Polish farmers blocked two more checkpoints and Ukrainian basketball player murdered in Germany - Monday brief

Russia's war against Ukraine

• Munich Security Report: NATO and EU should double military aid to Ukraine;

• Russians use Starlink on front: Ukrainian intelligence claims to be working on threat neutralizing;

• Russian troops shell Selydove in Donetsk region, children among wounded;

Polish farmers protest at two more checkpoints and block Shehyni again

Polish farmers have blocked two more checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. The protest has also been extended to the Medyka - Shehyni checkpoint, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) reported.

"Polish farmers have started protests at two more checkpoints and have again blocked Shehyni," the report said.

Yesterday, at 10:10, protests by Polish farmers began near the Zosin - Ustyluh checkpoint.

"The protesters intend to allow 3 trucks per hour," border guards added.

Cars, buses, vehicles with humanitarian aid, and vehicles up to 3.5 tons in both directions will be processed in the usual mode.

Zelenskyy holds first Staff meeting with new leadership: Syrskyi and other report

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on February 12, held a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief in an updated composition. Among other things, the question of the front line and providing the army with ammunition was discussed.

"The priority issues remain unchanged: the front line and the protection of the adjacent regions, people, and critical infrastructure from Russian aerial terror," the statement said.

At the Staff meeting, reports were heard from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, and the Chief of the General Staff, Anatolii Barhylevych, as well as representatives of intelligence, and commanders of operational-strategic groupings of troops.

"Avdiivka, Kupiansk, the south. Providing the army with everything necessary: ammunition, drones, electronic warfare," the President added.

In Germany, Ukrainian basketball player stabbed to death due to nationality

Currently, two suspects are involved in the case of the murder of Ukrainian basketball player Volodymyr Yermakov, one of whom has already been released from custody. Additionally, information is available about two other victims, apart from the Ukrainian boys, according to t-online.

Indeed, at the Essen police headquarters, a group of suspects potentially involved in the crime has been identified.

"There are two suspects, 14 and 15 years old, from the cities of Gelsenkirchen and Herne. Initially, they were arrested, but later the 14-year-old German with Greek roots was released from custody because the suspicion against him was not confirmed," the publication writes.

Meanwhile, the 15-year-old German with Turkish roots was remanded in custody on a serious suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, which the police and prosecutors in Essen announced on Monday. He is already known to the police as an experienced offender.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has taken special control over the investigation into the murder of Ukrainian basketball player Volodymyr Yermakov in Germany. It is now known that the attacker has been apprehended.

Ramstein-19 to be held online due to Pentagon chief's hospitalization

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin canceled his trip to Brussels, where the 19th meeting of the Ramstein-style contact group was supposed to take place, due to urgent hospitalization, reports Reuters.

According to the source, Austin was to personally chair a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine in Brussels, after which a meeting of NATO defense ministers should take place.

However, on Sunday afternoon, Austin handed over his duties to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks. And the meeting on Ukraine's defense needs will be held virtually.

EU considers sanctioning Chinese companies aiding Russia, Bloomberg

The European Union, as part of the new package of sanctions, intends to impose restrictions on Chinese companies for their assistance to Russia, according to Bloomberg.

"The European Union has proposed new trade restrictions on about two dozen firms, including three based in China, accused of supporting Russia's war efforts in Ukraine," the material writes.

If adopted, this would be the first instance of the EU imposing restrictions on Chinese companies since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

According to the draft proposal reviewed by Bloomberg, companies from Hong Kong, Serbia, India, and Türkiye are also included in the list.