Daily Flyer - May 5, 2023
A voice of Ukraine to the West
ISW explains Russia's use of drone attack on Kremlin
Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have suggested that Russia will use a "drone strike on the Kremlin" to cancel even more parades on 9 May.
It is noted in the report that Russian officials are likely "using the May 3 drone strike on the Kremlin to expand cancellations of parades for the May 9 Victory Day holiday".
Russian sources have continued to react to the drone strike on the Kremlin on 3 May. Russia's Investigative Committee has announced that it has opened a criminal case "on the fact of a terrorist attack in connection with an attempt to strike the Kremlin" and further strengthened the claim that Kyiv was responsible for the strike.
It is also mentioned that Russia conducted another strike with Iranian-made Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones in Ukraine on 4 May.
The analysts have also pointed out that the Kremlin is reportedly continuing to restructure its internal security agencies.
The ISW has also pointed out once again that the Russian authorities may use a series of new laws that increase penalties for discrediting the Russian armed forces, misappropriating military property, and trespassing on secured facilities to support these efforts.
Avril Haines, US Director of National Intelligence, has said that Russia is unlikely to be able to conduct a significant offensive in Ukraine this year due to a lack of ammunition and manpower, regardless of whether the Ukrainian counteroffensive is successful.
Russia shells, launches drones at Dnipropetrovsk Oblast overnight
Ukraine's military shot down two drones over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast overnight on May 5, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak reported on Telegram.
Russian forces also shelled the city of Nikopol, located across the Dnipro River from the Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar, home to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Due to the shelling, 10 homes, fences, and an outbuilding were damaged. A power line and two gas pipelines were broken, Lysak said. No casualties were reported.
A Russian drone attack on May 3 damaged an administrative building in the oblast's regional capital of Dnipro.
Indian oil shipping giant emerges by working with Rosneft
Indian oil shipping company with mysterious origins became one of the largest tanker owners in the world, likely due to its ties with the Russian state oil company Rosneft, according to the article from the Financial Times.
Gatik Ship Management, an Indian oil shipping company, went from owning two chemical tankers in 2021 to acquiring 58 vessels with an estimated value of $1.6 billion in April.
According to the experts cited in the article, the purchase made Gatik one of the only 20 companies to own 50 or more tankers.
“Gatik’s newly acquired fleet has been used largely to transport oil from Russia, mainly to ports in India, tanker tracking data shows,” the Financial Times wrote.
Since the full-scale invasion, Russian supplies went from comprising 1 percent of India’s crude to about 30 percent in 2023.
The reporters were unable to verify the origins or ownership of the company due to limited public information available in official registries, providing evidence of close cooperation with Rosneft.
The news comes as demand from India and China rise the prices for Russian oil. April prices for Urals crude rose to nearly $55 per barrel, nearing the $60 price cap imposed by the U.S. and its allies, causing uncertainty about future trade decisions.