Photo : Eyepress/Reuters Connect
Photo : Eyepress/Reuters Connect
By Neha Tresa George
WAR ON GROUND
On 16 December, the BBC reported on the damage of two Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea, leading to an oil spill. According to footage released by Russia’s Southern Transport Prosecutor’s Office, the bow of one tanker was destroyed, and streaks of oil leaked into the water. The rescue mission managed to rescue 13 crew members from one tanker and 14 from another. However, one of them was reported to be dead. It happened in the Kerch Strait which separates Russia from Crimea. It is also a primary route for exporting Russian grains, crude oil, fuel oil and liquified natural gas. Putin has called for the creation of a working group headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev to manage the incident. According to analysts, two vessels were small and owned by the company Volgatanker. They could carry around 4300 dead-weight tonnes of oil each.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 16 December, RT reported on the statements of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Russia’s defence spending. He said that Russia could not step up its defence expenses indefinitely without considering other spheres. According to him, Russia currently spends around 6.3 per cent of its GDP on defence. He said: “In order for all the components of the country’s life – the economy, the social sphere in the broadest sense of the word, science, education, healthcare – to develop, we can’t increase these expenses infinitely.” Although the current expenses were not as high as in some other countries in the world, he noted that the money should be used “reasonably.” He confirmed that Russia would protect itself and its allies while prioritising its economic and social development. He also noted that the lessons learned during the war should be applied to the defence industry. Further, he called for an increase in the production of drones. He also informed that the modernisation of nuclear weapons had reached 95 per cent.
On 15 December, CNN reported on the destruction of two Russian tanks- the Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 vessels in the Black Sea. According to Greenpeace Ukraine, around 3700 tonnes of oil got spilt into the sea. It also informed about a similar incident in 2007, which had resulted in the contamination of the coastlines of the Kerch Strait, impacting marine life. Further, this oil spill had the “potential to be serious” with the area’s weather conditions, which could make the leak “extremely difficult to contain.” To bypass sanctions, Russia had been known for sending oil through its “shadow fleet” to countries like India, China and Turkey. Some left from the Black Sea, and while travelling to the Mediterranean, they turned off their transponders to dodge the international sanctions.
On 16 December, RT reported on the statements of Russia’s Defence Minister Andrey Belousov unveiling the number of people enlisted in the army in 2024. He said that around 400,000 people joined the army, and 1200 people voluntarily signed up for military service every day. According to him: “We continue systematic work on staffing the armed forces… Since the start of the year, over 427,000 servicemen have already been recruited.” He added that the military should continue recruiting more people and apply new techniques in personnel training and combat experience. Earlier, the reports indicated that more than 300,000 Russian servicemen were undergoing training in reserve regiments. However, Belousev did not mention the total number of Russian troops participating in the war.
On 16 December, RT reported on Russia’s plan to create a new unit of armed forces called the “Unmanned Systems Troops.” Belousov made the announcement as part of Putin’s plans to enhance the use of drone technology on the war front. According to Putin, the creation will be completed in the third quarter of next year. He further said that the usage of drones was increasing, with more than 3500 being used currently on the battlefield. He also noted that the Russian air defence system has showcased “high efficiency” since 2022. Putin has continuously called for an increase in drone production as he believed that Russia needed to address the demands of the battlefield faster.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 15 December, the Financial Times reported on the conditions of North Korean soldiers deployed in the Kursk region of Russia. According to the Pentagon, they suffered heavy casualties while fighting alongside the Russian troops. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that they had been either killed or wounded. Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) directorate found out that the North Korean troops fighting with the Russian marine and airborne forces attacked the villages of Plekhovo, Vorobzha and Martynovka in Kursk. In retaliation, Ukrainian forces used suicide drones and heavy artillery against them. According to the estimates of the DIU, around 30 North Korean soldiers were either killed or wounded out of the 200 casualties from the Russian side. These claims could not be verified independently. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that the Russians were trying to hide these casualties by burning the faces of North Korean soldiers killed in the battle. According to Ukrainian think tanks, North Korean soldiers were forced to go through Ukrainian minefields of two kilometres to carry out operations in Plekhovo. They were also replaced with another intake after the losses were incurred during the operation. They also reported on the communication gaps between the North Korean and Russian troops which resulted in huge mistakes. Zelenskyy also warned that the soldiers would also be extended to other parts of the Ukraine to undertake operations.
On 16 December, the Institute for the Study of War reported on the statements made by the defence minister of Russia Andrey Belousov. He said that Russia should ensure that the goals set out by Putin in June 2024 to attain victory. He was referring to Putin’s statements on entering negotiations with Ukraine only after the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts. Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev noted that Russia’s current territorial objective involved all four oblasts. Further, Belousov updated on the Russian military’s investments in technologies such as Artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing. He added that the logistics and supply system faced no challenges in 2024. He further said that the Ministry of Defence frequently met to discuss the war.
References
“Putin warns of limits to defense spending,” RT, 16 December 2024
“427,000 have joined Russian Army this year – defense minister,” RT, 16 December 2024
“Russia unveils plans for new army unit,” RT, 16 December 2024
“Two Russian oil tankers wrecked in Black Sea,” BBC, 17 December 2024
“Badly damaged Russian tankers carrying thousands of tons of fuel spill oil near Black Sea,” CNN, 16 December 2024
“Ukraine Conflict Updates,” ISW, 16 December 2024
“North Korean troops sustain casualties fighting Ukrainian forces, US says,” the Financial Times, 17 December 2024