It’s Day 56 of the invasion of Ukraine.
US military officials and many experts believe that the Russians have not yet begun the expected battle for Donbas but continue to stockpile supplies and weapons for a larger offensive.
The Russian military continues to export damaged armored vehicles by rail to Russia via Belarus while using the region for air and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.
Russian troops attempted yesterday to oust Ukrainian defenders from the administrative borders of the Kherson region but were unsuccessful.
Ukrainian forces and several thousand civilians sheltering in the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol are still refusing to surrender. They have issued pleas for help from the West, particularly the United States, as Russia continues to bombard their position.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, PAP, nytimes.com
Polish President Andrzej Duda claims Western allies are determined to provide additional support to Ukraine and are committed to holding Russia accountable for its actions.
Duda made the announcement following a video call on Tuesday with US President Joe Biden and the leaders of NATO, the European Union, and G7 countries.
Duda told reporters that “strong words were spoken during the meeting that Russia must not be allowed to win this war.” He went on to stress that “there is complete unity among the largest NATO countries” and “our position is clear: Russia’s aggression must be stopped.”
Source: Radio Poland
Ukraine’s economy is predicted to shrink by 35% this year due to Russian aggression, according to the IMF’s most recent World Economic Outlook.
According to the forecast, “even if the war ends soon, the loss of people, the destruction of physical capital, and displaced citizens will seriously hamper economic activity for many years to come.”
The IMF also predicts a significant slowdown in global growth and rising inflation in 2022 due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has negatively impacted commodity markets, trade, and financial channels.
The humanitarian crisis has extended beyond Ukraine as the Russian invasion has caused fuel and food prices to rise rapidly, disproportionately impacting low-income countries.
Despite sanctions, Russia’s GDP is projected to fall by only 8.5% this year.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, PAP
Two Polish films have been selected to screen at the world-renowned International Film Festival in Cannes next month.
“EO” by veteran Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski will be competing against 18 other films for the festival’s prestigious Palme d’Or award.
The film is a modern interpretation of the 1960s French cult classic “Au Hasard Balthazar (Balthazar, at Random)” by director Robert Bresson. Rumored to have been inspired by a passage from Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s 1868-69 novel “The Idiot,” the film follows the trials of a donkey as he suffers abuse at the hands of various owners.
Polish director Agnieszka Smoczyńska’s English-language debut “Silent Twins” has also been selected for the festival’s “Un Certain Regard” category, which includes debut and experimental films.
“Silent Twins” is a Polish-British co-production based on the book of the same title by investigative journalist Marjorie Wallace. It tells the story of twins who speak to each other in their own invented language after spending 14 years at Britain’s high-security Broadmoor psychiatric institution.
The Cannes festival officially opens on May 17 and runs until May 28.
Source: Radio Poland, festival-cannes.com
Local officials are calling attention to the increased likelihood of young seals appearing around beaches and marinas in Trójmiasto.
Although seals do not typically venture very far inland, one was discovered resting on a cement slab in the Gdańsk Marina in Żabi Kruk over the holiday weekend.
Yacht owner Bartłomiej Stroiński noticed the seal and contacted specialists from the Institute of Oceanography of the University of Gdańsk, who later assessed that the seal pup did not need any assistance.
According to Dr. Iwona Pawliczka, head of the Maritime Station facility in Hel, April is a prime month for spotting seal pups resting on beaches or marinas after setting off on solo journeys around the Baltic Sea and Gdańsk Bay.
In general, the seals should be left alone unless something about their behavior or appearance is unusual or concerning. In this case, residents are asked to call the 24/7 Hel Sea Station hotline at 601-889-940 or the WWF Blue Patrol at 795-536-009.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy, with a chance for some rain in the afternoon and a strong breeze coming in from the north. Temperatures will be slightly warmer than yesterday, with a high around 10°C, or 50°F, dropping to an overnight low of 6°C or 42°F. Similar temps are expected for tomorrow, with a chance for some sunshine in the afternoon.
Elizabeth Peck
