Russian Forces Capture 2 More Settlements in Eastern Ukraine

05 November 2024, Ukraine, Tschernihiw: erman Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (C) visits a command post with Lieutenant General Serhij Dejneko, head of the National Border Guard Service. Photo: Jörg Blank/dpa
05 November 2024, Ukraine, Tschernihiw: erman Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (C) visits a command post with Lieutenant General Serhij Dejneko, head of the National Border Guard Service. Photo: Jörg Blank/dpa
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Russian Forces Capture 2 More Settlements in Eastern Ukraine

05 November 2024, Ukraine, Tschernihiw: erman Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (C) visits a command post with Lieutenant General Serhij Dejneko, head of the National Border Guard Service. Photo: Jörg Blank/dpa
05 November 2024, Ukraine, Tschernihiw: erman Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (C) visits a command post with Lieutenant General Serhij Dejneko, head of the National Border Guard Service. Photo: Jörg Blank/dpa

Russian forces have captured two more settlements in eastern Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday, citing the Defense Ministry.

They named the settlements as Maksymivka and Antonivka.

Reuters could not independently verify the battlefield report.

Ukraine's air defense units destroyed 38 out of 63 Russian drones overnight, Ukraine's air force said on Wednesday.

Another 22 Russian drones were lost over the Ukrainian territory and its airspace, the air force said on the Telegram messaging app, without providing further detail.

The air force has said before that lost drones are usually intercepted by electronic warfare.

The attack on energy infrastructure in the southern region of Mykolaiv cut power to some consumers and the repair work was ongoing, the regional authorities said.

Kyiv regional authorities also said that drone debris caused a fire in an open area without dealing damage to critical infrastructure.

The air force reported that Russia launched two missiles on the southern Odesa region late on Tuesday. The local authorities did not provide any additional details on damage there as of Wednesday morning.



Dutch See Options for Netanyahu to Visit Despite ICC Arrest Warrant

 Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof talks during a press conference at the Ministry of General Affairs, in The Hague on November 11, 2024. (AFP)
Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof talks during a press conference at the Ministry of General Affairs, in The Hague on November 11, 2024. (AFP)
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Dutch See Options for Netanyahu to Visit Despite ICC Arrest Warrant

 Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof talks during a press conference at the Ministry of General Affairs, in The Hague on November 11, 2024. (AFP)
Netherlands' Prime Minister Dick Schoof talks during a press conference at the Ministry of General Affairs, in The Hague on November 11, 2024. (AFP)

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Friday said there could be options for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit the Netherlands without being arrested, despite the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant against him.

His words seemed to tone down a previous stance by his foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp, who last week in parliament said the Netherlands fully cooperates with the ICC, explaining that meant "we act on arrest warrants for people who are on Dutch territory".

Schoof on Friday said there were still scenarios within the Netherlands' duties towards the ICC in which Netanyahu would not be arrested, depending on the reason of his visit.

"The most important thing is that we have obligations that come from the treaty (on which the ICC is based), and that we comply to them," Schoof said at a news conference.

"In light of that, we would have to see how we act when the prime minister of Israel were to come to the Netherlands. There are possible scenarios, also within international law, in which he would be able to come to the Netherlands without being arrested."

Schoof did not elaborate on the circumstances under which Netanyahu could come. Last week he said it might be possible for Netanyahu to visit an international organization located in the Netherlands, such as the UN watchdog for chemical weapons OPCW, without being arrested.

The Netherlands is also host nation to the ICC, which is located in The Hague.

The ICC issued arrest warrants last week for Netanyahu, his former defense chief Yoav Gallant and a Hamas leader, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict.

Though all EU member states are signatories to the ICC's founding treaty, France said on Wednesday it believed Netanyahu had immunity to actions by the ICC, given Israel has not signed up to the court statutes.

Italy has said it is not feasible to arrest Netanyahu as long as he remains head of Israel's government.

Israel, which launched its offensive in Gaza in response to Hamas's deadly attack on southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, has said it will appeal against the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.