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against Russia. Also, these states oppose the Russian Federation's isolation, according to Bloomberg. It is noted that the G20, unlike the G7, does not actively support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. So far, only 10 of these countries have joined the international sanctions against Russia. According to the publication, high-ranking officials from Western countries went on a tour of Southeast Asia and Africa to create a larger coalition against the Russian Federation but did not increase support against Russia. Although some G20 countries do not help Moscow circumvent sanctions, they oppose its economic isolation. China, as the leading supporter of Russia after the start of the war in Ukraine, has repeatedly increased its spending on Russian energy resources. Non-unanimous G20 positions make it impossible for the USA’s initiative to limit global oil prices from Russia to succeed.
Russian nationals are increasingly crossing the border into Belarus to buy bank cards and sanctioned goods no longer accessible in Russia. In early March, Visa and Mastercard payments ceased to work in Russia. In 2022, the issuance of bank cards to Russian citizens in Belarus has reportedly increased by 11.52% from the same period in 2021. It has also increased in Kyrgyzstan (39.7%), Uzbekistan, (26.2%), Armenia (16.2%), Tajikistan (28%), and Kazakhstan (7.86%).
Putin signs decree to expand the Russian military to 2 million. The decree increases the armed forces by 137,000 personnel, Russian state news agency Ria Novosti reported. According to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s decree, the armed forces will employ up to 1.15 million military personnel and 890,000 non-military personnel.
Russia has involved at least 160,000 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Vadym Skybytsky, a representative of Ukraine's Intelligence Directorate, said that the number does not include Russian national guard members, who are tasked with holding Russian-occupied regions. He also added that Russia plans to mobilise an additional 90,000 military personnel to fight against Ukraine.
The U.S. announced a new round of sanctions
includes Putin’s alleged girlfriend Alina Kabayeva, billionaire Andrey
against a number of
prominent Russian businesses and oligarchs. The list of individuals
Grigoryevich Guryev, Kirill Dmitriev’s wife Natalya Popova, and businessman
Viktor Filippovich Rashnikov, among others. They also targeted four Russian
officials with positions in occupied Ukraine and 24 Russian technology
companies. “The Treasury Department will use every tool at our disposal to
make sure that Russian elites and the Kremlin's enablers are held accountable
for their complicity in a war that has cost countless lives,” said U.S. Treasury
Secretary Janet Yellen.
Daughter of Alexander Dugin, ideologist behind Kremlin's war in Ukraine,
39 RUSSIA Country Report September 2022 www.intellinews.com