Explaining complex things in simple words: Need for long-range weapons, Iranian missile threat, shooting of POWs

The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security pursues efforts to provide a brief explanation to foreign audiences on the current topics of particular interest as regards Ukraine.   

THE NEED FOR LONG-RANGE WEAPONS

Discussions are ongoing in the German Bundestag regarding the possibility of supplying Ukraine with TAURUS aviation cruise missiles. 

▪ Germany is among the leaders in terms of volumes and types of military assistance to Ukraine. German weapons help Ukrainians adequately resist the aggressor.

▪ German TAURUS missiles are capable of high-precision engagement of targets located at a distance of up to 500 km. Their use can disable Russian rear bases and logistics in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

▪ A significant part of the Bundestag members, both those in power and in the opposition, support the provision of TAURUS missiles to Ukraine. This is for Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz to decide.

▪ Recent events at the front, as well as the blatant murder of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny by Putin's regime, are sufficient reasons for Germany's positive decision on TAURUS missiles.

▪ The presented draft resolution of the Bundestag refers to “additional necessary systems of long-range weapons and ammunition” for Ukraine. This definition allows the possibility of supplying, for example, TAURUS missiles. 

IRANIAN MISSILE THREAT

Reuters reports that Iran has transferred approximately 400 ballistic missiles with a range of up to 700 km to Russia.

▪ Reuters information obtained from anonymous Iranian sources cannot be considered official, has not been confirmed by the Main Directorate of Intelligence and the Air Forces of Ukraine.

▪ However, it cannot be ruled out that such a transfer has taken place or will take place in the near future. This is a real threat that requires an active international response.

▪ The Tehran and Moscow regimes have been cooperating for a long time. Russia is systematically killing peaceful Ukrainians with Iranian drones.

▪ Russia is looking for murder weapons wherever possible. The enemy's use of a ballistic missile produced by the DPRK has been confirmed.

▪ The coalition of democratic countries should intensify military assistance to Ukraine. While debates continue in the West, dictatorships are arming Russia. 

SHOOTING OF POWS

On February 18-20, cases of executions of Ukrainian POWs by Russian occupiers near Avdiivka, Vesele, and Robotyne were recorded.

▪ The circumstances of the war crimes are recorded on video, filmed from drones. In the case of a shooting at the Zenit position in Avdiivka, the names were established (Heorhii Pavlov, Andrii Dubnytskyi, Ivan Zhytnyk, Oleksandr Zinchuk, and Mykola Savosik).

▪ An agreement was reached with the Russian side on the surrender and subsequent exchange of 6 seriously wounded soldiers at the Zenit position. They did not resist, but the occupiers still killed them.

▪ The killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War and a grave international crime.

▪ Cases of executions and torture of unarmed Ukrainians by the Russians are recorded regularly. Ukraine, in cooperation with foreign partners, makes every effort to identify and punish the killers.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security