Photo : AFP
Photo : AFP
By Rosemary Kurian
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 01 April, according to RFERL, sources suggested that Iran had warned Russia prior to the Crocus City Hall bombing in Moscow that killed at least 144 concert goers on 22 March. The unnamed source suggested that based on the information acquired “during those arrested in connection with deadly bombings in Iran,” Moscow had been warned. The attack was the deadliest attack targeting Moscow in 20 years, claimed by the Islamic State. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, stated that he had no information about Iranian reports warning of the attack, and Iran hasn’t commented on the matter yet.
On 01 April, according to Ukrinform, Russia carried out a strike in the Ukrainian town of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, injuring one. The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration noted that “a 27-year-old woman was hospitalised with shrapnel injuries” after Russian strikes struck residential buildings in Vovchansk.
On 02 April, according to CNN, Ukrainian AI-powered drones are targeting the Russian oil and gas industry, which has been Russia’s biggest source of revenue since the war began. The long-range Ukrainian drones that use AI have shown capabilities of basic navigation of avoiding jamming. With the help of the drone’s sensors, precision of attack is maintained. Noah Sylvia, a research analyst at the UK-based Royal United Services, noted that such drones have “machine vision,” a form of AI that enables the model to be trained to “identify geography and target it is navigating to...completely autonomous” without the need for additional communication. Ukraine has been using drones since its war began with Russia. Their drone industry has become full fledged with a significant technological edge over Russia, enabling it to carry out high precision attacks. Sources suggest that Ukrainian drones are targetting Russian distillation units that processes crude oil into its derivatives, instead of storage facilities, which could have a great impact on the Russian economy. Additional sources suggest that the US had instructed Ukraine to refrain from targetting Russian export energy infrastructure in exchange for aid, to prevent “a massive energy crisis.” However, since the aid is at an impasse in the US Congress, the deal falls short.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 01 April, according to RT, a Ukrainian strike in the Russian border region of Belgorod injured at least nine people. Of the major artillery and drone attacks launched by Ukraine, 36 aerial targets had been intercepted, noted Vyacheslav Gladkov, Belgorod’s Governor. The attack damaged several residential buildings, high-rise buildings, a local school and three vehicles, according to Gladkov. Belgorod among other Russian regions bordering Ukraine are subjected to frequent drone and artillery attacks by Ukrainian forces, which escalated last month.
On 01 April, according to RT, Konstantin Gavrilov, the head of Russia’s delegation at the Vienna talks on military security and arms control, stated that the state of relations between Russia and NATO is currently “something more than a Cold War.” When asked to comment on Emmanuel Macron, the French President’s comments that NATO “cannot exclude” the possibility of NATO troops being sent to aid Ukraine, he answered that if NATO tries to test Russia’s strength, “we are ready for any turn of events”. He added that the warnings unleashed by NATO leaders including Joe Biden, the US President, that Russia will attack NATO states after Ukraine, is diversionary in nature, to divert the “attention of taxpayers from the senseless pumping of their money” into Ukraine to “warm up the public opinion in favour of reviving defence industries in their countries”. His comment was similar to Vladimir Putin, the Russian President’s statement last week stating that NATO’s warning of a Russian attack “is utter nonsense and intimidation of their own population just to beat the money out of them”. Gavrilov pointed out that NATO’s Strategic Concept adopted in 2022 labelled Russia as “the most significant and direct threat”.
On 01 April, according to RT, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed that the four militants captured in Dagestan earlier had “direct involvement” in financing and providing equipment for the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack in Moscow. They were allegedly planning a mass casualty attack in Russia’s Kaspiysk and then escape Russia. Around 12 people have been detained in Russia in connection to the Moscow terror attack, including the four alleged gunmen. Eight of them, if found guilty, will face life imprisonment on charges of terrorism. While the Afghanistan branch of the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, Aleksandr Bortnikov, the FSB’s head, suspects a link between the US, the UK, and Ukraine with the crime. Further, Russia’s Investigative Committee reported that they found “substantial evidence” linking the suspects to Ukrainian nationalists, claiming that “significant sums of money” in the form of cryptocurrency had been sent to them from Ukraine.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 01 April, according to France 24, Stephane Sejourne, France’s Foreign Minister told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that France is “expecting that China will send very clear messages to Russia” on the latter’s war in Ukraine. China is a neutral party to the war in Ukraine, but has come considerably close to Russia since the war began. Meanwhile, France has become a staunch ally of Ukraine, with Emmanuel Macron, the French President, even considering the sending of French troops to aid Ukraine. France “is determined to maintain a close dialogue with China”, Sejourne added, stating that “there will be no security for Europeans if there is no peace in accordance with international law”. Sejourne met with Li Qiang, the Chinese Premier, to discuss the “global situations that are fracturing and dividing the world today,” pointing at the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Li welcomed the dialogue from France, hailing their shared “spirit of independence and autonomy.”
On 01 April, Financial Times reported on an interview of Armin Papperger, Germany’s military contractor Rheinmetall, head. According to the report, he demanded the European countries to prioritise on specialising defence groups to challenge the US competitors over their preference for national target. Since the stalling of military aid from the US, EU leader have continued to push for defence cooperation and the arm companies have put forth against each other while the military budgets have remained in control of an individual country or national level. EU’s rush to accumulate and gather army troops has been an advantage for such companies to build infantry vehicles, combat drones and smoothbore gun. Although other military contractors in Germany have complained, Rheinmetall have achieved to meet the production demand.
References
“Iran Alerted Russia Before Moscow Attack, Sources Say”, RFERL, 01 April 2024
“Woman injured in Vovchansk as Russia shells town on Monday”, Ukrinform, 01 April 2024
“At least nine wounded by Ukrainian strikes on Russian region – governor”, RT, 01 April 2024
Vasco Cotovio, Clare Sebastian and Alegra Goodwin, “Ukraine’s AI-enabled drones are trying to disrupt Russia’s energy industry. So far, it’s working”, CNN, 02 April 2024
“Russia-NATO relations worse than during Cold War – Moscow”, RT, 01 April 2024
“ Recently detained militants linked to Moscow terror attack – FSB”, RT, 01 April 2024
“France expects 'clear messages' from China to Russia over Ukraine war”, France 24, 01 April 2024
Patricia Nilsson, “Rheinmetall chief urges Europe to build defence tech champions,” Financial Times, 01 April 2024