As the Russo-Ukrainian War enters its 375th day, we take a look at the major developments.
Here is the situation as it stands on Sunday, March 5, 2023:
Struggle
- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu paid a rare visit to Russian forces deployed in Ukraine, his ministry said.
- Russian artillery pile the last roads out of Bakhmut, aiming to completely encircle the beleaguered Ukrainian city and secure Moscow’s first major victory in six months after the bloodiest fighting of the war.
- Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Russian Wagner Mercenary Force, said in a released video that Bakhmut was “practically surrounded” by his forces and the kyiv forces had only one exit route left.
- Prigozhin posted a video showing what he said were coffins containing the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers repatriated to Kiev-held territory.
Diplomacy
- German defense contractor Rheinmetall is in negotiations to build a tank factory in Ukraine, the Rheinische Post newspaper reported, citing an interview with CEO Armin Papperger.
- In addition to the Leopard 2 tanks, the German arms company Rheinmetall wants to buy 96 Leopard 1 tanks from the Swiss defense company Ruag to send them to Ukraine, the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reported.
- The US recently announced $400 million military assistance package for Ukraine primarily includes munitions, but for the first time will also include tactical bridges to move tanks and armored vehicles.
- US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised to continue to impose costs on Russia for its war in Ukraine.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the United States of hypocrisy after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia could not be allowed to wage war in Ukraine with impunity.
Economy
- Russia’s severed Nord Stream undersea gas pipelines are expected to be sealed and mothballed, sources told Reuters.