Bulgarian PM visits Ukraine, Hungarian parliament greenlights Sweden's NATO bid - Monday brief

Russia's war against Ukraine: Latest news

• Ukrainian forces strengthening defense west of Avdiivka, military says.
• Four Ukrainian guardsmen destroy Russian column near Robotyne.
• US CIA maintains secret bases of surveillance over Russia in Ukraine.

Bulgarian Prime Minister arrives in Ukraine

Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, along with a delegation, arrived in Ukraine on an official visit.

The Bulgarian delegation includes ministers of justice, environment, and energy - Atanas Slavov, Julian Popov, and Rumen Radev, deputy ministers of defense and foreign affairs - Stanimir Georgiev and Tihomir Stoytchev, as well as the Minister of Defense, Admiral Emil Eftimov.

Zelenskyy signs law on demobilization of conscripted military personnel

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law on the demobilization of conscripted military personnel. The law was signed by the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk and President Zelenskyy himself.

In its final form, the bill includes a provision regarding the terms during which conscripts cannot be called up. Military personnel cannot be called up for military service during mobilization for 12 months from the date of discharge into the reserve.

Ukrainian troops withdraw from Lastochkyne village in Donetsk region

Ukrainian military forces have withdrawn from the village of Lastochkyne in the Donetsk region. It is located 6 km out of Avdiivka.

"Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have withdrawn from the village of Lastochkyne," says the spokesperson for the Tavria group of forces Dmytro Lykhoviy.

According to him, such a maneuver was necessary to organize defense along the line of settlements Orlivka, Tonenke, Berdychi, and to prevent further enemy advancement in the western direction.

EU may create fund for Ukraine to develop drones and AI

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has announced plans to propose to EU member states the creation of an assistance fund for Ukraine focused on the development of drones and artificial intelligence.

"I am going to propose to the Member States that aid to Ukraine be concentrated on the new instruments of this war: drones and artificial intelligence," he said.

Borrell emphasized that the war will be largely fought through communication and targeting systems.

"They are small drones, they have a range of 20 kilometers, they carry an explosive charge of two kilos, they cost very little and you don't need more to destroy a tank," he explained.

The EU's top diplomat added that drones on the frontlines now make everything visible.

"Tanks are used as static artillery, they do not go out into the open field. Either a drone falls on them or they have a mine underneath. Everything is visible on the battlefield," he said.

He also stressed the necessity to develop technologies based on a different type of warfare.

"In the face of massive attacks on small drones, such as a swarm of wasps, the defensive alternative is to interfere with the communications system. If you manage to control the spectrum, the drone is useless. We have to carry classic ammunition and we have to support them in modern aspects of war such as artificial intelligence. Technologies based on another type of war must be developed. And they do it, at the moment with great skill, but they need more," he emphasized.

Drones, ammo, and more: Germany delivers new military assistance to Ukraine

Germany updated the list of military aid supplied to Ukraine. Berlin delivered to Kyiv a batch of artillery ammunition.

Ukraine has received 14,000 units of 155mm artillery ammunition.

What else included in the list

• 4 WISENT 1 mine clearance vehicles;
• 3 mobile remotely controlled and protected mine clearance systems;
• Materials for explosive ordnance disposal;
• 250 mine clearance kits;
• 10 Vector reconnaissance UAVs with spare parts;
• 22 drone detection and suppression systems;
• 12 SatCom terminals;
• 4 border patrol vehicles.

Hungarian parliament greenlights Sweden's NATO bid

The Hungarian parliament ratified Sweden's application to join NATO.

On the first day of the spring session, representatives approved the ratification of Sweden's membership in NATO.

188 MPs voted for it, and another six spoke against it. There were no abstainers.

Hungary was the last member state to approve Sweden's application to NATO.

Swedish parliament urges swift decision on supplying Gripen to Ukraine

The leader of the Swedish Center Party Muharrem Demirok seeks an immediate decision on the country's supply of Gripen fighters to Ukraine.

Representatives of the Social Democratic Labor Party also partially joined these demands. Demirok expects the Swedish Prime Minister to make decisions regarding the delivery of aircraft.

The Center Party has been insisting on sending planes to Ukraine for a long time, even before Sweden was accepted into NATO.

All opposition parties took a positive stance, except the Social Democrats with the caveat that Sweden must first join NATO. This was stated by party leader Magdalena Andersson in her speech at Sergel Square in Stockholm this weekend at a demonstration in support of Ukraine.