Putin’s ‘last attempt to solidify his legacy’ says Akabusi

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has today warned that the risk remains high in the region following the arrival of the Omicron variant. Yesterday, Russia recorded 180,456 cases of the Covid strain, with almost 700 deaths. It comes following a series of record-breaking numbers, reaching over 200,000 daily cases with more than 20,000 people are being hospitalised every day.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, almost 17,000 cases were recorded on February 14, with 142 deaths.

It comes amid warning of an “imminent” invasion from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 140,000 troops positioned on the border.

But just how prepared the Russian military is for war may still be up for debate, as Covid complicates plans.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of the Ukrainian land forces, told the Guardian last week that from about 150,000 soldiers in his ranks, 2,400 were infected by Covid.

He added: “It’s not dramatically affecting our plans, because few people are getting seriously ill, but of course, we are having to ensure isolation of cases and also to be more careful with mask-wearing and other anti-Covid measures.

But Ukraine’s top military brasses believe the situation is much more serious across the border, particularly in Belarus – which could scupper plans.

The Moscow Times has calculated that Russia has had nearly a million excess fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic.

Mr Syrskyi said 99.3 percent of the Ukrainian army had received two doses of a vaccine, and that booster shots were being rolled out.

Russia’s vaccination rates in the military is said to be around 95 percent – but just 25 percent have received the all-important third jab to protect against Omicron.

Brandon Weichert, author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, previously told Express.co.uk a rise in cases could push back an invasion date.

He said: ”In terms of preparation for the Russian military, we do know that the Russians have been sitting on the other side of the Ukraine border freezing their rear ends off for some period of time now.

“It is possible that COVID infects and propagates the troops which could impact their fighting capabilities.”

He added that the Kremlin may wait until warmer conditions reduce the spread of the virus.

Vaccine scepticism is said to be high in both countries, where less than half of the population has been fully vaccinated.

DON’T MISS:  
Brexit Britain’s Norway deal means it can swerve EU power blackouts [REVEAL] 
New Covid variants ‘will dominate – ominous WHO warning [INSIGHT] 
Archaeologists unearth rare treasures at Tower of London [SPOTLIGHT] 

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Fourth International warns that things could get worse as the population is left with “almost no protection against infections”.

They report: “Two years into the pandemic, neither Moscow nor Kiev have informed the population about the airborne transmission of the virus and only very few people wear N95 masks, if they’re wearing any masks at all.

“Mirroring the response of the imperialist powers to the pandemic, the oligarchies in both countries refuse to impose further lockdowns.”

On Friday, the Federation Council, Russia’s upper chamber of parliament, reported that 20 of its senators had contracted the virus.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the populist leader of one of the country’s leading political parties, has been hospitalised since last week.

Meanwhile, Mr Putin is being kept almost entirely in isolation, even as world leaders travel to Moscow to try to defuse tensions.

Source: Read Full Article