Photo : Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo
25 April 2022, Monday| NIAS Europe Daily Brief #184
War in Ukraine: Day 59 & 60
by Ashwin Dhanabalan and Rishma Banerjee
War on the ground
Zelenskyy’s address
President Zelensky informed about his talk with prime minister Boris Johnson about the situation in Mariupol, and the general state of hostilities so far. He also thanked him for the “significant defensive and financial support” that the UK had sent to Ukraine. He also spoke about a press conference in Kyiv, which was attended by both local and foreign journalists. He also said that he was preparing to talk to the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
On 24 April Zelenskiy said on Sunday that the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan had held talks. They discussed the need for evacuation of the civilians in Mariupol.
Luhansk under intense shelling
On 23 April, the governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai said that eastern Luhansk was constantly under heavy shelling. Amidst, Ukraine’s forces trying to regroup in the region the Russian barrage was also intensifying. However, he said that it was not a critical setback. He also informed about an artillery strike on the front line town of Zolote, which killed two civilians and wounded two.
Continued shelling in Mariupol
On 23 April, Ukraine's presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said that the offensive in the Azovstal steelworks has been resumed. In an address on the national television, he mentioned how the Russians were conducting airstrikes in an effort to storm the Avovstal, where the last forces are holding out.
On 24 April, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk informed that it had not been possible to set up any humanitarian corridors in Mariupol. She blamed the Russian forces for not holding their fire and urged U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to talk about this when he visits Moscow next week. Ukraine also reiterated how Russian forces continued to storm the Azovstal steelworks.
Casualties reported in Odessa
On 23 April, Russia conducted a missile strike on Odessa. On national television, the region’s spokesperson, Serhiy Bratchuk said: "There are casualties - killed and wounded," while mentioning that the exact toll was still being counted.
Other developments
On 24 April, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said that Russia has deployed Iskander-M mobile battlefield missile launchers within 60 km of Ukraine’s border. He said: "Then enemy has increased the number of troops in the Belgorod region by transferring and concentrating additional units.”
The Moscow view:
Claims by Russia
Russia’s Defence Ministry
On 23 April, Russia’s defence ministry informed that they have shot down one of Ukraine’s Su-25 fighter jets, along with three MI-8 helicopters, in an airfield in Kharkiv. They also mentioned that a logistics terminal in Odesa had been hit by high precision missiles. Reportedly a large number of weapons given by the USA and European nations were being stored in the terminal.
On 24 April, The ministry also reported that nine Ukrainian military targets were hit by high-precision missiles. This included four arms depots in Kharkiv region. They also allegedly hit a facility in Dnipropetrovsk which produced explosives for Ukraine’s forces.
Russia looks into British SAS special forces in Ukraine
On April 23, Reuters reported that Russia was looking into the alleged sabotage experts that are part of Britain’s SAS special forces. A Russian security source alleged that about 20 SAS members have been sent to Lviv, though the British Defence Ministry was not available for comment on this. This is especially of consequence because of the repercussions Russia has promised to unleash, if teh West, especially a NATO country gets in the way of their “special military operation”
Ukraine’s aggression in Russia
On 23 April, Roman Starovoit, the Russian governor for the Kursk region said on his Telegram account that Ukraine had shelled a crossing point in Russian territory. He also said that an office building of Rosselkhoznadzor, a Russian agriculture watchdog also caught fire as a result of it.
On 24 April, according to TASS, a village in the Belgorod region was shelled by Ukraine. This region is on the border of Ukraine. Russia said that no casualties were reported and one of the projectiles landed in a field.
The West view:
Responses from Europe
The US
On 24 April, US state department spokesperson Ned Price spoke about the war in Ukraine and said: "This is going to be a victory for Ukraine. On the other hand, it is going to be a strategic defeat for Russia. However and whenever that happens, we are confident of that." He added that Ukraine would win because of their grit, determination, tenacity, and due to the immense security assistance from the US.
On the same day, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin and secretary of state Antony Blinken visited Kyiv and met with Zelenskyy. The leaders discussed the war in Ukraine and the US arms supplies to Kyiv.
Also, on 24 April, the Institute for the Study of War released a report on how the Russian forces will likely increase their ground offensive in Eastern Ukraine. Nevertheless, they added: "…it is too soon to tell how fast they will do so or how large those offensives will be." On the Ukrainian soldiers stuck in the Azovstal Steel Plant, they predicted that Russia would attempt to starve out the remaining defenders, and they would not allow trapped civilians to evacuate.
