September 9, 2022 Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

The United States has sent Ukraine most accurate, GPS-guided artillery shells Excalibur. The latest high-precision, long-range 155 mm ammunition is suitable for any barrel artillery of the appropriate caliber and is almost out of reach for air defenses. Due to its accuracy, the Excalibur can hit an enemy target at a distance of 40 to 60 km with the first shot. The cost of one such projectile is $200,000. The Pentagon will spend $92 million on the purchase of such projectiles for Ukraine.

The Pentagon has announced the delivery of a new batch of weapons worth 675 million dollars to Ukraine. The aid will include additional HIMARS munitions, vehicles and other military equipment.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, after the fifth meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group held at the Ramstein Air Base, stated: “Right now, Ukraine urgently needs a large number of artillery systems and ammunition, as well as air and coastal defense, and other critical capabilities”. According to Austin, the Armed Forces of Ukraine use all the military assistance provided “immediately and effectively”.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the Biden administration would provide $2.2 billion in long-term foreign military funding to Ukraine and 18 of its neighbors, including NATO members and regional security partners, “potentially at the greatest risk of future russian aggression”.

Norway’s Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram has stated that Norway is transferring to Ukraine approximately 160 high-precision laser-guided Hellfire missiles, launchers and guidance units, as well as night vision devices from the Norwegian Armed Forces’ warehouses. Norwegian instructors have already conducted training on the use of HellFire for the Ukrainian military.

The United Kingdom will hand over 120 vehicles to Ukraine to resolve logistical problems, UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace said. The platforms will help the Armed Forces of Ukraine to transfer military equipment faster, in particular the previously supplied British MRLS or Stormer HVM. Other transport vehicles are also included in the assistance package.

Defense Ministers of Germany and the Netherlands, Christine Lambrecht and Kajsa Ollongren, have announced that their countries want to support Ukraine by training the Ukrainian military in demining and decontamination of mine traps. “We will provide not only the training, but also the equipment”, said Christine Lambrecht.

Ukraine will receive an invitation to the first meeting at the highest level of the new “EU+” format in Prague. The meeting will take place on the eve of the informal meeting of EU leaders on October 7.

In the coming days, the UN mission will arrive in Olenivka, where Ukrainian prisoners of war died.

According to Elina Pekkarinen, Finland's Commissioner for Children's Rights, approximately every third of the 36,000 Ukrainians who have requested temporary protection are minors.

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From September 19, the Baltic States and Poland introduce strict entry restrictions for russian citizens with Schengen tourist visas, regardless of the country in which they were issued. At the same time, the joint statement of the Prime Ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland emphasizes that the travel of russians in the EU countries is a privilege, not their right.

The Ministry of Justice of Latvia is looking for opportunities to seize real estate belonging to russians and belarusians so that it can be provided for housing to Ukrainian refugees.

The head of the government of the rf mishustin admitted that “forming the budget for the next three years will not be easy due to sanctions”.

According to rosstat, in russia, 17.6 million people (12.1% of the country's population) live with incomes below the poverty line.

Since the beginning of the russian military aggression against Ukraine, rosaviatsia has extended the ban on flights to 11 airports in central and southern russia for the 33rd time, now until September 16.

China is increasing its purchase of russian raw materials, but is in no hurry to supply the equipment needed by the rf for import substitution. In the eight months of 2022, russian exports to China increased by 50% (mostly due to increased supplies of raw materials and energy carriers), while imports from the People's Republic of China increased by only 8.5%, according to a report by the Bureau of Customs Statistics of the People's Republic of China. At the Eastern Economic Forum, the representative of the PRC mainly talked about the importance of improving logistics chains and said nothing about the provision of Chinese technology and equipment. According to analysts, the russians have been given a clear understanding: due to the sanctions, there will be no significant supplies of Chinese equipment to russia.

The German company SAP, which had been working in russia since 1992 and announced the suspension of its activities due to its aggression against Ukraine, is putting up for sale computing equipment from its own data centers in the rf – a total of 3.5 thousand units of servers, switches, data storage systems, etc. Potential buyers hope that this equipment can be dismantled for spare parts and used in difficult times of the russian crisis and international isolation.

The German automobile concern Mercedes-Benz is preparing for sale its plant located in moscow region.

Sony Music Group, the second largest recording company in its industry, is completely leaving the russian market.

Due to the shortage of imported goods, the belarusian government intends to adopt a draft law on “parallel imports” by the end of this year, said minister of antimonopoly regulation and trade bohdanov.