Photo : AP Photo
17 August 2022, Wednesday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #282
War in Ukraine: Day 174
By Rishma Banerjee
War on the Ground
On 16 August, Kyiv Post reported that Ukraine’s forces had attacked the Antonovsky bridge for the second time with HIMARS. Russia’s bridge-repair tools were also destroyed in the strike. The Antonovsky bridge is the main bridge connecting the two sides of Kherson across the Dnieper river. As a result of the destabilization of the bridge, thousands of Russia’s troops have been trapped and cut off in the occupied parts of Kherson.
Also on 16 August, Ukraine’s military said that they have repelled several attacks by Russia in the Donbas region. Ukraine military’s general staff claimed that Russia attempted to attack the northern Kharkiv regions, in the Kramatorsk direction, and on Bakhmut, but were unsuccessful in their efforts. Russia was also found to be using tanks, tubes and rocket artillery to attack in the Sloviansk direction but according to the general, Ukraine’s armed forces were successful in pushing them back.
On the attacks in Crimea, a key advisor to president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mykhailo Podolyak said that there could be similar attacks in the “next two or three months.” Though Ukraine had not officially claimed responsibility for the attacks, Podolyak said that the explosions could be viewed as “demilitarization in action.”
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 16 August, president Vladimir Putin addressed the participants of the 10th Moscow conference on international security and spoke about how “Western globalist elites” have been hampering the “sovereign paths of development.” He also criticized the west for destroying the European security system and the NATO bloc for their eastward expansion. Putin justified Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine citing the presence of neo-nazi ideology and numerous murders of inhabitants in Donbas. He also accused the US of prolonging the conflict and of interfering in the matters of a sovereign country as it had done in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Russia's defence minister, Sergei Shoigu in a phone conversation with UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres to discuss the operational safety of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. On the issue of nuclear weapons, Shoigu said that targets in Ukraine did not require a nuclear strike. He insisted that the claim about Russia using nuclear weapons did not coincide with Russia’s guidelines of using nuclear power only in emergencies. He also mentioned that Russia using chemical weapons in their offensive in Ukraine was an “absurd” idea as it destroyed its chemical weapons stockpile in 2017. Shoigu said that it was worse than during the Cold War, blaming NATO and its expansionist policies. He also said that the ‘myth’ surrounding the greatness of “superweapons” supplied by the US was being dispelled as all the weapons were easily being “ground up in battle.”
On 16 August, explosions were reported in the elite military unit in Dzhankoi in Crimea. On the blasts in Crimea, Russia’s defence ministry said that it was a clear “act of sabotage.” At least two civilians were wounded and over 3000 people have been evacuated from the area around the weapons depot.
Russia’s embassy in the US said that the US functions with no regard for the security and interests of other countries, thus increasing the risk of nuclear attacks. It revealed that the US has withdrawn from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and the 1992 Treaty on Open Skies, while Russia “faithfully fulfills its obligations as a nuclear-weapon state.” The embassy said: “The [US’] steps to further engage in a hybrid confrontation with Russia in the context of the Ukrainian crisis are fraught with unpredictable escalation and a direct military clash of nuclear powers.”
On the same day, the Tagansky district court fined the popular video streaming service, Twitch, RUB two million for not removing a video with false information about Russia. The video in question allegedly promotes false news about the events in Bucha, where hundreds of civilians were murdered by Russia’s armed forces. Roscomnadzor (Federal agency in charge of communications and IT) has said that the measure will be in place till the violations are removed by the platform. The same court also issued a RUB four million fine on Messaging App Telegram. The fine was because Telegram refused to remove a bot that reveals the personal details of Russian servicemen involved in the offensive in Ukraine. Both the platforms have been found guilty under Part 2 of Article 13.42 of the code of administrative offenses.
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 16 August, Germany's chancellor Olaf Scholz refused to back the EU-wide ban on granting tourist visas to Russia grew. His reluctance to ban Russian tourists comes after several EU countries are deliberating on allowing Russian tourists in their countries, given the invasion of Russia. Scholz said that the war is Putin's responsibility and the Russian people should not suffer for it. At a press conference in Norway, Scholz also said that the dissidents fleeing Russia must be kept in mind.
