Late on Monday, the Northern Fleet of Russia’s Navy announced that large-scale military manoeuvres had commenced in the Arctic Sea, involving up to 1,800 soldiers, 15 ships, and 40 aircraft. The purpose of the drills, as stated by the Northern Fleet, is to safeguard “the security of Russia’s merchant marine and sea lanes such as the Northeast Passage,” and to test the coordination between air, land, and sea forces. These drills come after NATO forces conducted exercises in the Arctic region in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. The Northeast Passage is a sea lane that runs along Russia’s northern icy coastline, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. With the passage becoming more accessible due to climate change, its economic and strategic importance has grown.
On Tuesday, the Romanian supreme defence council (CSAT) announced that they plan to purchase the latest generation of US-made F-35 fighter planes, as part of their commitment as a NATO and EU member state. Romania shares a 650-kilometer (400-mile) border with Ukraine and has increased its military spending to 2.5% of GDP in response to the Russian invasion last year. This makes Romania one of the few NATO countries that meet the 2% defence spending target. The CSAT statement emphasized the importance of having robust, credible, interoperable, flexible, and efficient air defence operational capabilities in meeting Romania’s defence policy objectives. As a result, the air force will continue its modernization process through the acquisition of the latest generation F-35 jets.
The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that leaked US classified intelligence documents suggest that the US government is sceptical about Ukraine’s ability to achieve significant gains in its planned spring counteroffensive. Ukraine intends to sever the land bridge between occupied Donetsk and the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula by Russia in 2014. However, the Washington Post cited US Defence Department documents shared on social media earlier this month that Ukrainian forces may fall “well short” of their objectives due to a lack of ammunition, equipment, and troops.
The authenticity of these documents is unclear, but an assessment of the state of the war issued in early February reportedly stated that the Ukrainian military’s inadequacies are “likely to embolden critics who feel the United States and NATO should do more to push for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.”
Another leak suggests that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi secretly ordered the shipment of 40,000 rockets to Russia. According to the same Washington Post report, a conversation between Sisi and top officials indicated the intention to keep the production and shipment a secret “to avoid problems with the West.” Egypt is a crucial US ally in the Middle East and one of the largest recipients of US military aid.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Toronto, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to provide new military assistance to Ukraine. This includes a shipment of thousands of assault rifles, machine guns, and 2.4 million rounds of ammunition. Trudeau stated that Canada will continue to provide Ukraine with all necessary support for as long as needed.
In addition to this military aid, Canada has imposed fresh sanctions on 14 Russian individuals and 34 entities, some of which are linked to the mercenary group Wagner. Trudeau explained that his country is also imposing sanctions on nine entities connected to the Belarusian financial sector, in order to put further pressure on Russia’s “enablers in Belarus.”
The Russian parliament will be discussing new legislation aimed at simplifying the conscription process in the country. Currently, individuals are required to receive their conscription papers in person from the local military enlistment officer or through their employer. The proposed legislation would enable individuals to receive their conscription papers through an online portal, which would supplement the traditional method of receiving a letter.
This new system would mean that individuals would be able to receive their conscription papers online and would be considered to have received them once they have been placed in their personal account. This would allow for a streamlined process, which would benefit both the conscripts and the military.
In addition to streamlining the process, the new legislation would introduce stricter measures for those who fail to show up for duty. Those who do not show up for duty will be barred from leaving the country. This measure is intended to encourage compliance with the conscription process and ensure that those who are called up for duty actually serve.
Last year, over 300,000 former soldiers and ex-conscripts were called upon to join Russia’s “special military operation” following the country’s failure to achieve a quick victory in Ukraine. However, the rollout of the conscription process was chaotic, with men who were ineligible due to age or health also being called up. This led to the Kremlin admitting that it had made a “mistake” and to begin digitizing its military records.
The proposed legislation would introduce a more streamlined and efficient conscription process, which would benefit both the conscripts and the military. With stricter measures for those who fail to comply with the conscription process, the new legislation aims to encourage compliance and ensure that those who are called up actually serve. The introduction of an online portal for the delivery of conscription papers would supplement the traditional method of receiving a letter, enabling a more efficient and effective process.
The handling of Russian assets by Switzerland has recently been criticized by the US and other G7 nations for not doing enough. However, a Swiss government official has defended their country’s actions. Helene Budliger Artieda, who is the director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) government department, stated to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, a Swiss newspaper, that she was surprised by the criticism.
Despite not being a part of the EU, Switzerland has matched the sanctions against Russia that have been imposed by the EU. As a result, Switzerland has frozen around 7.5 billion Swiss francs, equivalent to $8.3 billion or €7.6 billion, in assets belonging to individuals on the sanctions lists. This amount makes up “a good third” of the €21.5 billion in assets that have been frozen across the EU, according to Artieda.
The US ambassador to Switzerland, Scott Miller, has claimed that Switzerland could freeze a further 50 to 100 billion Swiss francs. G7 nations also wrote a letter to Switzerland asking them to do more. However, Artieda responded to the criticism by saying that when they meet on a technical level with the EU, Britain, and the United States, they do not hear this kind of criticism. She believes that there are misunderstandings.
According to Artieda, the figure of 50 to 100 billion francs was not an estimate produced by Switzerland. Instead, it was initially circulated as a possible estimate of Russian funds under management. Furthermore, she pointed out that not all Russians are subject to sanctions. Only a small minority are affected.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence released its daily intelligence update stating that Russia’s airborne forces (VDV) have received TOS-1A thermobaric multiple-launch rocket systems. This transfer was previously reported by Russian media in April, but the ministry emphasized that the highly destructive TOS-1A has not been formally associated with the VDV before.
According to the ministry, this transfer is likely an indication of the VDV’s future role in offensive operations in Ukraine and is part of efforts to rebuild the VDV after suffering significant casualties in the first nine months of the war.
