The Ukraine Daily Brief Newsletter – Friday, March 18, 2022
The latest episode of the Ukraine Daily Brief Podcast is now available. Please be sure to listen and review (we know you are receiving the podcast in the member feed, but reviews help with discoverability). Some notable links referenced in today’s podcast can be viewed here.
The War
Russia attacks Lviv. Putin rails against ‘traitors’ and imagined fifth columnists. Ukraine warns of Russian ‘saboteurs’ posing as journalists. Central Asian nationals are being pressured to fight for Russia. Russians fleeing conscription are pouring into Central Asia. Ramzan Kadyrov proudly proclaims that 1,000 Chechen fighters are en route to support Russia.
Economics
BNY ceases Russian asset custody and securities purchases, cuts $100 million from first quarter revenue projections.
Technology
Federov announces that PayPal can now be used to send money to people in Ukraine. Ofcom revokes RT TV’s UK broadcasting license.
Europe
Lavrov’s flight to Beijing is mysteriously called back to Moscow. Credible reports surface about the ouster of General Gavrilov. Technicians at Chernobyl continue to work under armed guard with minimal food and sleep, say relatives. Zelensky makes another nod to history in addressing Western leadership: ‘Mr. Scholz, tear down this wall!’
U.S. and the World
Uzbekistan takes sides against Russia. South Africa does not. Kuleba asks Turkey to be a guarantor for Russia in peace negotiations. The Biden administration is effectively looking to China to do the same.
DSR Exclusives
Longtime Russia watcher Jill Dougherty and Russian intelligence expert Michael Weiss deconstruct Putin’s speech and “the language of Stalinism.”
The Ukraine Daily Brief podcast resumes Monday. Tune in then for new and evolving stories.
The DSR Network Team (Chris Cotnoir, Grant Haver, and Katherine Hill)
