Russia’s presidential election, held in territories of Ukraine currently under occupation, has been widely criticised by Ukraine, Nato, and world leaders. The Ukrainian foreign ministry declared these elections not only illegal but also worthless, urging international allies to dismiss the results.
Russian-occupied territories were the scene of the electoral campaign, showcasing Moscow’s continuous, blatant disregard for international legal norms and principles, as reported by Reuters. A joint statement dismissing the elections conducted by Russia in the occupied regions of Ukraine was signed by the chairpersons of the foreign affairs committees from 23 parliaments globally, including the Baltics, the United States, and Israel.
Nato’s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, deemed any Russian elections carried out in these regions as highly unlawful. Following the presentation of the annual Nato report, Mr Stoltenberg stressed that Ukrainian forces are not lacking bravery but are depleted in terms of ammunition. The urgent need for Nato allies to increase the supply of weaponry and ammunition to Ukraine was highlighted, stating it as a matter of political decision making.
Ukrainian military announced on Thursday that Russian forces have initiated an attack on Ukraine involving 34 Shahed drones, out of which 22 were intercepted and shot down. The national guard of Russia admitted to counter attacks from pro-Ukrainian entities in the Kursk region, marking the newest in a series of border clashes, as reported by Agence France-Presse.
Anti-Kremlin Russian groups, mainly forming three distinct Ukrainian militias, claimed that they have seized control over Tyotkino village in a coordinated operation during this week. Oil refineries in multiple Russian regions such as Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Leningrad have come under assault from Ukrainian drones, hundreds of miles away from the frontline. These relentless attacks are part of a wider strategy to inflict economic damage.
Significant damage was caused to Rosneft’s main oil refinery in Ryazan, which was set on fire as stated by a regional governor on Wednesday. The closure of two major oil refining units resulted from this incident. The plant is responsible for processing approximately 5.8 per cent of Russia’s total refined crude oil, according to insiders in the industry.
The Kremlin, on this past Thursday, refuted claims that remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin in a state media interview about nuclear weapons were threatening. They accused America of intentionally distorting the words of Putin. In the Wednesday interview, Putin had stated that Russia was prepared for a nuclear conflict, should it arise, and perceived potential U.S. military intervention in Ukraine as an extreme escalation of the already tense situation. Following up on Thursday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that Putin was simply responding to a journalist’s queries about the matter and reiterating Russia’s known stance on the conditions under which it might be compelled to utilise nuclear arms. – Guardian