Ukraine Briefly

July 07, 2023

Ukraine, Briefly

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This week, Ukrainian forces began employing tactics that prioritize manpower conservation, which may result in slower territorial advancements, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), as reported in Euronews. However, the ISW emphasizes that this pace does not indicate a stalemate or suggest that Ukraine is incapable of reclaiming large areas.

Also this week:

• Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the mercenary force Wagner Group, has returned to Russia, according to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, noted the Washington Post. Lukashenko’s statement raises questions about the agreement that allowed Prigozhin to evade insurgency charges and avoid prosecution in Russia. The Kremlin had previously announced the deal, stating that Prigozhin and his loyal fighters could escape prosecution by relocating to Belarus. However, Lukashenko revealed that the final details of their move to Belarus were still unsettled. Prigozhin’s presence in Russia was confirmed by a St. Petersburg businessman who stated that Prigozhin had returned to reclaim seized money and weapons. Although he may still face potential criminal cases related to financial crimes, Prigozhin retains influence and connections in Russia.

• An international center has opened in the Netherlands to support countries building cases against senior Russian leaders for the crime of aggression in Ukraine, the Associated Press wrote. The Hague-based center will assist ongoing investigations in Ukraine and a number of Baltic countries. The European Union is funding the initiative, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating crimes in Ukraine. The ICC does not have jurisdiction over aggression in Ukraine as neither Russia nor Ukraine has ratified the Rome Statute underpinning a country’s recognition and membership of the ICC. However, Ukraine plans to join the ICC.

• Switzerland has announced its intention to participate in the European Sky Shield Initiative, which aims to strengthen air defense capabilities in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, AP reported. Switzerland, along with Austria, is the second non-NATO country to join the initiative. The memorandum of understanding will be signed by Swiss and Austrian defense ministers, along with Germany’s representative. The initiative aims to consolidate European efforts to defend against potential aircraft or missile attacks, complementing existing NATO defense systems. Switzerland and Austria have clarified that their involvement does not entail participation in international military conflicts. Seventeen other countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, have already joined the initiative, but France has raised concerns about the reliance on non-European systems.

• Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who was released in a prisoner swap with US basketball player Brittney Griner, has been selected as a candidate for a seat in a Russian regional legislature by the far-right Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), Al Jazeera added. Bout, also known as “the merchant of death,” served a portion of his 25-year sentence in US prisons on arms dealing charges before being released in December 2022. The LDPR, despite its name, holds far-right, ultra-nationalist views and strongly supports Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

This story originally appeared in the July 07, 2023 newsletter, Community Policing.