Page 34 - bneIntelliNews monthly country report Russia May 2024

producing popular brands such as Chateau Taman, Aristov, and Vysoky Bereg. In 2023, the company produced 95.5 million bottles of wine. In addition to Kuban-Vino, other assets of the Ariant Group of Companies were nationalised as well, including agricultural company Yuzhnaya, wine producer Center for the Food Industry-Ariant, and Agro-firm Ariant, a company that specialises in breeding pigs.
Russia detains 2 journalists on 'extremism' charges, accuses them of having worked with Navalny. Two Russian journalists were detained on "extremism" charges in Russia on April 28 for having allegedly worked for a group founded by the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
● War
Russia may be gearing up for large-scale offensive against Ukraine. Russian forces may be preparing for a large-scale offensive in late spring or summer, aiming to capture more land in Ukraine's partially-occupied Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, the Financial Times reported on April 13, citing unnamed Ukrainian and Western officials.
According to a Russian blogger in contact with military personnel, losses among Russian forces from different types of drones amount to half of all losses experienced on the front. Both FPV and drone bombers present significant challenges. However, countering these drones proves exceedingly difficult due to the rigid nature of the Russian production system.
On the contrary, Ukrainian production, distributed among numerous small-scale producers, including numerous volunteers, demonstrates effectiveness in the conditions of limited supplies from partner nations.
Russia sending units from Far East to replenish losses in Ukraine. Russia is sending troops from its far eastern Pacific Fleet to replenish personnel losses in Ukraine, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said on April 12.
Ukraine says Russia's use of illegal tear gas on battlefield is increasing. Ukrainian military officials have previously said that Russia is deploying chemical weapons on the battlefield in violation of the 1925 Geneva Protocol. The usage of riot control gas in war is also banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which Russia is a signatory of.
HUR confirms attack on Russian bomber factory in Tatarstan. A factory in Russia's Tatarstan producing bomber aircraft for the Russian military was attacked by Ukrainian drones on the morning of April 17, Kyiv’s military intelligence (HUR) has confirmed.
Ukrainian authorities have made progress this month on expanding the conscription pool by passing a bill on additional mobilisation and lowering the
34 RUSSIA Country Report May 2024 www.intellinews.com