The war threatens to enter a new dangerous phase
Julian Borger’s analysis explained how a series of mysterious explosions in Moldova has raised the threat of Russia’s war in Ukraine expanding into new territories, with unpredictable consequences. Authorities in the Moscow-backed Transnistria region have blamed Ukrainian invaders for the attacks, and the Kyiv government has claimed that the attacks were carried out under the guise of a Russian-led infiltration of Russian troops, just as similar bombings in Donba. February 24 Russian invasion of Ukraine. A Russian move in Transnistria would pose an immediate threat to Moldovan sovereignty, which, like Ukraine, has shown growing interest in joining NATO. On Thursday, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Nicu Popescu said the attacks represented “a very dangerous new moment in the history of our region”. One of Europe’s poorest countries, Moldova is facing a large influx of refugees and the economic effects of the war, which has cut off almost 15% of its exports. With the start of this new phase in the war, a layer is being stripped away from the stock that has so far prevented NATO and Russia from coming into direct, hostile contact during the Cold War and since, Borger writes. And if the ominous explosions in Transnistria are the omen of a new Putin gambit, Moldova could be the next testing ground where this dangerous new world is felt. A reservoir created as a tourist attraction in the city center of Tiraspol in Transnistria, Moldova. Photo: Rex / Shutterstock
Russia shuts down gas
Dan Boffey in Brussels, Philip Olterman in Berlin and Rob Davies in London wrote about the consequences for Europe after Russia cut off gas supplies to two EU countries and threatened others, in a move condemned by European leaders as blackmail. The move, described by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki as an “immediate attack” on his country, was justified by the Kremlin in response to the two countries’ failure to comply with the ruble payment requirements. However, it led to a dangerous confrontation as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that any EU country surrendering to Russia by paying for gas in rubles would violate the bloc’s sanctions regime, which the UK and others have acted unceasingly. Craig Erlam, senior market analyst for the UK and Europe at foreign exchange firm Oanda, said: “This may be a warning sign to others that they will not follow suit, but if they do, the controversy may catastrophe occurs with energy prices. “With the Kremlin in a position to impose the same punishment on everyone if they do not comply, Europe may find itself without Russian gas or look weak.” Hungary has said it is happy to pay in rubles and reportedly three of Europe’s largest gas companies – Germany’s Uniper, Italy’s Eni and Austria’s OMV – are also considering ways to comply with Putin’s decree. In a separate analysis, Rob Davies asks: how worried is Europe? A worker uses a gas burner to prepare a casting mold for casting cast iron at the Siempelkamp Giesserei foundry in Krefeld, Germany. Photo: Sascha Schuermann / Getty Images
On the ground in the “Fortress Zaporizhzhia”
Isobel Koshiw visited Zaporizhzhia, the only major city in southeastern Ukraine under Ukrainian control. It has become a destination for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing Russian occupation, but with 70% of the area under Russian military control, there are fears that Moscow forces will try to seize it. As preparations for the arrival of war begin, life in the city is surprisingly normal – even busy – for Ukraine in time of war. “You can see for yourself that people are out, going to work – the city is prepared, but it will not get there,” said Ivan Ariyev, the press secretary of the Zaporizhia regional military administration, in one of the wars. . relevant training courses offered to teachers and journalists in the city. Attendees, who are then expected to educate the wider community, were taught how to load a gun, provide first aid and do a basic medical evaluation. The people of Zaporizhia are preparing in case the Russian forces decide to attack. Photo: Roman Pilipey / EPA
Metal darts out to kill
Flares are rarely used in modern warfare. Small, metallic and sharp like an arrow, thousands can be stored in each shell. Once launched, the shell will explode on a timer, spreading the tiny arrows far and wide. The weapon was used in World War I – it fell from planes to pierce the helmets of enemy infantry. Now, they are removed from the heads and chests of civilians in Ukraine. Lorenzo Tondo reported on the discovery of tiny metal arrows on the bodies of men and women in mass graves, allegedly killed during the Russian occupation of Bucha in Ukraine. “We found several thin objects that looked like nails on the bodies of men and women, and so did other colleagues in the area,” Vladyslav Pirovskyi, a Ukrainian medical examiner, told the Guardian. “It is very difficult to find them in the body, they are very impossible. “The majority of these bodies come from the Bucha-Irpin region.” Russian forces occupy Bukha, 30 kilometers northwest of Kiev, after fierce fighting after the Russian invasion in February. Towards the end of March, mass graves came to light containing the corpses of hundreds of people who had apparently been slaughtered. Bhutto victims’ bodies at a local morgue north of Kiev, where doctors and medical examiners are conducting autopsies. Photo: Alessio Mamo
mission creep?
As defense and security author Dan Sabbagh explains, the West’s war goals are expanding. On Monday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the West’s goal was to “weaken Russia” to the point where it could no longer threaten its neighbors. A day later, British Defense Secretary James Hippie said it would be “perfectly legal” for Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike inside Russia. On Wednesday, Western officials said they would like to see Ukraine return to pre-February 24 levels – at least since the start of the Russian invasion. As Ukraine cannot achieve this goal on its own, the question will be how much more Britain and other NATO members are willing to commit. On Wednesday, British Foreign Secretary Liz Tras appeared very committed, taking in her speech the most uncompromising approaches to a final peace settlement: approving the above measures but also compensation – payment to Ukraine for the damage caused by Moscow – a echo of the principles followed by the allied forces against Germany in 1919. Discussions on the definition of failure in any peace settlement are at an early stage among the cell of diplomats from “The Quad” – the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany – who are discussing the issue. Discussions will evolve as the battlefield unfolds. Our visual guide to the invasion is updated regularly and can be found here.