However, individual countries are taking steps to implement the ban. Finland's foreign ministry issued a statement saying that from 01 September, the number of visas issued to Russians will be slashed. It will cut down Russian visa application appointments from 1000 to 500 per day, of which only 100 will be tourist visas. This move was catalyzed by the fact that Russians have been using the Helsinki-Vantaa airport as a major entry point into Europe and as a gateway to European holidays.
The UK defence ministry, in its intelligence update said that Russia's Black Sea Fleet is struggling to control the sea effectively. Patrols were generally limited to waters near the Crimea coast. It added that the fleet's limited effectiveness undermines Russia's amphibious threat to Odesa.
On the same day, AP News reported that five Europeans captured in Russia as mercenaries are on trial in Russia backed Donetsk since 15 August. Matthias Gustafsson from Sweden, Vjekoslav Prebeg from Croatia, and John Harding, Andrew Hill and Dylan Healy from the UK all pleaded not guilty to their charges. However, if found otherwise, they might face the death penalty under the laws of DPR. Their next hearing is scheduled for October.
As reported by the Joint Communication Centre (JCC), in August, 563,317 tonnes of agricultural products have been shipped from Ukraine through the grain corridors set up by the Black Sea grain initiative. As per Turkey’s TRT Haber, in the first fifteen days of August, 21 outgoing ships departed from Ukraine’s Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi ports and 15 inbound ships had reached Ukraine.
The Global Fallout
Implications of the Ukraine war
On 16 August, UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric on the IAEA visit to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, said that the UN had the logistic and security capacity to facilitate the visit. But due to difficulty to reach the plant, the mission will have to cross the frontline at Kyiv mentioned by the Russian spokesperson has challenged in making the visit possible.
Also on the same day, Dujarric announced that Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip and Erdogan and Antonio Guterres will meet Zelenskyy in Lviv on 18 August. The leaders are planned to discuss the situation at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant to find a solution to the Ukraine war. Guterres is also expected to visit the Joint Communication Centre in Istanbul on 20 August.
On 16 August, as per satellite images from Planet Labs PBC, the first ship to have left Ukraine, Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni has been docked at the Tartous port in Syria. The ship which set sail on 01 August which was supposed to unload at Lebanon has not set sail since the original buyer refused the shipment.
Also on 16 August, the first maritime shipment of Ukrainian wheat grain for humanitarian operations run by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) left for the Horn of Africa. WFP director, David Beasley lauded the effort and said: “It will take more than grain ships out of Ukraine to stop world hunger, but with Ukrainian grain back on global markets we have a chance to stop this global food crisis from spiraling even further.”
References:
“Russian Troops Encircled After Antonovsky Bridge Bombing,” Kyiv Post, 16 August 2022
Paul Byrne, “Ukrainian military says it repelled more than dozen attacks,” AP News, 16 August 2022
“Armed Forces of Ukraine push Russian troops back in four directions,” Ukrinform, 16 August 2022
“Address to participants and guests of the X Moscow Conference on International Security,” kremlin.ru, 16 August 2022
“Shoigu, Guterres discuss safe functioning of Zaporozhye NPP,” TASS, 15 August 2022
“No need for nuclear weapons in Ukraine – Moscow,” RT, 16 August 2022
“Western ‘superweapons’ myth dispelled – Shoigu,” RT, 16 August 2022
“Ukraine Defies Russia With Attacks on Crimea, a ‘Holy Land’ to Putin,” The New York Times, 16 August 2022
“Russia warns of ‘direct military clash’ with US,” RT, 16 August 2022
“Telegram fined four million rubles in Russia,” LENTA.RU, 16 August 2022
“Twitch fined two million rubles in Russia,” LENTA.RU, 16 August 2022
David Mac Dougall, “Germany refuses to back calls for Russia tourist visa ban,” Euronews, 16 August 2022
“Finland limits visas to Russians amid rush of Europe-bound tourists,” Reuters, 16 August 2022
“Russia's Black Sea fleet struggling with effective sea control, UK says,” Reuters, 16 August 2022
“Five Europeans go on trial in separatist-controlled Ukraine,” AP News, 16 August 2022
“563 thousand 317 tons of foodstuffs were transported from the grain corridor,” TRT Haber, 16 August 2022
