83 Russen vroegen hier in maart asiel aan • 'Oekraïne beschiet dorp over de grens'
83 Russians applied for asylum here <The Netherlands> in March • 'Ukraine shells village across the border
AN HOUR AGO
83 Russians applied for asylum in March, much more than usual
In March, 83 Russians applied for asylum in the Netherlands for the first time, which is a record: an average of less than 20 applications from Russia per month, reports the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND).
The IND does not register motives and therefore does not have exact figures about the background of Russian asylum applications. Experience shows that asylum seekers from Russia who have recently arrived have fled for various reasons. "There are people who have criticized the current government, conscientious objectors, human rights activists, journalists, LGBTI people and Jehovah's Witnesses," a spokesperson told NOS.
Well-founded fear of persecution can be a reason to grant an asylum application. The IND and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice & Security closely monitor developments in Russia. They also see more Russians arriving at the Refugee Aid organization at Schiphol and in Ter Apel, where asylum seekers have to report when they arrive in the Netherlands.
3 HOURS AGO
'Attack or not, military role of flagship Moskva is over for the time being'
However the fire on the Moskva in the Black Sea started, the Russian warship was badly damaged and that is a huge blow to the Russian army, experts say. "It is a considerable loss for the fleet," said Peter Wijninga, former Air Force officer and now military expert at The Hague Center for Strategic Studies.
"The military role of the Moskva is finished for now. If it is in port, it is of no military significance. It will take a long time to repair. And apparently it can no longer move itself, because it has to be towed." In any case, the Moskva can no longer contribute to blocking the port city of Odessa, or come under fire.
5 HOURS AGO
EU ends last arms exports to Russia
Despite the war in Ukraine, EU countries exported millions of euros worth of weapons to Russia
until last week. But the loophole that made that possible has now been closed, writes Reuters news agency on the authority of EU diplomats.
The fifth sanctions package adopted last week would make it impossible to sell weapons to Russia. Last year, EU countries earned about 39 million euros from this trade. Countries such as France and Germany were the largest exporters.
Since the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, exporting arms to Russia has been officially banned for EU member states.
But due to a clause in this sanction package, it was still possible in practice, until last week.
6 HOURS AGO
Dutch Patriots on their way to Slovakia
At the moment 150 Dutch soldiers with Patriot anti-aircraft systems are on their way to Slovakia from the Limburg Lieutenant General Best barracks. They are stationed there together with German troops to "protect the NATO treaty area and the population against possible incoming missiles", the defense said.
Slovakia in turn sends S-300 anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine. And they are very similar in function to the Patriot systems. This suggests a simple one-two punch, in which the Netherlands supplies Patriots to Slovakia, in exchange for which Slovakia transfers air missiles to Ukraine. But where the American government does openly do so, according to the Netherlands, this is not the case in this case.