Photo : Orlovka-Tonenkoye-Berdychi axis in the Donbas region. Image Source: RT
Photo : Orlovka-Tonenkoye-Berdychi axis in the Donbas region. Image Source: RT
By Padmashree Anandhan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 01 May, Gennadiy Trukhanov, Mayor of Odesa, reported on second missile attack by Russia in the week resulting in death of three and injury of three more. He said: “The enemy attacked Odesa with ballistic missiles. As a consequence of the attack, three people were killed and three more wounded.” Apart from the civilian loss, infrastructural damage was also recorded. On the same day, two more were killed in a Russian attack using guided bombs in Kharkiv. 10 other private homes were also damages along with civilian and energy infrastructure.
On 01 May, Deutsche Welle reported on Ukraine’s exiting gas infrastructure. According to the report, close to four billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas can be stored in foreign companies and traders for the coming winter. In an interview to Reuters, Oleksiy Chernyshov, Chief Executive of Naftogaz stated that it would be a 60 per cent increase from 2023. He said that despite Russia’s continued attacks on the company’s infrastructure, its underground storage had remained safe and the company aims to strengthen its defence by pumping of gas around vulnerable facilities. Such storage facilities deemed to be located majorly in western Ukraine have capacity of 31 billion bcm which will be sufficient to meet annual needs of Ukraine when sent from Europe on peak demand. Chernyshov added: “We are in a period of European shippers' meetings where we agree on the volumes of (gas) injection. They (the Russians) aim to discredit us as an energy hub with storage capacities.”
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 01 May, RT reported on exhibition displaying the captured west supplied weapons during the conflict in Ukraine. In the exhibition, heavy armour, 32 vehicles from Ukrainian forces, small arms, grenade launchers, and other military equipment captured were placed for display. According to the report, German made Leopard 2A6 and US-made M1A1 SA Abrahms was also included.
On 01 May, RT reported on Russia’s continuing combat in multiple fronts (local railway line, Ocheretino town) with exchange of long-range attacks including cluster munitions in Donbas. According to the report, Russian troops had made advances along Orlovka-Tonenkoye-Berdychi axis. These villages are located in the northwest of Avdeevka stretching along ponds and canal which have come under Russian forces control. Russian military has claimed breakthrough in the defensive lines of Ukraine near Ocheretino.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses of the US and Europe
On 01 May, the US Treasury imposed 300 sanctions on firms supporting the war in Ukraine. This targeted several from Hong Kong and China for aiding Russia circumventing sanctions imposed by the West. The sanctions also include firms from Azerbaijan, Belgium, Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Slovakia. Following this, Janet Yellen, Treasury Secretary said: “Treasury has consistently warned that companies will face significant consequences for providing material support for Russia's war, and the US is imposing them today on almost 300 targets.” Along with firms, individuals connected to the death of Alexei Navalny were also in the sanction list.
On 01 May, the US State Department accused Russia for violating the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act (CBW) of 1991 by using chemical weapons in Ukraine. The statement comes after an assessment which found use of riot control agents as a warfare method in Ukraine. In a statement the department said: “…the use of such chemicals is not an isolated incident, and is probably driven by Russian forces' desire to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield.”
References
Susie Blann and Illia Novikov, “Russian missiles hit Ukraine's Odesa for the third time in a week, injuring 14,” abcnews, 02 May 2024
“Drone captures scale of Western-supplied armor display in Moscow (VIDEO),” RT, 01 May 2024
“Donbass breakthrough, cluster munitions, and drone-proof tanks: The past week in the Ukraine conflict (VIDEOS),” RT, 01 May 2024
Alan Rappeport, “U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Chinese Companies for Aiding Russia’s War Effort,” The New York Times, 01 May 2024
Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana, “Russia used chemical weapons in Ukraine, US says,” Politico, 02 May 2024