ah ah ah ah, this is the w news lying from bar lane, the back for a key town in east in ukraine, rages is fighting as reported in solid are ukrainian forces continue to put up resistance as russia pushes for away. also on the program. poland to office to supply ukraine with german made lacquered tanks,

but only as part of an international coalition. the move puts pressure on western allies to send more heavy weapons as human rights groups want about imminent executions in iran, d. w talks to the son of the former shaw, now living in exile, i'm calling from the international community to help stop the brutality. german police remove activist trying to stop the expansion of a giant coal mine. campaigners say the new rush for coal makes a mockery of germany's climate goals. ah, i'm fil gail. welcome to the program. ukraine says fierce fighting is going on in the eastern town of solid off following conflicting reports about who has the upper hand there. now this comes, i made a major shake up at the top of rush,

as military russian president vladimir po said is pushing for away. massey appoints a new commander to take charge of his wool. his latest ukrainian soldiers firing at russian positions in the nets, province fighting is concentrated around sola. dar, a mining town near the strategic city of back, moot. these satellite images show the scale of the destruction since august of last year. conditions in back mood are dire. there is no heating or electricity. most residents flag the fighting. those who didn't are now trapped or turn causal thoughts follow. i sleep in the same clothes, i walk around in there, man, that we haven't been for 4 months. nature war score soon. everything will freeze your coronel so both the kitchen door and the toilet. okay. fisher or hart data?

there are a lot of people here. grandfather's grandmother's, no one goes anywhere. but there is in the leader of the russian mercenary wagner, group claims it has captured sola. dar yevgeny per goshen, released this picture of himself, allegedly in a salt mine near sola. dar, he says the town is surrounded, but ukraine's president refutes those claims as russian propaganda on the blue book, the lucky if they will present and are already presenting this to their society in order to support mobilization to give hope to those who are for the aggression but the fighting continues of doughnuts is holding optimal. if solid are falls, it would no doubt boost russian morale. it could also help president putin to appease his critics who say his war effort is fumbling. on wednesday the kremlin announced another shake up among the military leadership general valerie's gras, them off,

has been appointed as the new commander to head up the offensive in ukraine. brasmer of his task with turning round rushes fortunes in a war that has been badly legging in recent months. and yet vladimir putin has shown no sign of relenting in his quest to come out ahead against keith. will address raja is a defense on this with the german council on foreign relations. i asked him about valerie's good asked him off and how his appointment might change the way this was fought either, but it did get us to move just chief of general stuff and the long trusted ally of it. so he's appointment to head devora, ukraine, or the special military operation as russians call it may be interpreted as monday or strengthening the criminals. died of control over to operations. an interesting element is the earlier commander general. so what weekend did not go away. he became the deputy of get out of in order to get it to other generals. so now we're

going to have some kind of a 3 headed command structure over the russian boy, ukraine. so it needs to be seen, to what extent get us to get directly involved into actually commenting the troops . another important element in his appointment is to get all the movies now intended to serve as a fully integrated commander of all the russia. 40 in ukraine, including the notorious mercenaries of the wagner group, headed by your vin goshen, and also the fighters of the church on board or guns and can do so. and under of a, of interpreting get us some of the appointment is that it's kind of a disciplinary measure against a diesel and also against gordon, who have acted so far because that other autonomy on the front line. i found interesting i'm, we will come, come back to that. this is however, president putin, for commanding general in the 11 months. so, so of this war that what does this,

this re shuffle, tell us about what is likely to be going on at the top in the kremlin. most probably, there is on the one hand, there is an increasing power struggle between various actors who are involved in or around avoiding ukraine. that's one thing. and the 2nd thing commanding position were devoid ukraine is kind of a hot potato because russia has so far failed to achieve any of its ordered you know, objectives. so i'm not entirely sure that anybody who gets this comment position would be entirely happy about it. and then let's open at now about the ukrainian town of salida, which those russian mercenaries from the wagner group claimed to have captured and then were contradicted, not just by ukraine, but also by the kremlin. and as you, as you say, that does seem to be some disciplining of them by the kremlin. so let's, let's 1st of all start with the town hasn't been captured or not as far as it can be reconstructed from open sources. so far, there are still some cleaning units defending in the city,

so the battle is going on. however, i would warn against overestimating the importance of solar solar, dora was a very small and mining town. the depopulation of some 10000 before divorce and debated for solid are, is important only because it's part of a battle for a much more important settlement. buttonwood, which is approximately 20 kilometers south west from solar. the reason by russians shifted their emphasis on solid are, is that they have been trying to think buckled almost 400 for a year. they said thousands of soldiers in future frontier attacks against baltimore. and because the city of buffalo has been fortified by ukraine already for 78 years. ok? now by trying to capture thread are russians are attempting the lot to get and circumvent and cut off. but this is what makes the better for sort of that important. one more thing here to add a is famous, not only of the wagner group, but also because he's on that off stomach kind of growing factories. it's quite

