Explaining complex things in simple words: Destruction of submarine in Crimea, theses of Russian opposition, Ukraine-Mali relations

DESTRUCTION OF SUBMARINE IN CRIMEA

On August 2, the Russian Rostov-on-Don B-237 submarine was sunk by well-targeted missile attacks in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

• Crimea is Ukraine. Military actions on the territory of the temporarily occupied peninsula are being conducted for its liberation and the return of legitimate authority.
• Rostov-on-Don was one of four enemy submarines in the Black Sea and Kalibr cruise missiles carrier that was involved in terrorizing peaceful Ukrainian cities and their residents.
• Rostov-on-Don was one of the newest submarines of the Russian Federation, launched only at the end of 2014. Its estimated cost is $300 million. This is a tangible loss for the Russian fleet.
• This is the second time the defence force has hit this submarine. It was attacked for the first time on September 13, 2023, and since then, the Russian Federation has invested significant resources in restoration.
• The successful attack on an enemy submarine once again demonstrates that there are no safe places for the Russian fleet in the Black and Azov seas. 

THESES OF THE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION

A press conference of the released Russian opposition figures, Ilya Yashin, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Andrei Pivovarov, was held on August 2.

• Theses of the released Russian oppositionists about the need to ease sanctions against the Russian Federation, negotiations with Putin, as well as the assessment of the Russian-Ukrainian war are disappointing.
• The call to apply sanctions to the “regime” and not apply restrictions to “ordinary Russians” is also strange. All “ordinary Russians” and the released oppositionists themselves are resources in exchange for spies and murderers.
• “Ordinary Russians” are jointly responsible for the regime's crimes because they became instruments of these crimes without making any effort to stop them. Instead, they condone, justify, or silence the Kremlin's crimes.
• Ukrainians respect the citizens of the Russian Federation, who really fight with words and weapons against Putinism. Who are aware of Russia's responsibility for the war and support all measures aimed at physically limiting Moscow's ability to wage aggressive wars in the future.
• We hope that Ilya Yashin, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Andrei Pivovarov, being at liberty and having free access to information, will reconsider their position regarding the raised issues. After all, their position was formed before and during imprisonment, where there were not enough opportunities to obtain true information to assess the situation. 

RELATIONS BETWEEN UKRAINE AND MALI

The ruling regime in Mali announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Ukraine, claiming the involvement of the Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence in the defeat of Russian mercenaries by the Tuareg militia on July 27.

• After a series of military coups, the legitimacy of the current government in Mali is questionable. 
• Unfortunately, the current leadership of the country has chosen the path of cooperation with the internationally recognized terrorist regime in Moscow.
• The killed fighters of the PMC Wagner were enemies of Ukraine who participated in unprovoked aggression and war crimes against Ukrainians. The cooperation of the government of Mali with these people causes the indignation of the Ukrainian people.
• The leaders of Mali should know that Russia is trying to realize its colonial ambitions not only regarding Ukraine, but also regarding some African states. And the imposed by the Kremlin cooperation with the Wagner fighters, as well as the decision to sever diplomatic relations with Ukraine, are the first steps to the loss of the country's sovereignty. 

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security