Photo : REUTERS/Igor Tkachenko/File Photo
19 April 2023, Wednesday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #491
War in Ukraine: Day 419
By Padmashree Anandhan
War on the Ground
On 18 April, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met the forces in Avdiivka to know the battlefield situation. The city has been under Russia’s target since its winter offensive, but has been able to make only little advance. In the video released by the President’s office shows the awards being presented to the soldiers and the heavily damaged residential building. According to the report, only 1,800 civilians are present in the area currently.
The Moscow View
Claims by Russia
On 18 April, Kremlin reported on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s visit to southern Kherson and eastern Luhansk. The visit comes as Ukraine is observed to be getting ready for new counteroffensive in the self-proclaimed areas by Russia.
On 18 April, TASS reported on usage of a facial recognition system by Russia to track young men who would be eligible for military service. Since the signing of the conscription law, the measures have become narrow for those trying to avoid the service. According to the report: “To determine the place of residence of the conscript, video surveillance systems in the city of Moscow are being used.”
The West View
Responses from the US and Europe
On 18 April, Poland which was the first to ban Ukraine’s grain imports, struck a deal with it set a system to ensure no backlog of grains remained in Poland. Through signing of the deal, the grains will be transited into Poland for exporting to other place, but will not stagnate its market. According to the spokesperson Miriam Garcia: “The main purpose of the solidarity routes was to provide Ukraine with alternative routes for the export of agricultural products and other products, guaranteeing the functioning of the Ukrainian economy in the context of the blockade of the Black Sea ports.”
On 18 April, in the row of ban on Ukraine’s grain imports, Romania has joined stating it would ask for an immediate decree to impose a temporary ban. The move comes as the increasing internal pressure to safeguard their agricultural markets.
On 18 April, Poland’s Interior Minister announced the construction of an electronic barrier in the land border shared with Russia. The barrier is aimed to carry out 24 hours monitoring, extending to 210 kilometers.
References
“Ukraine updates: Putin visits troops in Kherson, Luhansk,” Deutsche Welle, 18 April 2023
Magdalena Partyla, “Polish-Ukrainian grain agreement. EC reaction,” rmf24.pl, 18 April 2023
“Romania next European state to consider Ukraine grain import ban,” Daily Sabah, 18 April 2023
“Zelenskyy visits frontline troops in Ukraine’s besieged Avdiivka,” efe.com, 18 April 2023
“Vladimir Putin visited the Headquarters of the Dnepr Group of Forces and Vostok National Guard Headquarters,” Kremlin.ru, 18 April 2023
“Russia Says Surveillance System Helping to Find Draft Dodgers,” Moscow Times, 18 April 2023