War against Ukraine: this is the situation

Russian invasion - War against Ukraine: this is the situation

Around 21 months after the start of his war of aggression against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a further increase in the size of his army.

In future, the number of armed forces is to be increased to around 1.32 million, according to a decree published by the Kremlin on Friday. This would be a further increase of 170,000 contract soldiers and conscripts, after Putin had only ordered an increase in the Russian armed forces to 1.15 million men in the summer of 2022.

On Friday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of changes to the military conscription process. However, this is to include the demobilization of soldiers who are already fighting. In Brussels, however, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg criticized narrow-minded national interests in European armaments policy.

Russia: No wave of mobilization

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defence immediately countered fears among the population that a new wave of mobilization could be planned. "A mobilization is not planned," the authority announced. Instead, it is relying on Russian citizens who volunteer to join the army. Since the last mobilization in autumn 2022, when around 300,000 men were drafted for the front, many Russians fear a second wave of mobilization.

Zelensky announces conscription reform

Zelensky promised the military a reform of the conscription laws. "Everyone in Ukraine understands that changes are needed in this area," said Zelensky in his speech published on Telegram. These would therefore concern the conditions for the possible demobilization of front-line fighters. The focus will also be on new potential recruits.

The announcement of the reform is seen as a concession to the soldiers, most of whom have been deployed on the front line without a replacement since the start of the Russian war of aggression around 21 months ago. According to Selensky, the solution to this problem must be worked out by the military leadership and the Ministry of Defense and presented to the General Staff for approval.

The Ukrainian President spoke of a number of proposals that had already been submitted on Friday. However, he did not provide any more detailed information on the content. Around 820,000 Ukrainians are currently serving in the armed forces. According to the current martial law, these soldiers cannot be demobilized without further ado.

Nato Secretary General criticizes fixation on self-interest in arms policy

In an interview with ARD's Brussels studio, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg criticized narrow-minded national interests in European armaments policy. "We are not in a position to work together as closely as we should," he said. This leads to higher costs and makes it more difficult to expand production. Stoltenberg called for the problem of fragmentation in the European defense industry to be tackled. This is about the industry's own interests and jobs. However, the big picture and the collective interest are important.

As an example of the need for improvement, the Norwegian cited ammunition production, which is currently the focus of particular attention due to Ukraine's high demand for defense against Russia. He called for the increased demand for ammunition to be prevented from simply driving up prices. A larger supply is needed. Increasing production is of crucial importance.

Fire in Russia's longest railroad tunnel

After a fire in Russia's longest railroad tunnel, the exact reasons behind the fire are still being investigated. Citing security circles, several Ukrainian media reported on Friday that the Ukrainian secret service SBU had successfully carried out acts of sabotage in the 15-kilometer-long Severomujsk tunnel in the Russian republic of Buryatia, which borders Mongolia.

According to the report, a fire broke out as a result of an attack on Thursday night, which in turn led to the tunnel being blocked. Later, a train carrying fuel wagons was also deliberately blown up on a bypass route, according to reports from Kiev.

On Thursday, Russian Railways had only acknowledged the fire in a tank wagon filled with diesel and spoke of "slightly delayed" trains. On Russian Telegram channels, on the other hand, there had been talk of several wagons being destroyed. Initially, it was not possible to independently verify the reports. The Severomujsk Tunnel is located on the Baikal-Amur Mainline and is considered particularly important for Russia's trade with China.

Slovakian hauliers block border crossing

The only truck border crossing between Slovakia and Ukraine has been blocked by Slovakian hauliers. The reason for this is concern about cheaper competition from Ukrainian hauliers. They are fighting to preserve domestic jobs in the logistics sector, according to the Slovakian association UNAS. The protest in Vysne Nemecke began on Friday afternoon and was open-ended.

The Slovakian transport companies are thus joining a blockade on the Polish-Ukrainian border that has been ongoing since the beginning of November. According to the organizers, they want to increase the pressure on politicians to find a solution to their problems before the EU transport ministers' meeting on Monday.

What is important today

Fighting continues in the south and east of Ukraine. Fighting is said to be particularly intense around the towns of Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mariinka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.

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1. The situation in Ukraine continues to be a major focus for NATO, particularly in light of Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
2. Following the start of the conflict, Volodymyr Selensky, the President of Ukraine, has been advocating for reforms within the Ukrainian military, aiming to improve conditions for front-line fighters and potential recruits.
3. Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, has criticized the fixation on self-interest in European armaments policy, highlighting the need for closer cooperation to reduce costs and increase production capacity.
4. Russia has denied planning a new wave of military conscription, instead relying on volunteers, despite fears among the population following the last wave of mobilization in autumn 2022.
5. Brussels and Slovakia have both experienced disruptions in transportation as a result of the ongoing conflict, with Slovakian hauliers blocking a border crossing and Russian railroad infrastructure facing difficulties.
6. Kiev and Slovakia have different reasons for their concerns, with Ukrainian forces potentially engaging in acts of sabotage and Slovakian hauliers protesting against cheaper competition from Ukrainian logistics companies.
7. As the conflict in Ukraine continues, focus remains on key conflicts in the south and east, particularly in towns like Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mariinka in the Donetsk region.
8. In response to the Russian invasion, NATO has been increasing its focus on enlargement, aiming to strengthen its defenses and deter further acts of aggression from Russia.
9. The Kremlin's decree to increase the size of its military to around 1.32 million men has been met with criticism and concern from international leaders, worried about the escalation of the conflict and potential impact on European security.
10. In light of the ongoing conflict and rising tensions, the international community, including organizations such as NATO, is seeking to find peaceful solutions and de-escalate the situation, aiming to ensure stability and security in Europe.

Source: www.stern.de