possible that because he's trying to manipulate the public perception of the better for solid are and make it look much more important made actually, and as you say, he's not been rained in by the kremlin. so this is that some sort of power struggle going on between the kremlin and this autonomous group of mercenaries. isn't that much bigger between the kremlin and the wagner group, but more between the ministry of defense and develop regular militaries are often kind of jealous about private military companies. and so this is not something specific for russia. however, the wagner group has a long, long lasting, quite strange relationship with the russian minister of the fence. nobody get appointed. it looks like the diminished of the fact is trying to exercise much closer control over the wagner globe than it did before fast. i think thank you so much for outlining that. so clearly defense analysts to address raj in budapest,

thank you. poland is offering to supply ukraine with german made leopard tanks as part of an international coalition announcement follows talks between polish president andre duda, ukraine's a lot of means lansky. on wednesday. the pledge puts pressure on germany, which is so far, refused to deliver the advanced tanks to ukraine. boy feel ukraine needs heavier weapons that has been, keeps message to its western allies for months on top of the list, the german built levered to battle tank. so far, western nations have been reluctant, fearing further escalation with a new killer armed russia. but that might be all about to change over that entire shoes or to be sure, we have decided that the moment for poland to decisively support ukraine has come to throw the pores. k. now stumpy, a company of la tanks,

will be handed over as part of a coalition. lo barbara, her grammar widow vanya crowded. the offer from poland president on j. duda is a welcome one for keith. but there's a catch without germany's approval. other nations cannot supply leopard tanks to ukraine. poland coal for an international coalition to deliver the weapons piles additional pressure on german chancellor, olaf schultz. so far he's been reluctant to commit but as russia claims it's making fair the gains in easton ukraine. keith says berlin's foot dragging is costing lives. although i, who only the transfer of weapons will end this war who doesn't die, otherwise the war will go on and on. luxury do not will ukrainian cities will be destroyed ish and ukrainian. people killed elizabeth, but we will definitely keep going to the end of the but it's just that the cost will be very high. ali thing long,

poland and other nato allies are leaning ever harder on the german chancellor to change his tune. while that discussion about that leopard battle tangs continues the supply of mazda infantry fighting vehicles has already been agreed. german army is using these that light tanks as part of nato as a very high readiness joint task force. chairman, defense minister christy lambert has been visiting the nato unit to day and she faces increasing pressure to agree to the delivery of those larger leopard tanks to crate. berlin says it would only consider such a delivery in co operation groups. nato allies. law chief political correspondent, nina hossa, is following the german defense minister's visit, and i asked her whether christine lambert had indicated whether germany would allow paula to deliver those leopards. no, she hasn't yet. or we are expecting her very shortly behind us. add these barracks

here in the eastern germany in saxony, where you will be demonstrated how the mazda armored vehicles work. and she is also expected to give a statement later on where will also get the opportunity to ask her again, just why germany is so reluctant to give that permission to other countries to deliver the leopard tags to ukraine. and so far she hasn't said anything. and you also have to keep in mind that ultimately a lot of their decision making when it comes to defense lies with in the chancellor re as well. so all afterwards has to give his consent. and, but of course all i've shown is under pressure from allies to act. there are a lot of important meetings and in the next couple of days and pressure is mounting . for example, he will be meeting his friends counterpart, the french president emmanuel, my call next week for a ministerial meeting between the cabinet members of both countries. and there it is highly unlikely that germany can sustain such

a meetings or to high level political meeting without actually having said that it will give, it's okay to other countries delivering the leopard tags to ukraine. and then the next step along those road. if germany is to give it permission to other countries to use german built, i have the weapons in this way. people will ask, well, why isn't joe? they are providing this directly to you crate. is that likely to happen? well of course that question will only be answered once. the 1st question has been answered. so this is something i think once this threshold has been passed, once germany has given it's okay for other countries to use this german made armored via the, the german made tank in this battle scene in ukraine. then of course, it can say if other countries are supplying the lepers directly, then we can as well. this is something that the german government has dressed for months now,

