On Oct. 27, Russian international oil and gas company, Lukoil, announced that they will be selling their international assets after restrictions were put in place by the United States (U.S.) and the United Kingdom (U.K.) due to the conflict in the Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and the U.K. aim to put financial pressure on Russia’s energy sector by cutting off Moscow’s energy revenue, therefore limiting their ability to finance their war against Ukraine.
These restrictions were also implemented because of Russia bypassing the oil import and export limits and its price cap. Presently, Lukoil has not publicly disclosed which assets will be sold. Another Russian oil company, Rosneft, was also impacted by these same sanctions and they represent major barriers to those seeking to do business with the Russian oil companies and their affected subsidiaries. The reaction of Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that he considers these sanctions unamicable, but claimed they should not severely affect the country’s economy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky originally campaigned for greater restrictions to be imposed on Russia instead of targeting Lukoil and Rosneft exclusively. However, he later remarked that it was a purposeful and strategic decision to impose restrictions on the two oil companies.
“It is precisely pressure on Russia that will be effective for achieving peace, and sanctions are one of its key components.”
Also reported on Oct. 27, there was a Ukrainian rocket strike on the Belgorod Reservoir dam in the Russian region of Belgorod which was later confirmed by Robert Brovdi, Commander of the Unmanned Systems of the armed forces of Ukraine. The breach was reported on Oct. 25, by Belgorod’s governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, who said that the damage could risk flooding. This led to a temporary evacuation of around 1,000 residents residing in the surrounding areas, such as Shebekino and Bezlyudiovka.
The dam was attacked by a minimum of six rockets that resulted in at least two confirmed hits, injuring two people in the process and causing extensive destruction. Although the dam did not collapse, a one metre drop in the water level was recorded. Gladkov’s office claimed that the situation was being taken care of and that water was purposely let out to help alleviate some pressure off of the dam.
In response to Russia’s drone attacks that scattered Ukrainian civilians living in the Zaporizhzhiga regions, the United Nations’ (UN) Independent Rights Commission reported on Oct. 27 that the actions committed by the Russian military were considered to be both crimes against humanity and a war crime. The UN ruled that the attacks that targeted buildings, houses, civilians and first responders were purposely planned to force people to flee their homes while also targeting humanitarian distribution buildings.
At the General Assembly’s Third Committee at the UN, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry gave an in-depth report of the incident. The evidence included information from approximately 500 crime videos and 226 interviews that featured testimonies from Ukrainians affected by the attacks. All accounts are said to have been carefully and thoroughly inspected.
Specializing in handling cultural and humanitarian issues, the commission also looked into the purported Ukrainian drone attacks against Russian civilians. However, a number of factors such as inaccessibility to the location, fear for witnesses’ well-being, and the absence of answers from the Russian government have contributed to unsuccessfully determining what took place in that instance.
People’s lives remain at risk as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues. Russia also faces consequences such as the restrictions imposed on Lukoil and Rosneft, and the UN’s investigation of their attacks. With relevant updates happening regularly, the media remains vigilant of the developing situation.
