Connection, aggregation… A week of tension in four infographics

After nearly eight months of Russia-led “special military operations” in Ukraine, the conflict is at a turning point. The Vladimir Putin’s official speech Announcing this Wednesday Partial mobilization of 300,000 quotass and accusations by the West of wanting to “destroy” Russia marked a rise in tensions. Organization of Annexation “Referendums” of Occupied Ukrainian Territories The Russian military’s announcement on Tuesday, namely Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia, builds on the intensity of the conflict, especially as Vladimir Putin has raised the threat of nuclear strikes to defend what he considers his territory. At the same time, Russia also found itself in the Security Council U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken at the UN On Thursday, he presided over a meeting attended by his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.

Here are four charts that point to this tense week, which ends this Friday, the 212th day of the conflict, over the UN’s allegations. Far from the speech’s usual warning, the organization’s investigators blamed Moscow Committing a “substantial number” of war crimes In the first weeks of the Russian invasion.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive continues

After Stunning Ukrainian counterattack By early September, Kyiv had recaptured the Kharkiv region in the northeast, and pursued Kyiv toward Luhansk, Donetsk and Kherson, Kyiv said. New developments of his army This Friday in the east of the country.

Ukraine announced the capture of Yatskivka on the east bank of the Oskil River in Donetsk Oblast (East). The victory appears to ensure a continuation of the counteroffensive, which has already enabled Kyiv to reclaim several thousand square kilometers in neighboring Kharkiv. Infographics. And “the Ukrainians have also regained their control over positions south of Bakhmoud,” a key city in the Donetsk region that has been targeted by Russian offensives for weeks, Oleksiï Gromov, a senior staff officer, told television. Ukrainian army.

Finally, in the Lugansk region, Andrei Marotchko, a representative of the pro-Russian military, reported on Ukrainian bombings this week, noting that Kyiv forces “want to do everything to derail the referendum.”

The Russian military relies on its reserves

“This is not a bluff. » Vladimir Putin He wanted to attack the spirits during a televised intervention on Wednesday morning. Forced to retreat in the face of Ukrainian counter-attacks, the Russian president chose to bet on escalating the conflict by shaking off nuclear power, but announced the signing of a decree authorizing the “partial demobilization” of the population.

The announcement comes on top of a decree signed on August 25 aimed at increasing the number of soldiers in the Russian army by 10% on January 1, 2023. As a result, 300,000 reservists have been called up to serve, Russian Minister Sergei Shoigu said. Defence, protection. Large additional volume for Moscow troops Who questions. Following this announcement, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Jupiter urged Russians to “resist” this mobilization. “55,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in this war in six months (…) Do you want more? No? So protest! Fight! Run away! Or go to the Ukrainian army, he began in Russian in his traditional video address. These are your options for survival. »

Uncompromising Link “Polls”

of Annexation “Referendums” by Russia Polls described as “simulacra” by Kyiv and the West began on Friday in regions of Ukraine controlled in whole or in part by Moscow. Voting began at 7 am in the separatist regions and ends on September 27. Donetsk and Luhansk (East), and in regions under Russian occupation Kherson and Zaporozhye (South).

Voting, which was hastily announced this week in the wake of Ukrainian military victories, is particularly door-to-door, with pro-Russian officials going to buildings with mobile ballot boxes to get people to vote, according to Russian media images. . Officials said it was a precautionary measure.

The hastily organized referendums were condemned by the Ukrainian government and its Western backers, who want Moscow to take control of entire parts of Ukraine, including the peninsula. Crimea (South) in 2014. too ChinaMoscow’s close partner called for respect for regional integrity.

A “Winter of Global Discontent” on the Horizon

Prices of bread, energy or vegetables are rising. Explosive. On Tuesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned world leaders of the danger. “The Winter of Global Discontent” Because of the many crises affecting humanity, especially the war in Ukraine. The Americans and Europeans organized a ministerial meeting on Tuesday on food security, a war that has affected the entire planet. After the Secretary-General, dozens of heads of state and government from around the world sat on the floor for several days. 77th UNAnnual Diplomatic High Mass.

Ukraine was at the center of the discussions, particularly the intervention of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday. Before Antonio Guterres speaks again on Thursday Investigate the “List of Atrocities.” Taking place in Ukraine and the UN Security Council foreign ministers demand Russia take responsibility for aggression against Ukraine Russian. A Sergey Lavrov who generally ignored them.