The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has now entered its 413th day, and the situation remains tense. As of Wednesday, April 12, 2023, here are the latest developments:
Fighting
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, nearly 8,500 civilians have been killed in Russia’s war on Ukraine, although the actual figures are likely to be considerably higher. The town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine has seen some of the heaviest fighting of the 14-month war, with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, claiming that his forces now control more than 80% of the town. Meanwhile, Sergey Aksyonov, the Moscow-appointed leader of Crimea, has said that the region is on guard for a possible Ukrainian counteroffensive. In an effort to make it harder for men to avoid being drafted, Russia will introduce electronic military draft papers for the first time in its history. Finally, mourners have bid farewell to celebrated Ukrainian opera conductor Kostiantyn Starovytskyi, who was killed fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Diplomacy
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has received assurances of “ironclad” support from United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken for Kyiv’s efforts to win the war. The US has denied any evidence to suggest that Egypt is supplying Russia with lethal weapons after a leaked document claimed Cairo secretly planned to supply rockets to Moscow. US President Joe Biden has criticized Russia’s jailing of US journalist Evan Gershkovich on spying charges, calling it “out of bounds”. The Kremlin maintains that Gershkovich “violated Russian law” and was caught “red-handed”. Meanwhile, Spanish Economy Minister Nadia Calvino has said that Europe cannot ignore China’s role as a key trading partner and geopolitical player with the potential to help end the war in Ukraine. Finally, Ukraine’s youth and sports minister has said that Kyiv will maintain pressure on the International Olympic Committee to prevent Russian athletes from taking part in next year’s games in Paris.
Weapons
Canada has pledged to send 21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns, and 2.4 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine, as well as imposing sanctions on 14 Russian individuals and 34 entities, including security targets linked to the Wagner Group. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement after meeting Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Toronto. Denmark’s defense minister expects a decision on whether to donate fighter jets to Ukraine “before the summer”, while Poland and Slovakia have already begun deliveries of MiG-29s to Kyiv. Finally, Romania has announced plans to buy the latest generation of US F-35 fighter planes to boost its air defenses, according to the country’s supreme defense council.
In conclusion, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine shows no signs of abating, with both sides continuing to engage in fighting and diplomatic maneuvering. The international community remains divided on how best to resolve the situation, with some countries providing military aid to Ukraine while others seek to engage Russia in dialogue. The situation remains tense, and it is unclear when or how the conflict will be resolved.