Ukraine crisis in Czechia: What's happening now (May 13)

Russian troops are continuing attacks in the Donbas and in the direction of Zaporizhzhya. Shelling of the Mariupol Azovstal steelworks is also continuing while the intensification of the attack is expected in the near future due to the evacuation of civilians. Meanwhile, Ukraine is destroying Russian bridges over the North Donets River. The refugee crisis in the Czech Republic continues as the government decided to set up a tent town to handle the humanitarian catastrophe at Prague Main Central Station.

Russia resumed its attack on Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, after 300 women, children, and elderly people were evacuated from the site last week. According to Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereschuk, the surrounded area is still defended by about a thousand Ukrainians, many of whom are severely injured. While the Russian offensive also continues in the Donbas, the Russian army has allegedly withdrawn from the Kharkiv area, says the British Ministry of Defense. Meanwhile, Finland's leaders gave a green light for joining NATO. Sweden, too, is moving forward applying to join NATO in tandem with Finland, perhaps as early as next week. Although the move was widely expected, it shows how the Russian invasion of Ukraine has drawn nonaligned nations closer to NATO.

The war is directly affecting gas supplies to Europe as Ukraine's gas transmission operator says it will shut off almost a third of Russian gas that passes through the country onward to Europe, citing '"force majeure." This could push up natural gas prices in Europe and set up a potential dispute with Russia’s Gazprom, which called a Ukrainian proposal to shift the transit of gas to another station in Ukrainian territory “technologically impossible.” On Tuesday, Ukrainian forces made strategic gains, pushing Russian forces back in some parts of the country. Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to send a new $40 billion aid package to Ukraine.

Despite weeks of fear that the Kremlin may double down on its assault on Ukraine on Victory Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not escalate his war efforts as he held a huge parade in Moscow. While across the border in Ukraine, major cities had one of the calmest days since the invasion, the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa was struck by a volley of Russian missiles on Monday evening, a regional Ukrainian military official alleged. Attacks earlier in the day forced European Council President Charles Michel to seek shelter during an official visit. In Czechia, the influx of refugees seems to have stabilized, but Prague's Central Railway Station is now facing a humanitarian crisis as dozens of Roma refugees are neglected by the City.

A military parade took place in Moscow. In a closely watched speech, President Vladimir Putin defended the attack on Ukraine as a necessary response to the actions of the West, which he said was planning an invasion of Russia. In response, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said Putin continues in his expedient distortion of history intending to justify the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, representatives of the world's most economically powerful G7 have pledged to end their dependence on Russian oil; the EU struggles to adopt a Russian oil embargo. As Putin continues his invasion, Russia's spending on war reaches $900 million a day, which is indirectly being paid by Europe. Russia still receives up to $1 billion a day from Europe alone to pay for Russian coal, gas, and oil, which Europe imports from Russia.