World Affairs International

The leaders of Poland, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic visited Kyiv in a show of support for Ukraine. The city has been besieged for two weeks, and many criticized the move as unnecessarily dangerous. Yet regardless of whether it was a wise decision, it serves as a strong show of support in the face of what could be an impending Russian advance.

Ship movements near Odesa have also been reported, and fears of an imminent landing assault on the port city have been reported. Satellite imagery shows landing craft in position around the city, and should Odesa fall, Russian troops could push into Western Ukraine and Moldova.

Russia has allegedly begun moving elements of its Far East/Pacific forces towards Ukraine and continuing to recruit fighters from regions like Syria. According to U.S. intel, Russia still wields 90% of its forces, but it has made “limited to no progress” for three weeks in achieving its military objectives. The increase in airstrikes, particularly in Western Ukraine, underscores increased Russian desperation for a breakthrough that could help Russian forces occupy besieged cities. As of March 15th, Chernihiv, Mariupol, and Kharkiv remain within Ukrainian control.

Belarus has seemingly not entered the war, though previous reports suggested Belarusian troops blending with the Russian army. It is unclear how such an operation would benefit Russia, particularly with inexperienced Belarusian forces.

Within Russia, opposition leader Alexei Navalny has continued to speak out against the war. Now facing a 13-year jail term, Navalny released a statement calling the War in Ukraine the ‘end of the Russian Federation.’ Citing a turn from Putinism and Soviet nostalgia, the growing movement of Russian self-determination and de-militarization has now developed its own symbol; the ‘white-blue-white’ flag. The missing red represents casting away Russia’s imperial past, and the banner stands as a symbol of resistance and democracy, similar to that used by Belarusian demonstrators in 2020.

Perhaps in a decade, a democratic Russia and Belarus may join the European Community, sporting their new flags of freedom and peace. But to free itself from the grip of imperialism, Belarus and Russia’s leaders must be purged, starting with Lukashenko and Putin and their host of oligarchs.