Michelle Nichols, “U.N. can facilitate IAEA power plant visit, but Russia puts conditions,” Reuters, 16 August 2022
“Erdoğan, Guterres, Zelenskyy to hold meeting in Lviv,” Daily Sabah, 16 August 2022
“Ship carrying first Ukraine grain cargo docks in Syria's Tartous - shipping source,” Reuters, 17 August 2022
“First WFP vessel leaves Ukraine, boosting efforts to get food supplies to people threatened by famine,” wfp.org, 16 August 2022
IN BRIEF
By Padmashree Anandhan
GERMANY
Germany’s commission reveals annual report on discrimination
Germany’s anti-discrimination commissioner Ferda Ataman, disclosed a report on Germany’s persisting problem of discrimination. The report revealed a highest record of cases in the last 12 months since 2006 with 5,617 cases last year. As per the split, 20 per cent were found to discriminated because of gender, 10 per cent due to age, nine per cent based on religion and four per cent on sexual identity. Ataman urged the government to give more opportunities to those affected to claim their rights, and better legal framework. (“Germany: Discrimination a continuing problem, report shows,” Deutsche Welle, 16 August 2022)
SPAIN
Spain’s waning climate disasters
On 16 August, Spain’s ministry for the Ecological Transition reported record-high temperatures in Spain since 1961. The recorded temperature was more than 44 degrees Celsius, with the average ranging from 25.6 Celsius and an increasing trend of 2.7 degrees from 1981 to 2010. In response, the government has installed climate shelters in libraries, sports centres, museums and schools mainly to help the old, children, and people with chronic disease. In terms of forest fires, close to 265,000 hectares have been destroyed, for which the government signed a decree to propose plans to control such fires. Apart from the high-temperatures, and wildfires, drying of water reserves and rising sea temperatures is also occurring in different parts of Spain. As immediate protective measures, Spain has restricted its water supply, and few activities such as swimming pool, washing cars and showers in the beaches. It has also called for the amendment of the regulations over coastal development. (“How Spain is coping with the heat,” Deutsche Welle, 16 August 2022)
POLAND
Poland finds more dead fish in the Oder River
On 17 August, Poland firefighters removed 100 tonnes of dead fish from the Oder River which runs between Germany and Poland. The national firefighter press office spokesperson confirmed the operation, where 1000 of fish were found in the 520 mile stretch of the river. Although the reason behind the death is yet to be discovered, the Polish prime minister said: “Probably enormous quantities of chemical waste was dumped into the river in full knowledge of the risk and consequences.” (“Poland pulls 100 tonnes of dead fish from Oder river after mystery mass die-off,” The Guardian, “ 17 August 2022)
REGIONAL
Despite Greece’s exits from bailout monitoring, economic problems continue
On 16 August, Greece announced the stepping out of the bailout-monitoring which has raised reactions from the government and investors. Greece which was in bailout from 2010 to 2018, which was under the help of the EU to prevent going bankrupt will be out of the scheme from 20 August. According to Greece's Finance Minister, the economic difficulty faced by Greece was over and it can now draft its own economic policy. During the crisis, Greece’s unemployment rate was at 28 per cent, which has now reduced to 12.5 per cent. Although the inflation stands, the GDP has boosted by 8.3 per cent. Few problems still remain such as the “chronic tax evasion,” dependency over large businesses, and a poor sovereign debt rating. (Nektaria Stamouli, “Greece exits bailout monitoring, but austerity pain lingers,” POLITICO, 16 August)
UK initiate a consultation with the EU to settle the dispute over access to scientific information
On 16 August, the UK government began a formal consultation with the EU to address the delays in accessing EU’s scientific research. Through the consultation, the UK and the EU will settle the dispute through the norms set in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Although the negotiations to access the information began in 2020, the EU has been the blocking UK which has now led to serious constrain to the research and development industry of the UK. While UK is a leader in science, technology and research concentrated, EU’s research community has supported the decision to collaborate with the UK. It is to mainly, benefit collaborative research and resolve societal and economic challenges. (“UK launches formal consultations with EU over access to scientific programmes,” Gov.uk, 16 August 2022)