As the war between Russia and Ukraine enters its 375th day, we take a look at the main developments.
This is the state of affairs on Sunday, March 5, 2023:
To fight
- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made a rare visit to Russian troops deployed in Ukraine, his ministry said.
- Russian artillery pounded the last routes from Bakhmut, aiming to completely encircle the besieged Ukrainian city and win Moscow’s first major victory in six months after the bloodiest fighting of the war.
- Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia’s Wagner mercenary army, said in a video published that Bakhmut was “virtually surrounded” by his troops and Kiev’s troops had only one way out.
- Prigozhin published a video showing what he said were coffins containing the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers being repatriated to Kyiv-held territory.
Diplomacy
- German defense contractor Rheinmetall is negotiating to build a tank factory in Ukraine, the Rheinische Post newspaper reported, citing an interview with CEO Armin Papperger.
- In addition to Leopard 2 tanks, German armaments company Rheinmetall wants to buy 96 Leopard 1 tanks from Swiss defense company Ruag to send to Ukraine, Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reports.
- The United States’ newly announced $400 million military aid package for Ukraine consists mainly of ammunition, but for the first time it will also include tactical bridges to move tanks and armored vehicles.
- US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed to continue charging Russia for its war in Ukraine.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the US of hypocrisy after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia should not be allowed to go to war in Ukraine with impunity.
Economy
- Russia’s ruptured submarine Nord Stream gas pipelines will be sealed and mothballed, sources told Reuters.