Photo : Thix photo
Photo : Thix photo
War in Ukraine: Days 701
War on the Ground
On 25 January, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President called for an international investigation into the crash of Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft. He accused Russia as “playing with the lives of Ukrainian prisoners.” Following the crash, Zelenskyy asked Dmytro Kuleba Ukraine’s Foreign Minister to give necessary information on the incident to its allies.
On 25 January, Ukraine’s air force reported on shooting down 11 out of 14 drones launched by Russia over Odesa and Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine. According to the report, two were reported to be injured in an attack on Black Sea city and damage was observed in residential and civilian infrastructures.
On 25 January, Deutsche Welle reported on one of the Ukraine’s security service unit’s claims on carrying out drone attack on Russia’s oil refinery. According to the report, the refinery located in the southern Russian town of Tuapse came under attack. This refinery acts as the primary oil processing unit and its vacuum and atmospheric columns were observed to have been damaged.
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 25 January, Russia’s state media news agency RIA confirmed the crashing of the black boxes of the transport aircraft which crashed in Belgorod. It accused Ukraine for shooting down the plane which carried prisoners for swap.
On 25 January, Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister issued a statement on Turkey, stating its assurance to not allow the US access Black Sea. In a press conference, on the question over Turkey crossing the rule of Montreux Convention, Lavrov responded saying, US warships will not gain access from Turkey. The convention acts as a regulator to maritime traffic between Bosporus and Dardanelles straits connecting the Aegean Sea and Black Sea. Lavrov stressed that the US efforts to pursue Turkey into negotiating the maritime route will not be allowed. The Convention mandated warships “to comply with a number of regulations in times of peace, while in wartime belligerents are not allowed to sail them through the straits.”
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 25 January, Turkey’s government ratified the bill which was earlier approved by the parliament on Sweden’s accession into NATO. This leaves Hungary which remains the last member of the NATO to approve. Ulf Kristersson, Sweden’s Prime Minister said: “With this, a key milestone has been reached in Sweden's path towards NATO membership.”
On 25 January, the Council of Europe’s (COE) parliamentary assembly (pace) adopted a resolution unanimously on the destiny of the Ukrainian children who were deported by Russia forcibly. In the resolution, the COE called all the national parliamentarians to adopt resolutions recognising such crimes as genocide. It also urged the international community to collaborate with Ukraine to bring back or trace the lost children.
References
“Türkiye unlikely to let US warships enter Black Sea – Lavrov,” RT, 25 January 2024
“Situation of Ukrainian children: PACE calls for urgent measures and international co-operation,” Council of Europe, 25 January 2024
“Turkey formally ratifies Sweden’s NATO membership, leaving Hungary as only ally yet to endorse it,” Associated Press, 26 January 2024
“Ukrainian drones hit Rosneft refinery in Russia – source,” Reuters, 25 January 2024
“Ukraine updates: Kyiv calls for probe into plane crash,” Deutsche Welle, 24 January 2024