The Ukraine Daily Brief Newsletter – Tuesday, April 5, 2022
The latest episode of the Ukraine Daily Brief Podcast is now live. Please be sure to listen and review (we know that many of you are receiving the podcast in our member feed, but reviews help with discoverability). Some notable links referenced in today’s podcast can be viewed here.
The War
Russia denies civilian atrocities. A Ukrainian official calls out eight Russian units for involvement in Bucha, Hostomel and Irpin. Sumy Oblast’s governor reports Russian troop withdrawal. However, Russia is mobilizing up to 60,000 reservists and redoubling its efforts in Donbas.
Economics
Canada has a $2 billion plan to replace Russia as a supplier of rare-earth minerals to the West. A ‘record-setting’ cold snap in Europe does not bode well for food crops or independence from Russian gas. AirBnB suspends ‘new reservations’ in Belarus and Russia.
Technology
IT workers fleeing Russia report interrogations and detentions as Moscow’s latest scare tactic. Ukraine’s information warriors bring skills honed in 2014 to the fight.
Europe
The Czech Republic ‘quietly’ supplies Soviet-era tanks to Ukraine. Putin-ally Orbán’s re-election in Hungary is deemed a ‘dismal day for democracy.’ Latvia will ‘lower diplomatic relations with Russia. Russian state-sponsored media, RIA Novosti, calls for the ‘liquidation’ of ‘Nazi’ Ukrainians with no apparent irony. Protestors in Frankfurt, Germany project ‘no money for murderers, stop the oil and gas trade’ onto a wall of the Russian consulate.
U.S. and the World
The war in Ukraine is leading to further economic crises in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. COVID restrictions no longer apply to Russia’s allies, not even China, despite another surge. The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) will convene in Hungary in May; Orbán is the keynote speaker. Jake Sullivan signals US intent to help ‘build case’ against Russia for war crimes in a venue outside the UN. Is Abramovich’s peace talk participation a ‘PR stunt’ or ‘a welcome chance to be on the right side of history?’
DSR Exclusives
The DSR Network’s latest episode of Next in Foreign Policy features Grant Haver and Zoe Weinberg in a conversation with Amy Slipowitz of Freedom House.
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Tune in to tomorrow’s podcast for new and evolving stories.
The DSR Network Team (Chris Cotnoir, Grant Haver, and Katherine Hill
