The PG Newsletter #11: Mines, Missiles, and Making Babies
Hello everyone,
Today is the 1000th day Russia's illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As always, the Plakhov Group gives its full support to the people of Ukraine and its defenders.
This Week's Quick Takes
After 10 years of war, Ukraine's territory - most of it farmland - has become the most ordinance-littered in the world since World War II. Research Analyst Thomas Cline-Fedorus analyzes the implications for Ukraine's economy, human security, and for global food security.
The Kremlin has officially reduced its threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, claiming to seek to deter NATO. Research Analyst Alice Quan takes a look at the details of this new doctrine and the reactions of western analysts and states to Russia's saber-rattling, as well as the implications for the war in Ukraine.
In the News
US, UK, France Greenlight the Use of Their Missiles on Russian Territory
On Sunday, the United States announced it will allow Ukraine to use US-supplied ATACMS missile against targets in Russian territory. Following up, the United Kingdom and France lifted their restrictions on the use of SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles. It is believed the change of policy by the US is in reaction to the confirmed use of North Korean troops by Russia (New York Times). Earlier that day, Russia launched 120 missiles and 90 drones struck energy infrastructure across Ukraine as winter approaches. In response to these western announcements, Zelensky affirmed "Missiles will speak for themselves" (The Guardian).
Russia's New Pro-Natalist Policy
As part of ongoing efforts to reverse its declining population, Russia passed a bill outlawing "childfree propaganda". Analysts criticize its vague wording, warning it could limit access to contraceptives. Other measures such as bans on "LGBTQ+ propaganda", restrictions on abortion, and financial incentives for parents, are framed as promoting "family" and "traditional values". The abduction of 700,000 Ukrainian children is also seen as an attempt to curb Russia's falling population trends (Kyiv Independent). Critics highlight Russia's hypocrisy given the lack of access to IVF, birth planning, and other maternal health services in the country (The Insider).
What's up with the Group ?
The PG family gets bigger ! This week we welcome Olli McIntyre , Marc-Antoine Rivero-Séguie , and Bogdan Koutsenko . They all have great backgrounds, look forward to their first products !
Thank you for reading and see you next week,
Yassine El-Ouaqaf
Senior Research Analyst and Editor of the Newsletter