The UK
On 24 April, UK's prime minister Boris Johnson assured Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to send more armoured vehicles, drones and anti-tank weapons. Johnson also mentioned that Russia would be held accountable for its actions in Ukraine. He added that the UK would also help in collecting evidence of war.
On the same day, the UK's defence ministry released an intelligence update that stated that Russia was planning to conscript Ukrainian civilians from Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. They added that this plan would also be followed in Crimea and Donbas eventually. The ministry added: "Any enlistment of Ukrainian civilians into the Russian armed forces, even if presented by Russia as being voluntary or military service in accordance with Russian law, would constitute a violation of article 51 of the fourth Geneva Convention."
On 23 April, the UK stated that it would be reopening its embassy in Kyiv. Apart from that, it also announced to provide additional military aid and assured to issue new sanctions against members of the Russian military.
Germany
On 23 April, former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder stated that he would resign if Russia cut Germany's gas supply. Schröder said: "It won't happen…But if it did, then I would resign." Schröder is the current head of the supervisory board of state energy company Rosneft.
On the same day, Germany's finance minister Christian Lindner extended his support to chancellor Olaf Scholz's policies on arms deliveries to Kyiv. Scholz was being criticised domestically and internationally for refusing to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons. Germany also stated that it would do everything to help Ukraine win, but without endangering its security and NATO's defence capability.
Poland
On 23 April, Poland and Ukraine said that they created a joint logistics company to help Kyiv send out its grain exports to the EU and its global markets. The leaders of Ukraine and Poland signed an MoU to officially declare the initiation of the venture. It was launched in response to Russia's invasion and blockade of Ukraine's ports cities.
Latvia
On 23 April, Latvian ambassador Ilgvars Klava said he had returned to Kyiv. Klava returned to Kyiv since Russian forces had withdrawn their troops from and around the capital.
Turkey
On 23 April, Turkey closed its airspace to Russian planes carrying soldiers to Syria. Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: "We have closed our airspace to Russian military planes and also civilian planes flying to Syria and carrying soldiers."
OSCE
On 24 April, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said it was highly concerned about the war in Ukraine and several of its members who are believed to be arrested in pro-Russian separatist territories. The OSCE stated: "The OSCE is extremely concerned that a number of @OSCE_SMM national mission members have been deprived of their liberty in Donetsk and Lugansk."
Pope Francis
On 24 April, Pope Francis said he used the Orthodox Easter weekend to re-appeal for a truce between Russia and Ukraine. He added: "I renew the appeal for an Easter truce, the smallest tangible sign of a willingness for peace. Stop the attacks to ease the suffering of exhausted people." At St Peter's Square, a blue and yellow flag of Ukraine flew among the people gathered.
The Global Fallouts:
International implications of the Ukraine war
Indonesia
On 24 April, Indonesia announced a ban on its palm oil exports. This comes as Indonesia faces a shortage of palm oil supplies for its domestic markets. Indonesia's president Joko Widodo said it was to "...ensure the availability of food products at home, after global food inflation soared to a record high following Russia's invasion of major crop producer Ukraine."
The UN
On 24 April, the UN stated that almost 5.2 million Ukrainian had fled the country since the start of the war. The report mentioned: “The total figure of 5,186,744 increases 23,058 over Saturday’s data, the UNHCR said. More than 1,151,000 Ukrainians have left during April so far, compared with 3.4 million in the month of March alone.”
On the same day, the UN’s Ukraine crisis coordinator, Amin Awad, urged for an end to the fighting in Mariupol to evacuate the civilians trapped in the city. He added: “The lives of tens of thousands, including women, children and older people, are at stake in Mariupol…we need a pause in fighting right now to save lives.” The UN estimates that around 100,000 civilians are still trapped in Ukraine.
Also, on 24 April, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said he would be visiting Turkey before travelling to Moscow and Kyiv. This comes as Turkey has been a crucial mediator between Ukraine and Russia and has hosted peace discussions between the two countries.
The IAEA
On 24 April, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Ukraine had asked for a “…comprehensive list of equipment” to run its nuclear power plants. This comes as IAEA officials are visiting the nuclear power plants in the country.
The Mount Everest
On 23 April, a BBC report mentioned the repercussions of the War in Ukraine on Mount Everest. The mountaineering industry, which was already impacted by the pandemic, was now facing cancellations due to the war.