but they won't go it alone. that they'll only do it together with others. that reason there is, of course, that germany doesn't want to be seen as pushing forward too much with heavy weaponry on the ground fighting russian soldiers. that is one of the main reasons that people are speculating why the chancellor is standing on the brakes here. but if other countries and it is looking more and more likely, are willing to supply these left tanks to ukraine than it is very hard to imagine that germany won't give its consent to this facts meter chief political correspondent, nina. so he's look at some more storage making headlines around the world. us defense secretary lloyd austin has said he does not believe china is about to invade taiwan. he was speaking talks between c u. s. and japanese officials, japan's foreign minister. hi ashley, a yoshi massa. so china represents an unprecedented strategic challenge. tokyo funds to double its defense trending over the next 4 years. b, u. s. president,

jo biden's legal team has found further classified government records in a 2nd location linked to the president. this week classified documents were found in an office mister buying used after his time as vice president, president to said that he set cooperating with the justice or forces investigating the matter. the head of one of a lot of the world's largest oil companies has been named president of vicious cop 28 climate talked. sultan and the algebra is chief executive of the abu dhabi national oil company appointments as triggered a fierce criticism from climate activists. a cop $28.00 meeting is set to take place into by the end of this year. please here in western germany are continuing to forcibly evict climate activists from a town or the center of a battle over coal mining. protesters moved in to stop energy joined r w e from demolishing the homes to make way for operations. government insist the

coal is essential to maintain energy supplies. the activist dispute there since i have a gun, the german government. so climate goals should come 1st. one by one police remove the activists occupying due to that or 30 say several 100 left the village voluntarily. most others resisting peacefully as officers moved in to dislodge them. from tree has is suspended platforms and the roof tops of abandoned homes. their goal to stop energy giant r w e from excavating lake night. the dirtiest form of coal, from deep beneath the village alliance on middle east by burning the cold from under the village. germany is breaking the paris climate agreement. and at a time when the climate crisis is escalating,

we have to make sure that emissions are drastically reduced and that's why coal mining has to stop here. now that's often the german government has struck a deal with the energy company to phase out co by 2030. the demolition of this village is part of a compromise. excavate here now spare others in the future but host oh does. i'm also tired of signs that a large part of the villages actually, irma for demolition will not need a bonus corner to qualities where hundreds of people still live your will not lose their homes in law which oh, dos commercials on protests from ball up. oh, i do think the protest mead symbols, but looks as odd when nobody lives anymore kinds of wrong symbols. my knowledge of how chosen boy with the war in ukraine and the energy crisis. coal has seen a revival in germany. still, experts died that the cold underneath little heart is really needed. our studies and also other studies show that it's not necessary to mind the call,

especially beyond and below the village of little hard, not a big failure because we do have enough coal in other areas of gods by law and the other mining regions that it's necessary to, to meet the energy transition and also the climate goals. ah, but in the end it's energy company r w e, who legally owns the village and they want to stick to their plans. they expect profits worth several 1000000000 euros from the additional coal. the police operation to clear the activists has proved complex and highly divisive as germany grapples with its energy transition on our correspondent nearly fund hammerstein is that in luke sarah, welcome merely, although many protesters left her there definitely

a few protesters left here and around a 100 maybe more a couple of hundreds and we can see some of them behind me. they are being evacuated from the 3 houses that are left here. i'm standing in the old, a center of the village of looks at ours. and we just want to give you a little bit of an impression what it looks like here. police have begun not only evicting the activists but also have begun, some of the demolition works. and so they're taking down trees. they're taking just beginning to take down the structures and the houses, and that's once you know, used to used to be this village. and that is why we've been asked to where the these helmets. but as you can see behind me, there is still some activists may well point up am in these structures. and let me tell you is it's pretty windy. the weather is, is tough. it's been raining all day and, and it's, it has been very windy with, obviously brings especially those people who are still on the tree houses and up in

the air into danger. i talked to the police spokesperson and he said that they've been in contact with the activists to make sure that everybody gets out here safely . but yet they're still people in the houses and 3 houses, especially on the 1st day of the police operation, was mostly peaceful. it looks like that has continued to day. yes, i mean we, we do have to say there is a small minority and that has attacked eye witnesses this morning and has attacked police with the m a fire works or bottles were thrown and, and, and some oranges and apples to and that was their minority and the police have confirmed it largely, it has remained peaceful. those are activists who are being, you know, letting themselves, being carried out of the houses and the tree house is peacefully. don't have to fear any, any jury to show consequences. and, but we do expect sort of this eviction to kind of come to a pretty tense end point. activists do have told me they wanna,

they want to stay here and hold out a little bit longer. and we might see cash's for thank you for that many of on how much time in human rights organizations are wanting that scores of people in iran, the face of death penalty for taking part in protests against the regime. a mass protest movement emerged in september following the death of the young woman that she had her matter, a mini while in the custody of the country, so called morality police. so far, at least at 4 people have been executed for a palazzo, is the son of the last shot of iran and lives in exile. he spoke to our persian service and sophie arrangement. people would not be able to stop the executions and transition to a new government without support from the international community. the international factor is also important because none of this can happen without having some direct support from the international community. that's the key for success,

