Jul 19 Buonasera Mag
Day 146: Siversk & Bakhmut, treason charges, Chechnya, Gazprom, RU Black Sea Fleet, Switzerland, Azerbaijan gas, business in Russia, EU terrorism report, religious war, RU recruitment, NATO, J6
Catching up…
EA Worldview’s Ukraine Up-date- hop over to Scott’s amazing hourly Ukraine up-date page. I’ll fill in with some bits and bobs.
Stories we’re following…
Explosions were heard in Kherson on the morning of July 19. Russian state-controlled media reported that Ukraine fired 6 missiles at Kherson, hitting the Antonivskyi Bridge. Ukraine hasn't confirmed.
Ukraine’s top general: We have managed to stabilize the front line. In many ways, thanks to U.S.-provided HIMARS.
651 criminal proceedings were registered regarding treason and collaborative activities of employees of prosecutor's offices and other law enforcement agencies. This raises very serious questions for the respective chairs. – Zelensky explained his decision. He removed Prosecutor General Venediktova and security services chief Ivan Bakanov and 28 other officials.
Telegram channel Rybar claimed on July 18 that Ukrainian forces are increasing groupings of forces and equipment near the contact line in the Mykolaiv-Kryvyi Rih direction in preparation for an offensive on Kherson Oblast.
Ukrainian first lady, Olena Zelenska, to address US Congress tomorrow.
It seems an insurgency is being prepared in Chechnya. On July 11, Ukrainian MPs presented a proposal for recognition of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in the parliament
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet retreat continues: following defeat in the Battle of Snake Island, the Kremlin has now reportedly withdrawn a number of warships from Sevastopol in Occupied Crimea to the Russian Black Sea port Novorossiysk.
Russia’s Gazprom has told customers in Europe it cannot guarantee gas supplies because of ‘extraordinary’ circumstances, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
Putin visits Iran on first trip outside the former USSR since launching Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February.
Saudi Arabia more than doubled its purchase of Russian fuel oil in the months after the Ukraine war began. Saudi Arabia is defying US pressure as it wants to free up its crude for export and use discounted Russian fuel oil for summer cooling.
Fitch Ratings downgraded Belarus’ standing to the default score of RD, citing its failure to repay a coupon payment on $600 million in greenback-denominated bonds due in 2027.
On Monday, Dozhd began broadcasting again via its YouTube channel with a news programme hosted by Tikhon Dzyadko.
Switzerland refused to accept wounded Ukrainians for treatment, citing neutrality laws. The authorities of several cantons of the country were ready to accept #Ukrainian citizens for treatment at the request of #NATO, but federal authorities forbade this.
EU countries have agreed another €500m (£425m) of EU funding to supply arms to Ukraine, taking the bloc’s security support to €2.5bn since February.
The EU signs a memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijan to double gas imports to at least 20 billion cubic meters per year by 2027.
The Singapore Central Bank recorded a net loss of $7.4 Billion-it’s first loss in 9 yrs.
European Values, UKRAINE WATCH BRIEFING #5
The security situation in Ukraine remains tense, with the Ukrainian Armed Forces defending positions in the Donbas area under the massive artillery attacks of the Russian army. Russian military command already reported having established control over the full territory of the Luhansk region, though Ukrainian Armed Forces claim the Russians have had few operational successes.
Annual EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT)
Europol: detailing figures, major developments and trends pertaining to the terrorism situation in the EU in 2021.
Terrorism remains a key threat to the EU’s internal security. 15 completed, foiled and failed terrorist attacks were recorded in the EU in 2021. The four completed attacks included three jihadist terrorist attacks and one leftwing terrorist attack.
Bringing God into the war
EUObserver: Who were Russia's spies in the EU corridors?
An IT expert who stirred up anti-EU hatred, a brilliant Orientalist, a woman called "the pride" of Dagestan, and chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons specialists — the profiles of 19 more 'diplomats' expelled from Belgium in April for espionage show what Russia's embassy to the EU has really been up to.
Russian recruitment in Ukraine
NATO chief Stoltenberg’s statement
Alexandra Stein, January 6th Insurrection - my statement for the record for the Select Committee
There is a great variety of ways in which certain political actors and groups are using cultic methods to influence the current social and political environment. The use of such methods is much more prevalent in our society than is generally recognized. This is important to understand in order to make sense of what may otherwise appear to be irrational behaviour at best, and certainly dangerous and destructive behaviour at worst, threatening our democratic social and political norms.
Insider, Russia threatens Swiss newspaper with legal action for publishing image of Putin with a clown nose
I couldn’t resist. That said, I would have covered him in blood. Putin and his war party have turned Russia into a terrorist state.
Garland: election year sensitivities
Programming Note
On WTF, Livia and I are joined by Prof Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Heidi Cuda this evening at 9:30 pm CET to talk about ‘Strongmen’ and threats to democracy.
Signing off for the evening…thanks for reading…
Mo