Section: The Centre for Eastern Studies (Poland)
Novatek is taking over Shell’s assets in Sakhalin
On 11 April, Russia’s prime minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree authorising the sale of a nearly 27.5% stake in the state-owned company Sakhalinskaya Energiya, which is operating the Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project in the Far East, to the Russian company Novatek for 94.8 billion roubles (around $1,6 billion). The stake previously...
It is official: Germany abandons nuclear energy
15 April 2023 saw the shutdown of Germany’s three remaining nuclear power plants. This marks the end of Germany’s move away from using this type of energy, which was triggered in 2002 and confirmed in a decision taken in 2011. The policy of Atomausstieg (nuclear phase-out) has remained unchanged in the face of both Germany’s...
Nine Ukrainian brigades are ready for a counteroffensive. Day 424 of the war
Russian forces have resumed active operations west of Bakhmut. However, their attempts to break through Ukrainian defences in the area of the Chasiv Yar road junction were unsuccessful, as were their attacks on the southwestern outskirts of Bakhmut. However, the invaders’ troops did make further advances in the western part of the town, and...
The Patriots have arrived in Ukraine. Day 421 of the war
The situation in the main combat zones remains relatively stable. The attacks undertaken by the Russians (on the order of 60 per day, according to the Ukrainian General Staff), as well as the few Ukrainian counterattacks and attempts at combat reconnaissance, have not resulted in any significant changes over recent days. The exception is Bakhmut,...
Weather conditions force the front to stabilise. Day 417 of the war
The situation on the front has not changed significantly, and damp fields and muddy roads are significantly limiting the invaders’ ability to conduct offensive operations outside the town centre. Wagner Group troops are constantly storming Ukrainian positions in the western part of Bakhmut, but are not having any meaningful successes....
Russian army in search of human reserves. Day 414 of the war
There have been no major changes on the front line in recent days, and the main areas of fighting remain Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Marinka and the forest complex near Kreminna. In Bakhmut, the Ukrainian forces are defending themselves in the western part of the town, but are slowly abandoning more buildings under the onslaught of assault troops from the...
Reznikov encourages people to join the Ukrainian Foreign Legion. Day 411 of the war
The main Ukrainian defence line in Bakhmut runs along the railway line separating the centre from the western part of the town. One of the most important points of defence is the Bakhmut-2 train station; the Bakhmut-1 train station, located in the centre, was seized by the Russians last week. Fighting is continuing for Khromove on the western...
The Polish-Ukrainian military partnership. Day 407 of the war
Russian forces have probably captured the more important facilities in the centre of Bakhmut (including administration buildings and the train station) and linked up the subdivisions attacking from the northern and southern parts of the city. However, the Ukrainians continue to hold positions in the centre, and the command and government in Kyiv...
Ukraine prepares to launch a counteroffensive. Day 400 of the war
Russian forces have reached the centre of Bakhmut, where fierce fighting is taking place. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, after making a series of unsuccessful attempts to break through the defences to the northeast and south of Chasiv Yar, the invading forces will probably focus on seizing the town of Orikhovo-Vasylivka south of the...
Ukraine: the IMF support package and increased defence spending
On 21 March 2023 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that it had reached a preliminary agreement with Ukraine on an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme, under which the country will receive a total of $15.6 billion in funding, including $4.5 billion by the end of this year. The four-year programme is divided into two phases. In the...
