Photo : Kremlin.ru
Photo : Kremlin.ru
War in Ukraine: Day 715
By Padmashree Anandhan
War on the Ground
On 08 February, Ukraine’s Armed Forces (UAF) reported on pressure on the front line in Avdiivka from the Russian forces. According to the report, Russia is observed to be keen on capturing the town leading to months of intense attacks. Vitaly Barabash, Avdiivka’s Mayor said: “Unfortunately, the enemy is pressing from all directions. There is not a single part of our city that is more or less calm.” In the recent day, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President had also indicated the difficulty in fighting in the town and capturing this would be symbolic as the war forwards into third year. UAF claimed on defending 40 assaults in Avdiivka in past 24 hours.
On 08 February, Zelenskyy replaced Valerii Zaluzhnyi with Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi as the new Ukraine Commander in Chief. Following Zelenskyy’s discussion with Zaluzhnyi on the need for renewing the leadership of the UAF, the decision was made with an intention to switch battlefield tactics and strategy. Zaluzhnyi said: “The tasks of 2022 are different from the tasks of 2024. Therefore, everyone must change and adapt to new realities as well. To win together too.”
On 08 February, the UN Committee called on Russia to stop transfer of children from Ukraine and provide information of those deported. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child included a panel of 18 “independent experts” who stressed on ending the “forcible transfer of children from Ukraine.” According to Ukraine, close to 20,000 have been deported since February 2022 which Russia denies.
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 08 February, RT published key takeaways of Tucker Carlson, Fox News Journalist with Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President. In the report, Putin criticised Ukraine for not fulfilling its social welfare commitments to the population in Donbas and siding with the West to fight Russia. These were seen as the reasons to spark the war and continue till now. On the possibility of a conflict with the NATO, Putin said that there will not be one unless there is a direct attack on Russia from NATO countries. He blamed the NATO for not keeping its promise in accepting Russia into the alliance in 2008 and called west’s tactic in Ukraine as a “colossal political mistake.”
On 08 February, Ministry of Defence of Russian Federation claimed on prisoner exchange of 100 Russian prisoners with Ukraine. The exchange was aided by the UAE and the received personnel will be sent for medical and mental healthcare. The move comes after the failed exchange where 65 POWs died in destruction of II-76 aircraft over Belgorod.
On 08 February, Russia’s oil company, Rosneft warned Germany’s Economic Ministry over expropriation of shares. In a report published by Reuters, Germany was found to be planning for nationalisation of Rosneft activities in Germany. This includes turning 54.17 per cent shares held in Berlin’s Schwedt refinery. Although the German government is unsure of its final decision, the oil refinery was categorised under “trusteeship in September 2022” following the war in Ukraine. According to Rosneft, it assured to take protective measures for its shareholders and such expropriation will lead to damage to “investment security service.”
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 08 February, Marc Thys, former deputy chief of Belgium highlighted the pressure faced by Europe to improve its production capacity to meet the national and Ukraine’s arms demand. The concerns are starting to emerge as the doubts over US support to Ukraine continue. The chief warned on time span of five to seven years to reach the industrial threshold for “credible deterrence.” On the same issue, during the European Investment Bank Group Forum, Charles Michel, European Council President said: “We could invest at least €600 billion in defense over the next 10 years.”
On 08 February, video of the interview held by Carlson and Putin was released. On 09 February, Politico published a set of critical takeaways. According to the report, Putin’s aim remain clear on de-nazifying Ukraine, and showcasing a grim image on the US and its support to Ukraine to matter less in the war. Carlson was heavily criticised for turning this as an opportunity for Russian propaganda.
References
“Ukraine updates: Russia attacks Avdiivka en masse — mayor,” Deutsche Welle, 08 February 2024
“Ukraine conflict, fallout of NATO expansion, relations with US: Key takeaways from Putin’s interview with Tucker Carlson,” RT, 09 February 2024
“Russia and Ukraine conduct major prisoner exchange,” RT, 08 February 2024
Joshua Posaner and Laura Kayali, “Europe’s arms production is in ‘deep shit,’ says Belgian ex-general,” Politico, 08 February 2024
Eva Hartog and Sergey Goryashko, “Tucker Carlson’s Putin interview: 9 takeaways,” Politico, 09 February 2024