Day 179: Putin Ally's Daughter Killed by Car Bomb; Guterres Calls For Export of Russian Food and Fertiliser
Daria Dugina, the daughter of close Putin ally Alexander Dugin, was killed near Moscow on Sat. after a suspected car bomb detonated. The vehicle she was driving belonged to her father - sometimes called "Putin's brain" by western media - who might have been the intended target.
Facts
- Daria Dugina, the daughter of close Putin ally Alexander Dugin, was killed near Moscow on Sat. after a suspected car bomb detonated. The vehicle she was driving belonged to her father - sometimes called "Putin's brain" by western media - who might have been the intended target.
- Ukrainian officials have denied involvement in the incident, and have instead suggested that the 29-yr-old's death came about due to an internal dispute within Russia. Dugina was one of a number of Russian elites to be sanctioned by the US in Mar. and had publicly stated her support for the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine.
- On Sun., Russia claimed it had deployed Kalibr missiles, successfully destroying an ammunition depot in the Odesa region containing missiles for the HIMARS rocket system. The missiles in question were allegedly US-made. In contrast, the region's administration claimed that, in the Russian strike, two missiles were shot down and a third hit a granary while no ammunition was damaged.
- The news comes after the Russian Black Sea Fleet HQ was hit by a drone attack on Saturday. According to the western military analyst think tank, Institute for the Study of War, occupation officials in Crimea are possibly planning to strengthen security on the peninsula following the strike.
- Elsewhere, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres announced that the organization is collaborating with the US and EU to aid the export of Russian food and fertilizers to world markets. According to the official, obstructions in shipping, insurance and finance need resolving so as "to further calm commodity markets and lower prices for consumers".
- Meanwhile, the US will send a $775M aid package to Ukraine, including ammunition for HIMARS, drones, and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. The nation has given Kyiv more than $10B worth of military aid in the last twelve months.
Sources: Dw, Washington Post, Reuters, Understandingwar, Al Jazeera, and USA Today.
Narratives
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Atlantic. Making sure Ukraine continues to be well-armed is the only way to fend off Putin and Russia in this unprovoked war of aggression. The US and NATO must not simply offer up their latest and most hi-tech weapons however; combat is about supply lines and the West must ensure basic equipment and ammunition are kept flowing as needed.
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by AntiWar. Making sure Ukraine continues to be well-armed is the only way to fend off Putin and Russia in this unprovoked war of aggression. The US and NATO must not simply offer up their latest and most hi-tech weapons however; combat is about supply lines and the West must ensure basic equipment and ammunition are kept flowing as needed.
