OEKRAÏNE
Situatie Oekraïne dag 176
August 18, 2022 - Russia has appointed Admiral Viktor Sokolov as new commander of the Black Sea Fleet and head of the military in Crimea after a series of attacks against military facilities in the region.
Russian FSB claims to have broken up a 6-person Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamist cell in Crimea allegedly involved in “terrorist” activity and officials have accused Ukraine of co-ordinating with the terrorists in what appears to be an attempt to deflect calls to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Ukraine’s attempts to unsettle Russians in Crimea ramped up as President Zelenskiy warned them Crimea is “not a place for them” and suggested that the “absolute majority” had got the message after a record 38,000 cars crossed the bridge on August 16. A senior presidential advisor said the Kerch Bridge, Russia’s key military and civilian link to the mainland is illegal and should be “dismantled”.
In a sign of the growing co-operation between the two countries, China and Russia will be taking part in joint military exercises in the Far East, alongside other countries including India, Belarus, Mongolia and Tajikistan.