Ukraine Reportedly Frustrated With US Reluctance to Supply Multiple Launch Rocket Systems

"Ukrainian officials are frustrated that their calls for the United States to arm them with long-
range MLRS are being resisted by the White House, Politico said in a report on Wednesday, citing a congressional staffer with knowledge of recent talks on arming Ukraine.

The Biden administration remains in active discussions about whether to deliver MLRS to Ukraine, with worries persisting at the White House that the Kremlin could view the shipment of such systems as escalatory, the report said.

Analysts recently told Sputnik that US weapons flowing into Ukraine will still fall into the hands of terrorists and end up threatening the United States and its allies even if proposals to boost oversight are implemented." Sputnik

Russia says 900 Ukrainian troops sent to prison colony from Mariupol

"A foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said on Wednesday evening that of the  959 Ukrainian service personnel Russia said had surrendered since Tuesday, 51 were being treated for their injuries and the remainder had been sent to a former prison colony in the town of Olenivka in a Russian-controlled area of Donetsk region." Guardian

Russian soldier pleads guilty in first Ukraine war crimes trial since invasion

"A Russian tank commander has pleaded guilty to shooting dead a 62-year-old man as he rode
his bicycle down a village road, in Ukraine’s first trial for war crimes committed during the Russian invasion.

Vadim Shysimarin, 21, sat emotionless as prosecutors detailed charges that he had fired his AK-47 at the unarmed cyclist from the window of a car in the north-eastern Sumy region in late February." Guardian

US Embassy Reopening In Ukraine's Capital

"After a 3-month long closure which was triggered by the Russian military build-up and
invasion of Ukraine, the United States on Wednesday announced the formal reopening of the US embassy in the capital of Kyiv." ZeroHedge

Crisis-Hit Sri Lanka Defaults On Debt As It Runs Out Of Fuel

"There's no money to buy petrol, the crisis-hit Sri Lankan government said Wednesday as it
urged citizens to "not to wait in line" for fuel, and following violent protests in the streets.

Sri Lanka is expected to be placed into default by rating agencies on Wednesday after the non-payment of coupons on two of its sovereign bonds." ZeroHedge

Russia touts new generation of ‘blinding’ laser weapons

"Russia on Wednesday touted its new generation of laser weapons including a mobile laser system first announced by President Vladimir Putin in 2018 which Moscow said had advanced so far it could blind orbiting satellites and destroy drones.

Little is known about what exactly the laser weapon, named Peresvet after a medieval Orthodox warrior monk Alexander Peresvet who perished in mortal combat, does. Putin gave few specifics in 2018 and the laser’s details are secret." MS