Russian-hired fighters seek Russian citizenship
In the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the front in Pokrovsk remains the most active combat zone. Putin's troops have made 45 attempts to advance there over the past day, yet have faced staunch resistance from defenders.
Elsewhere, the US ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, has suggested that secondary sanctions against countries buying Russian oil could be an "obvious next step" to end the war. This comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has extended an invitation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a visit to Ukraine, marking the first visit by Erdogan to Kyiv since 2012.
The desire for Russian passports among some soldiers and local residents in the conflict zone is not merely political. Holding Russian citizenship can offer legal, social, and financial benefits tied to Russia's control and occupation policies. These benefits include lowering administrative barriers, facilitating the absorption of occupied Ukrainian regions into Russia, and enabling individuals supportive of Russia to formalize their allegiance.
Unfortunately, the violence continues with four people killed and three others injured in Russian drone and artillery attacks in the Zaporizhzhia region. Russia is also escalating its attacks on strategically important Ukrainian railway lines, damaging a railway hub in Losowa and killing a railway worker.
Ukraine reports that it has destroyed only two Russian tanks in the past day, according to figures from the Ukrainian General Staff. Meanwhile, Russian ultranationalist Putin ideologue Alexander Dugin has expressed dissatisfaction with the escalating rhetoric of the US regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
International responses to the conflict are varied. India has rejected US and EU criticism of its Russian oil imports, stating it will protect its national interests and economic security. In contrast, the Netherlands has announced a new weapon package worth around 500 million euros for Ukraine, including US weapons and ammunition for Patriot air defense systems.
A study reveals that Ukrainian refugees choose countries with good job opportunities over countries with higher social benefits. Meanwhile, Russia is no longer adhering to the arms control agreement on the renunciation of land-based nuclear short- and medium-range missiles due to the US withdrawal from the treaty.
The conflict has also had impacts beyond the battlefield. The Ryazan refinery of Russian state-owned Rosneft is currently operating at only 48% of its normal capacity due to Ukrainian drone attacks. Furthermore, Ukraine reportedly attacked the railway hub of Tatsinskaya in Russia's Rostov region with drones overnight.
The conflict has also taken a toll on civilian areas, with a Russian drone strike near Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine resulting in two fatalities. Russian forces have again attacked Ukrainian cities with drones and a missile, using an Iskander-M missile and 46 Shahed drones.
However, Russian forces have temporarily reduced the number of attacks in the Kherson region to regroup and prepare for more active attacks on islands in the Dnieper River. A Russian nuclear submarine support base in the Far East region of Kamchatka appears to have been damaged following last week's strong earthquake.
As the conflict continues, diplomatic efforts, sanctions, and military actions remain the focus of international attention. The future of the region hangs in the balance.
- The community policy within the conflict zone is significantly influenced by the employment policies, as holding Russian citizenship, often attained through employment-based processes, offers several advantages tied to Russia's control and occupation policies.
- The escalating war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, often surrounded by general-news, is impacting various aspects of daily life, even extending to the economic policies of countries like India, which are under scrutiny for their oil imports from Russia.
