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German delivers arms to Ukraine
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 05 Jan 2024

On January 4 Ukraine announced that it has received a Skynex anti-aircraft system, missiles for Patriot air defense systems, ammunition for Leopard tanks, radars, drone, detectors, trucks, anti-aircraft guns and small arms and ammunition. Berlin said it will double military aid to Ukraine in 2024...

Ukraine struggles to recruit troops as draft proves controversial
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 05 Jan 2024

In 2022 Ukraine had plenty of volunteers for its military. But the war shows no sign of ending in 2024, and tens of thousands of military deaths have meant that few men are volunteering. They are demoralized by the defeat of the counter-offensive. Russia has almost 4 times the population of Ukrai...

Ukraine bombards Russian city
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 04 Jan 2024

On January 3 Russia said that Belgorod was attacked by a Ukrainian missile. The city is close to the Ukrainian border and was hit by Ukrainian fire several times in December 2023. Russia regards these as terrorist attacks. Russia claims to have shot down a lot of Ukrainian missiles over Belgorod,...

Georgian breakaway region leases land to Russia
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 02 Jan 2024

On December 27 the President of Abkhazia signed a law that transferred a Black Sea resort to Russia for 49 years. Abkhazia is recognized as an independent country by Russia. However, the international community recognizes it as Georgian territory. The Abkhazian parliament passed the law during an...

Essential CIS Politics: January 2024
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 02 Jan 2024

* Putin stated he is running for re-election against 15 other candidates. * Ukraine is receiving less and less aid from its allies, which jeopardizes its war effort. * The EU began accession talks with Ukraine, but Hungary vetoed EU aid. * A major strike by oil logistics wo...

Armenia and Azerbaijan discuss peace
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 01 Jan 2024

On December 26 the Prime Minister of Armenia met the Azeri President in St Petersburg. It was at the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Summit. Both countries are members of the CIS along with other former Soviet countries. Baku and Yerevan have exchanged 7 draft agreements on permanent pea...

Major Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 29 Dec 2023

In the early hours of December 29 Kyiv, Lviv, Odessa, Dnipro, Kharkiv and other cities were hit by drones and missiles. Ukraine claimed the attacks targeted infrastructure and not military positions. They say a maternity hospital was hit. Cruise, hypersonic and ballistic missiles were fired. At l...

Ukraine claims to have sunk Russian warship
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 28 Dec 2023

On December 27 Kyiv said the landing ship Novocherkassk was sunk by Ukrainian jets in the Russian port of Feodosia. Russia stated that the ship was damaged but did not state there were any casualties. A Russian Telegram channel said there were 77 sailors aboard the ship at the time of the attack....

Japan giving air defense to Ukraine
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 28 Dec 2023

On December 28 a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman fulminated against the decision, saying there will be repercussions. On December 22 Japan made the announcement to donate Patriot missiles to the US, which in turn allows the US to donate other Patriot missiles to Ukraine. Japanese law prohibi...

US sanctioning banks that facilitate Russia's war effort
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 27 Dec 2023

On December 22 the US made the announcement. These are secondary sanctions on financial institutions that in any way expedite the Russian defense sector. Any institution that does this will be blocked from the US financial system. Some in the US are worried that this will hasten countries moving ...

Ukraine retreats from eastern city
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 27 Dec 2023

On December 26 the most senior general in the Ukrainian Army, Valery Zaluzhni, announced that his forces had pulled out of Maryinka. He claimed that the city had been totally destroyed by Russian bombardment. Russia claims to have seized the whole city. The city has been under attack since the st...

China building railroads in Central Asia
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 25 Dec 2023

On December 21 Kazakhstan announced that a rail line will stretch 272 km from Ayagoz to Bakhty on the border with China. Construction is already underway. The aim is to increase freight capacity from 28 million tonnes to 48 million tonnes. It is due to commence operation in 2027 and has twin trac...

Candidates for Russian presidential election register
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 24 Dec 2023

Putin is supported by the largest party: United Russia. But he is not a member of any party. Candidates who are in the registration process include a retired military officer who is fervently pro-war; the former Defense Minister of the Donetsk People's Republic; a local councilor belonging to the...

Russian draftees are refused demobilization and another draft is prepared
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 22 Dec 2023

On December 22 various media outlets published stories saying that Russia will draft more men in 2024. These will not only be the usual 18-year-olds doing their one year of military training. This will draft men up to their 40s who have already long completed their military service.  The governme...

Russo-Israeli relations at new low
RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 21 Dec 2023

This is the worst they have been since the dissolution of the USSR. The October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel were not fulsomely denounced by Putin despite Russians' being among the victims. Moscow has called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Putin even said Israel's tactics were close to Nazi ones. Hamas say...

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