References:
“Ukraine says shelling of eastern Luhansk's cities intensifying,” Reuters, 23 April 2022
“Russia has resumed offensive against Ukrainian forces in Mariupol's Azovstal, Ukrainian official says,” Reuters, 23 April 2022
“Missile strike on Ukraine's Odesa caused casualties, says regional spokesperson,” Reuters, 23 April 2022
“Artillery strike kills two civilians in Ukraine's Luhansk region, says governor,” Reuters, 23 April 2022
“Ukraine's Zelenskiy, Turkey's Erdogan discuss Mariupol,” Reuters, 24 April 2022
“Ukraine blames Russia after Mariupol humanitarian corridor fails on Sunday,” Reuters, 24 April 2022
“Russia says it destroyed Odesa terminal where foreign weapons were stored,”Reuters, 23 April 2022
“Russia says it shot down Ukrainian fighter jet in Kharkiv region,” Reuters, 23 April 2022
“Russia investigates media report on presence of British SAS special forces in Ukraine,” Reuters, 23 April 2022
“Ukraine shells crossing point in Russia, governor of Russian region says,” Reuters, 23 April 2022
“Russia says village in Belgorod region shelled by Ukraine -TASS,” Reuters, 24 April 2022
“Russia says it struck arms depots in Ukraine's Kharkiv region,” Reuters, 24 April 2022
James Clarke, “Ukraine war: UK to send more military equipment, Johnson tells Zelensky,” BBC Live, 24 April 2022
“US: 'This is going to be a victory for Ukraine’,” The Guardian, 24 April 2022
“US officials meet Zelenskiy in Kyiv,” The Guardian, 24 April 2022
“OSCE ‘concerned’ over missing members in separatist areas,” The Guardian, 24 April 2022
“Pope Francis has used the Orthodox Easter weekend to once again appeal for a truce in Ukraine,” The Guardian, 24 April 2022
“The US-based Institute for the Study of War has released its latest analysis, warning that Russian forces will likely increase the scale of ground offensive operations in the coming days,” The Guardian, 24 April 2022
“The United Kingdom’s ministry of defense has released an intelligence update,” The Guardian, 24 April 2022
"The United Kingdom will be reopening its embassy in Kyiv,” The Guardian, 24 April 2022 “Ukraine says missiles hit residential buildings in Odesa — as it happened,” Deutsche Welle, 24 April 2022
“UN: almost 5.2 million Ukrainians flee war,” The Guardian, 24 April 2022
“UN’s Ukraine crisis coordinator, Amin Awad, has called for an “immediate stop” to fighting in Mariupol so that civilians trapped in the city can be evacuated today,” The Guardian, 24 April 2022 “UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will visit Turkey on Monday before travelling to Moscow and Kyiv, the UN said,” The Guardian, 24 April 2022
“Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events on day 60,” Al Jazeera, 24 April 2022
“Ukraine conflict day 60: Zelenskyy discusses Mariupol with Erdogan,” CGTN, 24 April 2022
Anbarasan Ethirajan, “Mount Everest: Even world's highest peak not immune to the Ukraine war,” BBC Live, 24 April 2022
IN BRIEF
By Padmashree Anandhan and Ashwin Dhanabalan
FRANCE
Emmanuel Macron wins a second term, defeats Marine Le Pen
On 24 April, Macron won a second term with a vote share of 58.8 per cent. US president Joe Biden congratulated Macron and said: “I look forward to our continued close cooperation — including on supporting Ukraine, defending democracy, and countering climate change.” This comes as the US expects close cooperation with France, especially with the selection of Macron as the next president. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, congratulated Macron and called him a true friend of Ukraine. Elysee’s presidential office stated that Macron had spoken to Germany’s president Olaf Scholz and said: “It was the first call taken by the President, a mark of Franco-German friendship.” (“Emmanuel Macron wins French presidential election — as it happened,” Deutsche Welle, 25 April 2022)
INTERNATIONAL
European commission president visits New Delhi
On 24 April, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen visited India to strengthen EU-India ties. Ursula’s visit to New Delhi would renew talks on energy issues and climate neutrality. She added: “But Europe alone won’t save our planet. It’s a global effort, and we need to work with India. And we count on you, the young people, to keep fighting for the climate.” She also would be meeting India’s prime minister Narendra Modi and plans to discuss New Delhi’s position in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The visit comes as the EU and India are celebrating 60 years of relations. (Dharvi Vaid, “EU chief Ursula von der Leyen begins India tour,” Deutsche Welle, 25 April 2022)