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Ukraine conflict – day 380: EU outlines plan to combat Russian spy ships
Updated 19:51, 12-Mar-2023
CGTN
Europe;Ukraine
The EU says September's attack on the Nord Stream gas pipeline has accelerated plans to update its maritime strategy, which could include joint annual naval exercises to combat Russian spy ships. /AFP
The EU says September's attack on the Nord Stream gas pipeline has accelerated plans to update its maritime strategy, which could include joint annual naval exercises to combat Russian spy ships. /AFP

The EU says September's attack on the Nord Stream gas pipeline has accelerated plans to update its maritime strategy, which could include joint annual naval exercises to combat Russian spy ships. /AFP

TOP HEADLINES

· Ukraine said its air defenses had shot down many drones and missiles during the pre-dawn wave of attacks on Thursday.

· Ukraine added that Russian forces had also fired six Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missiles, which it had no way to stop. Moscow confirmed it had used Kinzhal – Russian for dagger – missiles in Thursday's attack.

· Russia said its forces had carried out a "massive retaliatory strike" on Ukrainian infrastructure after what it called a terrorist attack in Russia's Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, last week.

· The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was reconnected to Ukraine's energy grid, grid operator Ukrenergo said, after it lost power during the air strikes.

· Ukraine's military said its forces had repelled 102 Russian attacks on the eastern mining town of Bakhmut in the past 24 hours.

· The EU is considering joint maritime patrols and naval exercises to combat Russian spy ships and protect critical maritime infrastructure.

This map shows the current situation in Ukraine, where intense fighting is continuing in Bakhmut. /Simon Malfatto, Paz Pizarro, Kenan Augeard/AFP
This map shows the current situation in Ukraine, where intense fighting is continuing in Bakhmut. /Simon Malfatto, Paz Pizarro, Kenan Augeard/AFP

This map shows the current situation in Ukraine, where intense fighting is continuing in Bakhmut. /Simon Malfatto, Paz Pizarro, Kenan Augeard/AFP

IN DEPTH

EU considering joint maritime patrols to ward off Russian spy ships

The European Union wants to hold joint naval exercises as part of plans to step up its efforts to protect critical infrastructure at sea, the EU environment policy chief said.

Concerns about security threats to Europe's maritime infrastructure were heightened by attacks in September on the Nord Stream pipelines, which left them spewing natural gas into the Baltic Sea.

The EU is set to publish an updated maritime security strategy on Friday, outlining plans to hold an annual EU naval exercise and coordinate countries' national efforts to protect gas pipelines, undersea data cables, offshore wind farms and other critical maritime infrastructure.

EU environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius told Reuters the plan was underway before the Nord Stream blasts, but had been strengthened in response to them.

"After that member states were very clear that we need to further strengthen cooperation, build capacity, ensure that our critical infrastructure is better protected," he said.

The EU plan sets out to increase cooperation between the EU and NATO, expand coastal patrols and improve data sharing between countries to identify threats early – such as by using EU satellite programmes to detect unidentified vessels.

"The threat level is increasing," Sinkevicius said.

Energy infrastructure is a particular concern as Europe expands its use of liquefied natural gas terminals to replace Russian pipeline gas, and is rapidly building offshore wind farms.

A Russian ship was detected at an offshore wind farm in the North Sea last month, which the Netherlands said was part of attempts by Moscow to gain intelligence to sabotage infrastructure.

Source(s): Reuters

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