January 3, 2024 Ukraine and the World - Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović-Burić has said that another massive russian attack on Ukraine on January 2 is a war crime and a violation of international law.

“...putin is at war with the European way of life, which Ukraine defends. Wake up, Europe!” said Guy Verhofstadt, a member of the European Parliament from Belgium and the latter’s former Prime Minister, after the russian missile attack on January 2, and called to increase military and financial support for Ukraine.

Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová has said that Ukraine needs additional support, and russia will be held accountable for massive attacks on civilian cities.

President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda has called on partners to immediately transfer more air defense systems to Ukraine after russia’s massive missile attack on Ukraine on January 2.

President of Estonia Alar Karis called russia's massive missile attack on Ukraine on January 2 “a crime against humanity that will not go unpunished at the international tribunal”.

President of Latvia Edgards Rinkēvičs has stressed the need to provide immediate assistance to Ukraine.

President of Moldova Maia Sandu, after a series of new missile attacks by russia on Ukrainian cities, emphasizes the vital importance of continuous international support for Ukraine.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine Denise Brown condemned another wave of russia’s strikes on Ukraine.

The G7 countries, chaired by Italy in 2024, are working with the European Union on options for long-term financial commitments to provide donor support to the state budget of Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said she wants to make Ukraine one of the key topics of this year's Italian presidency of the club of the world's richest democracies.

The government of Norway has allowed “direct sales of arms and defense products of the Norwegian defense industry to Ukraine”.

Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo has said that the country's government will continue to help Ukraine, as well as strengthen its defense capabilities.

“When will they (russians) understand that this only strengthens the Ukrainians’ resolve to defend their land and freedom? The United Kingdom supports Ukraine”, said Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Ukraine Martin Harris.

Estonia’s Ambassador to Ukraine Anneli Kolk has called for arming Ukraine as soon as possible, because “they (Ukrainians) are able to stop russia now”.

“France's support in the supply of military equipment (to Ukraine) continues. It will gradually change its nature, as the goal is to produce more weapons in Ukraine...”, said Ambassador of France to Ukraine Gael Weysière.

Head of the Bundestag Defense Committee Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has criticized the slow supply of weapons to Ukraine against the background of another massive missile attack by russia. “Ukraine needs more ammunition, more spare parts, and the Taurus needs to be mobilized immediately to finally make it more difficult for russia to replenish stocks”, she said. The official also drew attention to the fact that the European coalition of F-16s should also start its work as soon as possible, because this will give Ukraine an advantage in the air.

Vilnus’ Council of Self-Government has extended the right of Ukrainians to use public transport free of charge in 2024.

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In Lithuania, citizens who may be associated with sanctioned russians are being checked.

In 2023, China purchased 23 billion cubic meters of gas from russia – one-eighth of gazprom's former exports to the European Union.

In 2024, the contract for the transit of russian gas through Ukraine expires, which will further reduce supplies to Europe. russia will not be able to restore lost export volumes within the next 10 years. Even taking into account the existing and planned contracts with China, it is unrealistic to compensate for the loss of almost 100 billion cubic meters.

China buys russian gas twice cheaper than Turkey and European countries do, but the PRC continues to demand new discounts, and in addition, does not want to participate in financing the construction of the siberia-2 pipeline. Beijing believes that the multibillion-dollar bill for the pipeline should be paid in full by gazprom, which does not have the money to do so.

For the year that ended on June 30, 2023, gazprom suffered a trillion rubles of net loss and had to spend two-thirds of the cash savings in its accounts.

By 2025, gazprom may lose another trillion rubles due to reduced profits, an increase in the tax burden and the need to pay for the gasification program in russia.

russian authorities are raising gas tariffs in russia: from July 2024 – by 11.2%, from July 2025 – by another 8.2%. Thus, in two years, gas prices will rise for the population of the rf by 20%, and since the beginning of russian full-scale war against Ukraine – by 34%.

With the beginning of 2024, public transport fares have been increased in russia. In Kazan, the fare increased by an average of 9.5%, the cost of one trip paid by card increased from ₽ 35 to ₽ 38, and the price of a single ticket – from ₽ 36 to ₽ 42. Since January 1, travel has also risen in tyumen (from ₽ 30 to ₽ 31), abakan (from ₽ 19 to ₽ 28), ryazan (from ₽ 25-27 to ₽ 27-29), orel (from ₽ 22-25 to ₽25-28) and other cities.

In bryansk, travel by buses and trolleybuses will become more expensive from January 11 - by ₽2 (will rise in price to ₽30), and in kislovodsk – from January 9 (from ₽23 to ₽27). In moscow, the fare in urban public transport was raised ahead of schedule – from October 15, the cost of one trip with the troika card increased from ₽50 to ₽54, that is, by 8%, in moscow region, bus fares have risen in price since November 1.

russian authorities also carried out an anticipatory increase in tariffs in other cities and regions. In samara, trips by trams, buses, trolleybuses have risen in price by ₽ 3 from November 1, and by underground railway (metro) – from November 6. In togliatti, tariffs were raised from November 15. In novosibirsk, the cost of one trip in the metro and on ground transport increased (from ₽30 to ₽35) from December 23. In arkhangelsk, the cost of one trip on city buses has increased to ₽40 (was ₽36) since December 26.

A record number of russian soldiers are fleeing service in bryansk, kursk and belgorod regions. As for the unauthorized leaving of military units during 2023, more than five thousand court cases were opened in the rf. A large number of sentences concerned desertion, as well as failure to comply with the orders of the high command.

Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė has said that the discussion on the legal status of belarusians and border management would continue in the country. “We will continue the discussion on how to manage these risks – whether to reduce the flow across the border, or to set additional requirements for those who receive a temporary residence permit in Lithuania, or to reduce the burden on our institutions too – and maybe in January we will have proposals”, she said.

The government of belarus intends to spend about 15 million rubles (almost $5 million) on anti-drone protection of the two mozyr and novopolotsk oil tank farms.