans to support this American initiative with a 17ᵉ package of sanctions and I signed up yesterday (Wednesday) with Lindsey Graham to what we try to coordinate, both on the substance but also on the calendar, these two packets of sanctions “said the French minister. He referred to the Republican senator who proposed to tighten American sanctions against Moscow and said he gathered near “70” of his colleagues, democrats as Republicans, in support of this initiative.
President Donald Trump has not dismissed the possibility of new American sanctions against Russia if it does not accept to conclude a peace agreement with kyiv.
