WAR IN UKRAINE: July 12, 2022
The number of people killed in Chasiv Yar in Donetsk recovered from under the rubble of a 5-story building, has increased to 24 people
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 141
Russian troops continued shelling several Ukrainian regions on Monday, killing six people and injuring 31 in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials said. Russian strikes were also reported in the north-eastern Sumy and southern Odesa regions. Meanwhile, the death toll from Sunday's Russian rocket attack on a five-storey apartment block in eastern Ukraine rose to 30. A number of people were feared trapped under the rubble in the town of Chasiv Yar, the country's emergency services said - BBC
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is blasting the Canadian government over its decision to return to Germany natural gas turbines caught up in sanctions imposed on Russia, calling the move "absolutely unacceptable" and warning that Moscow will see it as a sign of weakness. "If a terrorist state can squeeze out such an exception to sanctions, what exceptions will it want tomorrow or the day after tomorrow? This question is very dangerous," Zelensky said in his nightly address on Monday. “Moreover, it is dangerous not only for Ukraine, but also for all countries of the democratic world” - CBC News
My analysis: Canada ditched it’s supposed close alliance with Kyiv to preserve relations with the much larger power, Germany. It shows the lack of spine of Canadian politicians, including PM Justin Trudeau who earlier this year praised sanctions as a sharp tool against Russia.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko is likely allowing Russia access to Belarusian airspace to indicate support to Russian President Vladimir Putin without risking the consequences of direct Belarusian military involvement in Ukraine - Institute for the Study of War. Separately, Belarus is conducting drills near Ukraine's border. The Kyiv Independent reports the exercises are taking place on July 12-14 in southern Gomel Region, according to the Defense Ministry of Belarus. They involve the Belarusian territorial forces, a homeland defense unit.
Russia is threatening to use oil from neighboring Kazakhstan as a weapon against European countries supporting Ukraine. A court order this month to close the export terminal on the Black Sea for a month is a clear warning to Europe of Russia’s leverage - Bloomberg
The Minister of Education and Science of Poland said that "the end of the war in Ukraine is not in sight," therefore, a decision was made to admit another 200,000 children from Ukraine to schools from September 1.
US State Secretary Antony Blinken said the blockade of Ukrainian ports by Russia one of the factors behind the crisis in Sri Lanka. Blinken fears this could happen elsewhere as well. It’s worth noting that Sri Lanka has become heavily indebted to China, even leading to the handover to Beijing of one of its major ports. This has also led to major instability in Sri Lanka.
Four rockets fired from the temporarily occupied Crimea hit Odesa region. One of the rockets hit a building. There were no casualties, said Serhiy Bratchuk, Spokesperson of Odesa Oblast Military Administration. “Given the nature of these missile strikes, this is a continuation of russia’s terrorist actions. Because we are talking about a building, it is not a military object. This is an attack on infrastructure and civilians to exert physical military influence and, of course, a psychological one.”
Extra reading..
With the help of independent donors, friends and a charity, foreign correspondent Anna Nemtsova created a shelter in Portugal, in the safety of Western Europe. It was near the ocean where one could walk, breathe and relax. She called it Breather, since she had found long walks in the fresh air to be the best way to recover from the stress of war reporting. The sanctuary opened in March and has since hosted 16 reporters, sometimes with their families.
Read her feature story here
