A WEEK IN BRIEF
A Week in Brief: Volume III
A Week in Brief: Sunday, 1 May to Saturday, 7 May 2022
Saturday, 7 May 2022…
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hasn’t come without significant economic impact. It seems President Vladimir Putin, seeking to extend his territory, can’t see past his own ego.
Putin is unable to accept his actions have brought on Russia several foreseeable consequences. Curiously, something no one saw coming, the Airline Operators of Nigeria recently announced all their airlines will see domestic flights suspended.
“The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) on Sunday said they are not backing down on its decision to suspend,” tweeted National Insight.
The suspension, beginning Monday, 9 May 2022, is to protest the rising fuel prices. Everyone is in the same sinking boat. The entire world is feeling the pinch. The rise in fuel costs comes as a direct consequence to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Friday, 6 May 2022…
The United States Senate, with a vote 62–33, passes a non-binding resolution barring the Biden Administration from removing the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) from its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
A non-binding resolution, a metaphorical toothless tiger, cannot progress into a law. Such resolutions can pertain to anything. The toothless nature of the non-binding resolution doesn’t stop President Joe Biden from moving forwards with removing the IRGC from the list.
Thursday, 5 May 2022…
Attempts by Russian forces to storm Mariupol’s Azovstal Iron and Steel Works, according to Ukrainian officials, have failed. Ukrainian forces successfully repelled the invaders.
The war, now at least ten weeks duration, has seen loss impacted on both sides. Bloody battle after bloody battle has come with significant casualties. Putin, because of how hard Ukrainians have been defending their country, has been unable to secure a major battlefield success.
Victory Day, scheduled for Monday, 9 May 2022, is reminiscent of a certain “Mission Accomplished” banner seen aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. President George W. Bush, on Thursday, 1 May 2003, declared “In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.” The statement, retrospectively, was a tad premature. The same will be said for Putin’s Victory Day.
Wednesday, 4 May 2022…
The European Union, as President Vladimir Putin’s forces continue to wage war against Ukraine, proposes to ban all oil imports from Russia. The ban, if the proposal is successful, might take effect by the end of 2022. The knock-on impact will remove Russia’s biggest bank, Sberbank, from SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication). Read more…
Tuesday, 3 May 2022…
Russian forces, stepping up shelling, indiscriminately targets Ukrainian civilians. Pavlo Kyrylenko, Donetsk Oblast’s governor, stated on Tuesday, 3 May 2022 nine people were killed when Russian forces shelled the city. Read more…
Monday, 2 May 2022…
Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, is scheduled to undergo cancer surgery. Consequently, because of this, the president’s authority will temporarily be transferred to Nikolai Patrushev.
Patrushev, serving as the Russian Security Council Secretary, has occupied his current position since May 2008. It’s not difficult seeing why Putin selected Patrushev.
Putin and Patrushev, with common personal career histories, have worked as intelligence officers The current Russian president and Patrushev formerly worked for the KGB.
Sunday, 1 May 2022…
Ukrainian civilians are being evacuated from Mariupol’s Azovstal iron and steel works, it was reported Sunday, 1 May 2022. It is believed at least 1,000 civilians, despite Russian forces carrying out airstrikes on the facility, had sought refuge at the plant.
Meanwhile, referencing ongoing Belgorod and Bryansk attacks, a fire at one of Belgorod Oblast’s military facilities broke out. One person is known to have suffered minor injuries. Several nearby houses were damaged.