The end of this week – in the context of the situation around Ukraine, is not easy. As the Institute for Research on War writes today, yesterday, during the visit of African leaders to Kiev, the Russians carried out numerous shellings in that city. Another cause for concern may be the information provided (though unconfirmed) by the Kremlin regarding the start of the transfer of nuclear weapons to Belarus. However, there is one positive. A group of local officials in Russia called for… withdrawal of troops from Ukraine!
Leaders and envoys of seven African countries (South Africa, Zambia, Comoros, Congo, Egypt, Senegal and Uganda) met with the President of Ukraine on Friday as part of a joint peacekeeping mission, notes the ISW. At that time, Kiev was attacked by Russian missiles, which forced foreign visitors to go down to the shelter.
Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus?
Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia has started the transfer of tactical nuclear warheads to Belarus as part of previously announced plans (these actions have not yet been confirmed by independent sources-ed.)According to Putin, all tactical nuclear weapons planned to be deployed in Belarus (under Russian control) are to be delivered to this country by the end of the year. The HEI reiterated its earlier assessment that these actions “are part of a long-term plan to consolidate de facto military control over Belarus and it is very unlikely that it will mean an escalation by Russia.”
ISW notes that a group of Russian local officials from Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as Moscow and Leningrad oblasts appealed to the authorities in Moscow in an open letter to withdraw troops from Ukraine and return to the “universally recognized borders of Russia”and for admission to the flood-affected areas (due to the destruction of the dam on the Dnieper River) for a humanitarian mission. The reason for the appeal was the destruction of the dam of the Kachowska Hydroelectric Power Plant and the resulting catastrophe.
“Russian officials unrelated to the Kremlin may want to use concerns about the ecological and humanitarian situation related to the destruction of the dam to express opposition to the war without directly criticizing the war itself.”
– writes ISW, reminding that such criticism in Russia is the cause of repression.
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