Photo : Maxim Blinov/RIA Novosti
Photo : Maxim Blinov/RIA Novosti
By Padmashree Anandhan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 09 March, Ukraine’s air force claimed of destroying 12 out of 15 Iran-made Shahed drones. A bomb attack was reported in Kherson resulting in the damage of a building and injury of a child. Another attack was reported in centre Dnipropetrovsk, a village by the Dnipro River which led to the death of another child.
On 10 March, Government of Ukraine reported on Russia’s strike using S-300 missile in Myrnohrad, an eastern town resulting in injury of many and death of three as shelling continued across Donetsk. Another attack was observed by Russia using Shahed drones in Dobropillya killing one more person in Chasiv Yar.
On 10 March, Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s Foreign Minister expressed consent to join cruise missile exchange proposed by David Cameron, UK’s Foreign Secretary to help Ukraine with long-range weapons. According to the report in Deutsche Welle, Berlin can supply the Taurus missiles to the UK in return of it supplying long-range Storm Shadow missiles to Kyiv.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 09 March, Russian forces claimed on destroying 47 drones of Ukraine launched across southern region in Rostov. According to Russian army, the air defence systems which flew over Belgorod, Kursk, Volgograd and Rostov oblasts were shot down and destroyed. Vasily Golubev, Governor of Rostov reported on a drone strike in Taganrog city near Sea of Azov and only one rescue worker was injured. On the same day, Ukrainian forces claimed on destroying 12 to 15 Russian drones.
On 10 March, Russia’s defence ministry reported on several drone attacks in Novgorod and Leningrad oblasts located more than 1000 kilometres from Ukraine border. According to Roman Starovoit, Governor of Kursk reported on death of a woman and fire at an oil deport from the debris. Following this, the ministry reported on shooting down three drone attacks and imposing of airspace restrictions in response to the drones.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 09 March, in an interview to Süddeutsche Zeitung, David Cameron, UK’s Foreign Secretary warned against sending western troops to Ukraine even if it was for training. He suggested the training mission to be held outside Ukraine as deployment of foreign soldiers in Ukraine would turn them as targets for Russia. He also urged for long-range weapon support for Ukraine and UK’s plan to cooperate with Germany to surpass the problem over Taurus missile supply.
On 10 March, The Guardian reported on the EUs fights towards rising false claims in the social media on war in Ukraine. According to the report, pro-Russian are expected to be spreading the claims across Facebook, X, and TikTok showing Ukrainian refugees as criminals and Ukraine officials diversion of western aid into buying luxury yachts and villas. Such spread of information was observed as propaganda aimed at weakening the EU and promoting anti-immigration parties such as Germany’s AfD, France’s National Rally and the Party of Freedom in the Netherlands.
On 10 March, Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London announced on aiding Ukraine with the vehicles which does not obligate under its ultra low emission zone (Ulez) instead of full removal. This means the given vehicles will be sent permanently to Ukraine for humanitarian and medical purposes. Since the war Ukraine’s infrastructure has been damaged severely and access to health care has become scarcer.
References
“Ukrainian Air Defenses Successfully Thwart Overnight Attacks of Missiles and Drones,” The Kyiv Independent, 10 March 2024
“Ukraine updates: Poland won't rule out NATO force in Ukraine,” Deutsche Welle, 09 March 2024
“Mass drone swarm intercepted over Russia – MOD,” RT, 09 March 2024
“Kyiv Says Russian Attacks Kill Several in South and East,” The Moscow Times, 09 March 2024
“UK's David Cameron opposes sending troops to Ukraine, even for training,” Le Monde, 09 March 2024
Caroline Davies, “Russia-Ukraine war: at least three killed and a dozen injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine, says Kyiv – as it happened,” The Guardian, 10 March 2024
“Ukraine updates: Russia reports drones far from border,” Deutsche Welle, 10 March 2024