Highlights of the week of June 5-11
While Canada flames out, Ukraine has gone on a counter-attack. What should we expect from a natural disaster and a new phase of conflict?
Fires in Canada
The wildfires are burning in all the Canadian regions except Prince Edward Island and Nunavut, where the climate is cold enough that there are hardly any trees.
Forest fires are not unusual in Canada, but this year's outbreak of fires has occurred at uncommon times. Scientists have also observed that the fires have started earlier and lasted longer. This is linked to the climate crisis and could pose serious environmental and health risks.
For instance, in the US many social and educational institutions have been shut down and the sky has turned orange for a while because of the haze of smoke coming from the northern neighbors.
Yet that's not all. The impact of these wildfires has been felt even in Norway. Of course, the concentration of smoke and hazardous substances is minimal here. However, scientists believe that soot and ash could settle on Greenland's glaciers and cause them to melt more quickly.
Chinese first weapons supply to Russia
BILD reporter Julian Röpke commented on the delivery of military equipment by Chinese manufacturers to the Russian Federation. According to the journalist, this does not look like a private order because of the quantity and specialization of vehicles.
It is not clear yet whether there is a supply agreement between Russia and China, but it would be simply impossible to make such a deal without the approval of China's top leadership.
Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, personally tested the equipment and guaranteed that it would take part in the war in Ukraine.
What is actually happening now is exactly what the G7 leaders talked about at the recent summit in Japan. It is possible for China to begin to affect the balance of power by using its technical and economic power. For now, the shipment of equipment looks more like a promising assessment. However, it may become regular.
Ukraine's counter-attack
Ukrainian forces have launched a counterattack. So far it cannot be called a full-fledged massive strike against Russian positions. Right now it looks more like a combat reconnaissance.
The light motorized units are advancing towards the front, while artillery is destroying warehouses, supply lines and strategic facilities in the rear of the Russian formations.
The operation was complicated by the bombing of the Kakhovska hydroelectric power station, which caused almost 600 km² of flooding. Now the region faces all the conditions for an environmental catastrophe, as the water is undermining the burial grounds. Water contamination could have catastrophic consequences for soil, flora and fauna.
Both parties are dropping accusations of involvement in the explosion of the power plant: Europe is also hesitating to draw conclusions, which is extremely displeasing to Kyiv.
The sheer brutality and hatred for the opposite side of the conflict go far beyond diversion. In this context, the famous Christmas truce of 1914 comes to mind. Unfortunately, none of the countries has offered to stop the combat in the Novaya Kakhovka area for something really important – helping affected people, evacuating the wounded and sick, or preventing an environmental catastrophe.
