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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 17.02.23 Ukraine MOD 17 Feb 2023
• What Happened in Vuhledar? A Battle Points To Major Russian Military Problems RFE/RL 17 Feb 2023 -- By one account, nearly three dozen Russian tanks and armored vehicles were reduced to smoldering rubble. By another, as many as 500 Russian troops may have been killed. Relatives of soldiers from one unit are frantically trading text messages and social-media posts trying to locate their loved ones.
• Moscow Urges Kiev Not to Pass Desire to Benefit Off as Fight Against Global Hunger Threat Sputnik 17 Feb 2023 -- Russia is advising Ukraine not to pass profit-seeking off as a fight against threat of world hunger, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday, commenting on recent statements by Ukrainian officials about extension of the grain deal.

Defense Policy / Programs

• China joins Russia, South Africa in naval drills amid intensive foreign interactions Global Times 17 Feb 2023 -- China and Russia on Friday joined a naval exercise hosted by South Africa in the Indian Ocean, with experts saying that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) aims to safeguard peace and stability in the region and protect sea lanes for commercial ships amid its intensive efforts to restore exchanges and cooperation with foreign countries, including opening a destroyer at an international expo in Abu Dhabi, after such interactions were hindered by the pandemic in recent years.
• Russian Warship Drills with South African, Chinese Navies Amid Criticism VOA 17 Feb 2023 -- Joint naval exercises including South Africa, Russia, and China get underway in waters off South Africa's east coast Friday, despite U.S. concerns and Ukrainian condemnation. Critics say the 10-day military drills will do little to benefit South Africa and act as a propaganda boost for Moscow on the one-year anniversary of its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
• Gazprom's 30th anniversary President of Russia 17 Feb 2023 -- Vladimir Putin took part, via videoconference, in an event marking Gazprom's 30th anniversary.
• Russia may become China's chief gas supplier in near future: Gazprom Press TV 17 Feb 2023 -- Russian gas giant Gazprom has announced that Moscow may soon become neighboring China's largest natural gas supplier, while receiving special praise from President Vladimir Putin.
• Gazprom CEO Assures Putin Russia Has Enough Gas for Decades to Come Sputnik 17 Feb 2023 -- The head of Russian gas giant Gazprom, Alexey Miller, assured Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that the country would have a sufficient amount of gas during decades to come primarily thanks to the world's largest resource base.

Foreign Policy

• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow, February 17, 2023 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 17 Feb 2023
• Meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko President of Russia 17 Feb 2023 -- The President of Russia met with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow.
• Moscow will respond if EU decides to confiscate Russia's frozen assets: Deputy FM People's Daily 17 Feb 2023 -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Thursday that Moscow would respond if the European Union (EU) decides to confiscate the country's frozen assets, TASS news agency reported citing the official.
• Moscow expels 4 Austrian embassy employees in tit-for-tat move People's Daily 17 Feb 2023 -- Moscow has declared four employees of the Austrian Embassy in Russia "personae non gratae" in a retaliatory move, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

News Reports

• Moscow Summons Dutch Ambassador Over Attempts to Hold Russia Responsible for MH17 Case Sputnik 17 Feb 2023 -- Dutch Ambassador to Russia Gilles Beschoor Plug was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday over the attempts of the Dutch authorities to hold Russia responsible for the MH17 crash.
• Political Consultant Sentenced for Scheme Involving Illegal Foreign Campaign Contribution to 2016 Presidential Campaign US Dept. of Justice 17 Feb 2023 -- A Texas man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for his role in funneling illegal foreign campaign contributions from a Russian national to a 2016 presidential campaign.
• The Week In Russia: 'Into The Abyss' RFE/RL 17 Feb 2023 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares a speech as the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine nears the one-year mark. And a critic of the war has been sentenced to six years in prison over a social media post about a Russian attack that killed hundreds of civilians seeking shelter at a theater in Mariupol.
• Sanctioned Moldovan Oligarch With Ties to Russia Running Ads on Facebook VOA 17 Feb 2023 -- Social media platform Facebook allowed a sanctioned Moldovan oligarch to run ads aimed at fomenting anti-government sentiments and destabilizing the Moldovan government, reports The Associated Press.