The Russian Invasion

Archive image. Ukrainian army. Emilio Morenatti / AP  

 

The Russian Invasion|Ukraine's Response 

New corruption scandal - took bribes from war-reluctants  

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is cleaning house among the recruiters in the country's army, several news agencies write. 

 

Zelensky himself says in a statement that the reason is systematic corruption.  

 

- This system must be run by people who understand what war is and why cynicism and bribes during war are treason.  

 

According to information to the New York Times, those who were fired must have accepted bribes from people who did not want to be sent into battle. In return, they have been classified as unfit for combat and given a furlough.  

 

Since the outbreak of war in February last year, all men between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving Ukraine, this in order to be available for the army.  

 

Belarus President Alexandr Lukashenko and a picture of a border rearmament in Poland.  Michal Kosc /AP, Alexander Zemlianichenko /AP 

 

Russian invasionPoland-Belarus relationship  

After increased threat: Lukashenko wants to talk to Poland  

 

After Poland decided to send 10,000 soldiers to the Belarusian border, Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko is now ready to talk, according to AFP.  

 

- We have to talk to the Poles. We are neighbors and we do not choose our neighbors. I ordered the prime minister to contact them, Lukashenko said, according to state news agency Belta.  

 

Relations between Poland and Belarus have been frosty for years, but have reached new lows since Lukashenko allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory to attack Ukraine. 

 

Tensions escalated further when Minsk became a new base for soldiers from the Russian private army Wagner, which is one reason why Poland chose to reinforce the border with its own soldiers. 

 

 

US President Joe Biden. Alex Goodlett/AP  

 

The Russian invasion. The outside world's response 

Biden wants to give additional billions to Ukraine 

 

US President Joe Biden has asked Congress for additional support of 24 billion dollars, equivalent to 256 billion Swedish kronor, to Ukraine, writes CNN. The issue is expected to face resistance as House Republicans want to see a detailed plan on how any money will be spent. Earlier this summer, 70 Republican lawmakers voted to completely end aid to Ukraine. 

 

Congress has previously approved $113 billion in military, economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Of that sum, 90 percent has already been spent. 

 

Illustration image from August 10: Restaurant in Moscow.  

 

Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP  

Russia returned to growth in the second quarter  

 

Russia's GDP grew by 4.9 percent at an annual rate in the second quarter – after the country's economy shrank for four quarters in a row. This is reported by AFP and Bloomberg, among others, with reference to preliminary figures from the country's statistics authority.  

 

The turnaround runs counter to expectations that the economic sanctions would lead to a deep and protracted recession in Russia. Russia's BCS Financial estimates that the country's GDP will be back to the same level as before the full-scale invasion by mid-2024.