Photo : Sergei Malgavko/TASS
Photo : Sergei Malgavko/TASS
By Padmashree Anandhan
War on the Ground
On 05 March, Ukraine’s Armed Forces (UAF) claimed to have destroyed Russia’s warship close to Crimean Peninsula. According to Andriy Yusov, UAF spokesperson, “Sergey Kotov” of “Project 22160” class Russia’s patrol boat was damaged earlier in an attack in September 2023. This was destroyed completely by “Magura V5” Ukrainian naval drones. On the same Ukraine’s military intelligence reported that Russia’s boat faced damage in the stern, starboard and port sides in the Kerch Strait which is a narrow waterway dividing Crimea from Russia’s Taman. Russia is yet to report on the event, whereas Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President called it “a symbol of the occupation.”
On 05 March, Ukraine claimed on launching nine drone and artillery attacks on Russia’s Belgorod area near the border. According to the report, no casualties were recorded but strikes led to fire at a train station and subsequent power outage in a village near Kursk.
On 05 March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrant against two senior Russian officials (army lieutenant and navy admiral), Lt. Gen. Sergei Ivanovich Kobylash and Adm. Viktor Nikolayevich Sokolov who were accused of committing war crimes in Ukraine. According to the court: “Crime against humanity of inhumane acts…are each allegedly responsible for the war crime of directing attacks at civilian.” They were found responsible for striking Ukraine’s electric infrastructure during October 2022 and March 2023. In response, Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to Ukraine’s President called the move: “extremely symbolic.”
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 05 March, in an interview to TASS, Vladimir Putin Russia’s President disclosed BRICS group plan to create a payment system using digital technologies. Yury Ushakov, a senior foreign policy to Putin said that the goal was to create one within the group to facilitate digital currencies and blockchain. This would enable ease of transaction at state, person and business level. The move is viewed to replace currency usage in place of USD.
On 05 March, RT reported on Ukraine’s drone attack in Belgorod and Kursk areas. According to the report, four plane-type UACs were deterred by Russia’s air force. The same was confirmed by Vyacheslav Gladkov, Belgorod governor who reported on the emergency services handling the fire in the “infrastructure object.” A warning was issued to the residents over threat of drones and Ukraine was observed to be using Kamikaze drones in Russia.
On 05 March, Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson issued a warning against Germany on media freedom. She warned about situation of expelling of German journalists from Russia in a rebuttal if Germany expelled Russian journalists. On the same Anton Gorelkin, Russia’s State of Duma MP accused the US for encouraging Germany to reduce Russia’s journalistic presence. On the same day Alexander Lambsdorff, German Ambassador was called and handed an “official protest and demand” to clarify the audio leak and the phone conversation on plans to strike Crimea bridge.
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 05 March, the European Commission revealed its plans to establish a defence industry programme of EUR 1.5 billion with an agenda to improve the production and procurement of weapons. This is mainly to reduce dependency over US armaments. Under the programme, 27 EU member states are asked to gather minimum 40 per cent of their defence equipment by 2030. It also intends to increase intra-EU defence trade to 35 per cent with finances for the programme to follow through the EU budget between 2025 and 2027. In a statement the Commission said: “To increase European defense industrial readiness, member states need to invest more, better, together, and European.”
On 05 March, Deutsche Welle reported on Poland-NATO troops exercise in Vistula river. 20,000 NATO troops along with battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers and equipment took part in the exercise in northern Poland. This forms part of the larger operation “Dragon 24” under NATO’s “Steadfast Defender” which will be held across 2024. The current exercise will include 15,000 Polish troops supported by 5,000 from eight other NATO members.
References
“Ukraine says it has sunk a Russian patrol ship near Crimea,” Reuters, 06 March 2024
Marlise Simons, “International Court Accuses 2 Russian Officers of War Crimes in Ukraine,” The New York Times, 05 March 2024
“Ukraine updates: EU proposes €1.5 billion defense fund boost,” Deutsche Welle, 05 March 2024
“BRICS to create blockchain-based payment system – Putin aide,” RT, 05 March 2024
“Russian defenses repel multiple Ukrainian drone attacks overnight – officials,” RT, 05 March 2024
“Russia issues media freedom warning to Germany,” RT, 05 March 2024