Photo : CENTCOM / Handout/picture alliance
Photo : CENTCOM / Handout/picture alliance
By Rosemary Kurian
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 07 April, according to the ABC News, Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, condemned the drone attack on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, targeting one of its six nuclear reactors. He stated on X that such attacks “significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident. Russia blames Ukraine for the attack on the nuclear plant controlled by Russia. No critical damage or casualties were reported by the plant staff, but later, Rusatom, the Russian state-owned nuclear agency, reported that three staff members were wounded.
On 09 April, the UN Human Rights Office noted a sharp increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine after Russia stepped up its attacks. In March, 57 children were reported killed or injured, double the number from February. A 20 per cent increase in killing or injury of civilians since February has been noted by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission. Almost 93.5 per cent of the civilian casualties reported were noted in government-controlled areas.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 09 April, according to RT, Ukrainian shelling in the Russian village of Kilmovo in the Bryansk Region left two dead and three injured. Aleksandr Bogomaz, the Bryansk’s Governor, noted that the attack by “Ukrainian terrorists” damaged several cars and set a house on fire, after attacking the central part of the village with at least 10 shells. Being a border region, Bryansk has been targeted with constant strikes by drones and missiles since mid-March.
On 09 April, according to RT, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, called President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan “divorced from reality.” In a statement with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, he urged that plans to end the war must take into account Russia’s security concerns. Zelensky’s plan was first presented in 2022, urging a complete withdrawal of Russian troops to maintain Ukraine’s 1991 borders. Lavrov, instead, hailed the 12-point plan proposed by China as the “clearest” to date, taking into consideration “current events: and seeking to “eliminate root causes.” During joint talks between Russia and China, Lavrov added that BRICS was aiding Russia to bypass Western sanctions, with Wang Yi offering solutions to the issue “within the framework of BRICS and within the SCO”. Russia’s diversification of trade post western sanctions have caused a surge in Russia-China trade reaching USD 240 billion last year.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses of the US and Europe
On 09 April, The Washington Post reported on the US transfer of weapons made by Iran to Ukraine. The weapons were seized between 2021 and 2023 from "stateless vessels" and was approved to be sent to Ukraine under the Justice Department civil forfeiture programme which is responsible in monitoring the military operations in Middle East especially against the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The seized weapons include 5000 Kalashnikov rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and half a million rounds of ammunition. The move is observed as a significant move of the US to sustain its assistance despite the block in multibillion dollar aid remains at stake in Congress. Pentagon was found to be effective in tracing and blocking the shipment of Iran's arms to its proxies and redirecting to Ukraine.
On 09 April, according to Rheinmetall, the government of Germany ordered Rheinmetall to supply 20 additional Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) to Ukraine. Ukraine has already been supplied with the IFVs through direct deliveries and circular exchange programmes. Further, the 1A3 Marder IFV with integrated laser range finders to enable precision targeting, have also been ordered. The Marder IFV was developed for the Bundeswehr, as one of the world’s most efficient weapon systems, consistently modernised to improve its combat effectiveness.
On 09 April, according to Financial Times, David Cameron, the UK Foreign Secretary, met with Donald Trump, former US President, and stated that aiding Ukraine was “profoundly” in the interest of the US. Cameron is visiting the US to urge US Republicans to approve the USD 60 billion Ukraine aid in Congress. Cameron urged for a “secure and strong NATO, with full US and Atlantic support.” Trump’s campaign however indicated that they weren’t convinced with Cameron, amid increasing doubts of the detrimental effect Trump victory would have over Ukraine aid and NATO.
References
“Drones attack the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant”, ABC News, 07 April, 2024
“UN records sharp rise in civilian deaths, injuries in Ukraine in March”, Arab News, 09 April 2024
“Woman and child killed in Ukrainian shelling of Russian border region – governor”, RT, 09 April 2024
“Zelensky’s peace plan ‘divorced from reality’ – Lavrov”, RT, 09 April 2024
“BRICS helping Russia bypass Western sanctions – Lavrov”, RT, 09 April 2024
“Assistance for Ukraine unbroken: Rheinmetall delivers additional 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles”, Rheinmetall, 09 April 2024
Alex Horton, “U.S. sends Ukraine seized Iranian-made weapons”, The Washington Post, 09 April 2024
Felicia Schwartz and Lauren Fedor, “David Cameron says Ukraine aid is in US interest after meeting Donald Trump”, Financial Times, 09 April 2024