Some press reports come from the battlefield, some come from headquarters.
The latter was the source for the lead story in today’s The New York Times that declared “Ukraine War’s Geographic Reality: Russia Has Seized Much of the East,” based on an assertion of the Russian Defense Ministry that “its forces in eastern Ukraine had advanced to the border between Donetsk and Luhansk,” the two provinces of Donbas.
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The article continues with an important caveat: “If confirmed,” the report signals that Russia could soon gain control over the entire Donbas region, which could put Moscow in position to force Kyiv to agree to its terms at the negotiating table.
Meanwhile, other Western media on the same day chose this news as their main headline: “Zelensky says Ukraine forces pushing back Russia troops in Kharkiv.” Yes, control of the nation’s second-largest city is no doubt a crucial barometer for how the war is advancing.
Other outlets and analysts try to keep up: Ukrainian news website Livy Bereg lists out, each day, the Ukrainian government’s reports of battle spots, missile counts and casualties. French daily Le Figaro regularly updates a series of maps to show — based on the best information they can access — who controls what territory: “As of today, in Donbas, the [Russian] separatists control more than 50% of Donetsk and around 90% of Luhansk.
Yet, another headline comes from Washington, where a top U.S. intelligence official warns that the Russian President is preparing for “prolonged conflict.” That may be an assessment all sides can agree on.
Five Russian Governors Resign, As Putin Consolidates Power
Five Russian governors have announced en masse their intention to resign ahead of schedule. Each said they’d made the decision autonomously to step down before the end of their term, acting on their own free will. President Vladimir Putin immediately appointed interim governors, who will have to confirm their powers in September elections.
Russian daily Kommersant reports that the dismissal of these politicians had long been predicted by the media and experts: the reasons cited included “fatigue” of the population, high levels of opposition sentiment in the regions, and poor results for the United Russia party in the Duma elections.
The central government in Moscow is clearly looking for ways to consolidate power on the home front against the backdrop of the war with Ukraine.
Bans And Blocks For Oil And Gas, And Special Treatment For Hungary
Ukraine says it has suspended some of the Russian natural gas it delivers to Europe, blaming Moscow for the interruption of energy supplies that are vital to such countries as Germany and Hungary.
The European Union, meanwhile, continues to negotiate internally its own plans to phase out Russian gas and oil. EU officials are considering offering financial compensation to Hungary, which is particularly reliant on Russian oil, to sign on to the bloc-wide deal that could be a major hit for Moscow.
Crimea’s Deputy Prime Minister: Southern Ukraine Should Become Part Of Russia
Deputy Prime Minister of Crimea Georgy Muradov believes that the southern territories of Ukraine, occupied by the Russian military, are destined to become part of Russia.
Muradov says his claim is based on public sentiment and that the southeastern territories have “always been Russian,” reports RIA Novosti. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and Moscow’s current invasion is now mostly focused on the southern and eastern region of Donbas.
Muradov said that civil-military administrations are already being formed in the southern territories of Ukraine, Russian TV channels are being broadcast, Russian textbooks have appeared in schools, and the Russian ruble has entered circulation.
The statement follows a similar declaration by Kirill Stremousov, deputy chairman of the military-civilian administration of the Kherson region of Ukraine, who announced the desire of the region to become part of Russia. He also promised to return the coat of arms of the times of the Russian Empire to the region. In addition, the head of the Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, reported that the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions of Ukraine would be able to receive gas and electricity through Crimea.
Belarus Deploys Troops To Ukrainian Border
Belarus is deploying troops near its southern border with Ukraine. The country’s president, Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Russia, said it’s defending Belarus from a buildup of NATO troops near its border and discussed the use of Russian made missiles in boosting the country’s defenses.
Pussy Riot Member Recounts Escape From Russia
A member of the punk band Pussy Riot, Maria Alyokhina, has fled Russia, using a Delivery Club courier suit and leaving her phone at home to help evade authorities. After that, she was taken to Belarus, to the Lithuanian border, the anti-government activist and musician recounted her odyssey and the continued opposition of Pussy Riot to Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine.
The Russian feminist punk rock band has long performed anti-regime and anti-conformist lyrics in unauthorized concerts in public places. In 2012, Alyokhina was arrested on charges of hooliganism in connection with the protest action in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Moscow, and has been arrested multiple times since then for her opposition to the Kremlin’s policies.
Boris Johnson Visits Sweden And Finland To Discuss NATO Membership
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has landed in Sweden ahead of a similar visit to Finland to discuss possible NATO membership of the two Nordic countries as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Johnson signed an agreement with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, pledging that the countries would come to the other’s aid if attacked.
Zelensky Reacts To Death Of Ukraine’s First President Leonid Kravchuk
The first leader of the post-Soviet independent Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, has died at the age of 88. With his place in modern Ukraine history, his death in the midst of Russia’s invasion has stirred reaction around the country.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted to the news: “Today the first President of Ukraine Leonid Makarovych Kravchuk died. He was not just a politician or even just a historical figure. He was a man who knew how to find wise words and say them so that all Ukrainians heard. This is especially important in difficult, moments of crisis, when the future of the whole country may depend on the wisdom of one person.”
Front Page: A Reconciliation Between Kyiv And Berlin
German front pages covered the visit Tuesday of Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock to Kyiv. She is the highest-ranking German official to visit the Ukrainian capital since the war began, amid tensions over past ties to Russia of several senior officials.
A Majority Of Bulgarians Fear A Russian Attack
A new poll found that two out of three Bulgarians fear Russia will use missile and bomb strikes on sites in Bulgaria, and more than half fear Russia could occupy it.
Ukraine Qualifies For Finals In Eurovision
Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra have qualified for the Eurovision Song Contest finals Saturday, which will be decided partially by a public vote. Support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion is expected to help the band’s chances of victory.
Band member Oleh Psiuk said that a win would send a message: “So if we win, it will be another opportunity to show Ukraine to the world, to remind people about Ukraine, and to increase morale in the whole country.”
