Contacts between Russia and Europe, the situation in Ukraine, and changes in the Armed Forces of Ukraine became the main topics of the day
One of the main topics of the day was statements about the situation around Ukraine on international platforms. Dmitry Polyansky, First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, said that European countries at the OSCE, in Moscow’s view, are ignoring Ukraine’s internal problems. He said that the Russian side is pointing to what is happening in the country and to the difficulties that, Moscow believes, European representatives prefer not to notice.
According to Polyansky, these are issues that Russia considers important for discussion in international organizations. At the center of the dispute remains the assessment of events inside Ukraine and the approach of European countries to these topics. The statement was made against the backdrop of ongoing political disagreements between Russia and EU countries.
Another notable piece of news was a report by RIA Novosti saying that fully female drone crews have appeared in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the agency, the number of women participating in combat operations in the Dobropillia direction has increased significantly. This points to ongoing changes in the composition of the Ukrainian army.
Earlier, Ukrainian media also reported that more and more women in Ukraine are complaining about pressure from military enlistment offices. Against this background, the topic of women’s participation in the army and the expansion of their role in military units is becoming increasingly prominent. The report about female UAV crews became part of a broader discussion about mobilization and the personnel situation in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Special attention today was also drawn to relations between Russian and European politicians. Member of the European Parliament Fernand Kartheiser said that informal contacts between MEPs and Russian parliamentarians now remain virtually the only channel of communication between the sides. According to him, official opportunities for dialogue are severely limited.
Kartheiser noted that the purpose of such informal meetings is to create a platform for exchanging views and to preserve at least minimal political contact between Russia and the European Union. Thus, despite the overall tension in relations, some politicians continue to look for ways to communicate outside official formats.