Russia’s Crimean conquest is turning into a deadly mess, The Economist says. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in Gdańsk the first installment of the Ukraine support loan and funding for drones. Ukraine strikes two oil refineries in Russia’s Ufa, 1,400 kilometers away from the border.
Russia’s Crimean conquest is turning into a deadly mess, The Economist says
Ukrainian drones have turned occupied Crimea into a war zone. Preserving the façade of normality is becoming harder by the day, The Economist said on Tuesday. The paragraphs below are quoted from the article.
Crimea has been under constant attack for months: military units, railway stations and power plants are being hit, and sometimes residential buildings as well.
The resort town of Yalta is an exception: it is sheltered by lush mountains and has no military targets.
But the rest of Crimea has become a war zone.
Last week Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s defence minister, said Crimea could “in effect become an island”.
The attacks on Crimea are especially significant. Crimea serves as Russia’s bridgehead and a supply base for its army, though Ukrainian drone attacks have chased what is left of its Black Sea fleet to more distant ports. It also has enormous spiritual importance. Russia’s nearly bloodless conquest of the territory in 2014 was a triumphant moment of Vladimir Putin’s imperial ambitions, and greatly boosted his popularity.
Crimeans have been deprived not just of petrol and electricity, but of their faith in the state’s power to solve problems. Ordinary people felt suddenly vulnerable, explains a local mother.
Now, “people no longer see any prospects for the future,” says Nikolai Chestiakov, a resident. “Those who have money are trying to buy property in other [Russian] regions and moving their families out.”
Ukrainian attacks have undermined Crimeans’ confidence in the army’s ability to defend them, but there is no sign they have dented allegiance to Russia.
Crimea is not the only place in Russia where frustration with the war is rising. Members of the country’s ruling elite increasingly see it as a dead end.
For now, the main sentiment in Crimea and across Russia is exhaustion. Even those who support Russia cannot see the purpose of the war.
“We don’t need any grand ambitions, we don’t need anyone trying to make things better. We just want the sun to rise in the morning, tourists to come in summer,” says Tatyana, a tour guide in Feodosia. “We are so tired of everything else.”
Von der Leyen in Gdańsk announces first installment of Ukraine support loan, funding for drones
The EU is transferring 3.2 billion euros to Ukraine as the first installment of the 90 billion euro support loan, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said in opening remarks at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk, Poland, on Thursday.
Since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU and individual member states have provided 200 billion euros worth of economic, financial and military support to the country, she said.
“Today, we are transferring the first tranche under this loan, EUR 3.2 billion in macro-financial assistance. I am happy and proud to announce this disbursement today,” von der Leyen said.
The EU will also send the first funds of a total of 6 billion euros for drone production to Ukraine.
“This, indeed, is solidarity in action,” she added.
Ukraine strikes two oil refineries in Russia’s Ufa, 1,400 kilometers away from border
Two oil refineries in Russia’s Ufa in the Bashkortostan Republic were struck on Thursday morning, Telegram channel Exilenova+ said, adding photos and videos of the aftermath of the strikes. The city is located 1,400 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border.
Later in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on X: “This morning, the Security Service of Ukraine hit two oil refineries in Ufa – Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim and Bashneft-Novoil. That’s 1,500 kilometers from the front line.”
Ufa is home to three oil refineries: Bashneft-Novoil, Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim and Bashneft-UNPZ.