which will be when, when, in the best interests of the iranian people, as well as respective countries that was sent in the right side of history with the iranian people that has to be part of the solution. and the transition is not sufficient to only bring political and diplomatic pressure or economic pressure on the regime it the time has come to also offer a maximum support to these on people. part of it is supporting the fact that this transition can happen with the permit or forces joining with iranian people. and at the end of the day, the regime has no leg to stand on any more and will ultimately collapse. well, let's explore this with my food. i'm merely muggy down, he's director of angio, iran, human rights and a professor at the university of are also welcome back to d w. so how can country's support the iranian people directly? thanks for having me there. well, you see, we have had, in the past several examples of changes where people inside the

country have done, did have played the major role. but international support are absolutely contributed to catalyzing. it. for example, at the apartheid regime in south africa, i think, is a good example, the anthea about that fight was going on for many years. but it was 1st in the eighty's when you know, international community realize that the world cannot tolerate race apartheid the way they are doing it in south africa. i think that was important. and this is the model that i think it many people in iran on looking for that not on the condemned violation of the human rights, but also acknowledge and support their demands self. the iranian people who are calling for the right to leave a normal life and all human rights for all people,

regardless of gender and the city. ok. so you must be got quite worried that we are likely to see a lot more executions of protesters in the coming months. absolutely not. this is a regime that has done it before in the eighty's, thousands of political prisoners where executed that penalties, their main instrument of spreading fear without rebuilding this barrier of fear they con, continue their route. so we are very concerned that unless the execution that has already happened or met with serious consequences, we might be facing many more executions. and now of course, the key factor in all of this is the military will play another clip from this interview and get your take. as a matter of fact, that thing mostly wrong is know that the running military have never been against the people. in fact, from the very beginning, when the i r g c was created, it was

a mechanism of guarantee of regime survival because the regime didn't trust the military. the r g c was not created to support the country. the odyssey became a mechanism with amanda to export an ideological revolution and stand against those who are against is exportation. and today we have seen that at the end of the day, it is not the military who oppose the people. it is the i r g c. that is a major problem. i think the iranian nation would like to see these people who are the solution now and would like to join with the people be with them and be in a some kind of a shield of protection. when the faster citizens have to face the regime repression . so it's a reza poloffis making the argument that while the range revolutionary god might support the regime regular soldiers don't. what do you think is the right?

well, it is true that the iranian military, basically, people who are in the regular army day represent this iranian society. why the i r g c, the revolutionary guards and the entities the working with the are recruited ideologically. however, even many of those inside, at the lower levels of our g. c, probably they are losing faith at this regime because now we are dealing not only with an ideological regime but also highly corrupt regime, so corrupt, oppressive, and incompetent regime. so i think that the majority of people who are in regular army, they don't support this regime. and so thank you so much for joining us on mass mood, mac mood. i'm merely, morgan, i'm director of iran. human rights is remind of our top story of this ha. russia has appointed a new commander to lead its war. a new cry,

meanwhile, keeps us fierce fighting is going on in the eastern time. sallie doff it follows. conflicting reports about whether the time has actually been captured next up on dw conflict zone, the way that russia expert, fiona hill in the hot seat. i'll be back at the top of the good news with a, with

who conflicts with sarah kelly? my guess this week on conflict zone is a renown foreign policy expert who has spent most of her career analyzing vladimir putin, russia. fiona hill joined me from washington, where she has advised free west presidents and co author to book on sundays. where

does she think the wise heading? was this good plan all along or hadn't dec ethan power changed hands? conflict zone. greg next day w. o. sometimes a seed is all you need to allow the big ideas to grow. we're bringing environmental conservation to life with learning facts like global ideas. we will show you how climate change and environmental conservation is taking shape around the world and how we can all make a difference. knowledge grows through sharing, download it now for free india, a land of contrasts,

of ambitions of inequality. 75 years ago, mahatma gandhi peacefully led the country to independence. what has remained of his vision? where does the world so called the largest democracy stand and where is india headed in? this is the moment to unleash on violet bias. gandhi's legacy starts january 28th on d. w. my guest this week on conflict zone is a renowned foreign policy expert who has spent most of her career analyzing vladimir prudence, russia. fiona hill joins me from washington, where she has advised 3 u. s. presidents and co author to book on poodle her testimony in the 1st tromp impeachment trial made her a household name.