By Sean Mueck
As the Ukraine War moves onto its 133rd week, tensions continue to rise evermore despite conflict on the ground staying familiarly bleak.
Headlining recent memory has been Ukraine’s successful blitz offensive deep into Russia’s Kursk Oblast. The new front opened this time by the Ukrainians has proven surprising and beneficial, but with winter quickly approaching, both sides will have to settle down for the battle of attrition as the slog of the winter months is quickly becoming the new reality on the front lines.
Even with the positive news, allies still remain weary over the stability of the region. Recently, the U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on the 6th that there is “no one capability” that would swing the tide of the war enough to end it. This comes after Zelensky has recently asked Western Allies to relax weapons shipment conditions. He went on to state to the public that, “In just one week, Russia has used over 800 guided aerial bombs, nearly 300 Shahed drones, and more than 60 missiles of various types against our people.”
Even with the front lines becoming more diversified, missile strikes reaching deep into Ukraine are still a common occurrence. Two people were killed and four people were injured in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast after a missile strike in the region. Moving further east, three people were killed in the town of Cherkasky which lies in the Donetsk region of the country. Additionally, last weekend, funeral services were held in the central Ukrainian city of Poltava after one of the most deadly missile attacks of the entire war. The strikes which struck a military training base killed 58 and injured over 300.
United States President Joe Biden stated firmly that he condemns this “deplorable attack in the strongest possible terms.” He went on to state that “this assault is a tragic reminder of Putin’s ongoing and outrageous attempts to break the will of a free people. But for two and a half years, the people of Ukraine have stood unbowed. And the United States will continue to stand with them—including providing the air defense systems and capabilities they need to protect their country.”
Despite the barrage of Russian missile attacks, Ukraine’s Air Force has stated their air defense units destroyed 15 drones and one missile attack recently.
Russia’s ground troops have also recently continued their push towards the strategic Ukrainian logistics hub, Pokrovosk. Russia’s defense ministry stated their capture of the small town of Novohrodivka, which sits 11 miles southeast of Pokrovsk.
Russia has recently violated NATO airspace as well after reports of drones flying over Romania and one drone crashing in the Latvian town of Rezekne. Romania’s defense ministry stated they have deployed F-16 jets to analyze and monitor airspace.
NATO’s Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană has gone on to condemn the violation, stating that, “NATO condemns the overnight Russian airspace violation into Romanian airspace. While we have no information indicating an intentional attack by Russia against Allies, these acts are irresponsible and potentially dangerous.”
In the realm of geopolitics, German Chancellor Olaf Sholtz has recently called on renewing diplomacy between the two countries to attempt to create peace in Ukraine quicker. Sholtz has recently held conversations with Ukrainian President Valdimir Zelensky on achieving diplomatic peace talks which include Russia. Sholtz went on to state that, “There will certainly be a further peace conference, and President Zelensky and I agree that it must be one with Russia present.”
As the war quickly advances towards its 3rd anniversary, the conflict has moved into increasing uncertain territory. With outside pressure growing increasingly more prevalent on both sides of Europe’s largest war since WWII, key events and elections such as the US presidential elections in November may help shift key momentum on either side.
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