Robin Emmott and Pavel Polityuk

KYIV/BRUSSELS – Finland is likely to declare on Thursday that it will join NATO, with Sweden expected to soon follow, diplomats and officials stated. The announcement comes as NATO’s military alliance and European security are being reshaped by Russia’s invasion and occupation of Ukraine.

Five diplomats and officials from NATO told Reuters that NATO Allies anticipate Finland and Sweden being granted membership soon. This will allow for increased troop presence within the Nordic Region during the 1-year ratification period.

The three Baltic countries and Norway are NATO members. Russia would be upset if Sweden and Finland were to join the NATO region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has mentioned the matter as one of the reasons for his actions against Ukraine. Ukraine has expressed its desire to join the alliance.

Ukraine said Wednesday it had pulled back Russian forces from the east. It also shut down gas flows along a route through Russian territory. The prospect of an energy crises in Europe is now looming.

The general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces stated it had captured Pytomnyk. Pytomnyk is a village located north of Kharkiv’s second-largest urbanity.

It stated that “The occupying force moved towards the defense in order to slow the pace of our troops’ offensive.” “The settlement at Pytomnyk was liberated.”

It appears that the advance is the most rapid since Ukraine drove Russian troops out of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and out of Northern Ukraine in April.

This could allow Ukrainian forces to attack Russia’s major attack force supply lines, as well as putting Russia’s rear logistic targets within firing range.

According to the Kremlin, its actions in Ukraine are a “special military operations” that aims to demilitarize a neighbor who is threatening its security. The Kremlin denies that it is targeting civilians.

Ukraine insists it does not pose a threat, and Russia claims that the destruction of cities and towns as well as the death of many civilians are evidence of its war for conquest.

GAS SUPPLIES

Ukraine took Wednesday’s action to stop Russian gas from the territory of Russian-backed separatists. This was the first disruption to European shipments.

Gazprom’s Russian export monopoly Gazprom (MCX) gas flow to Europe via Ukraine dropped by quarter following Kyiv declaring it was forced stop all flows through one route: the Sokhranovka transit station in southern Russia.

Ukraine accuses Russian-backed separatists de siphoning supplies.

The most significant impact of the European supply reduction would occur if it continues.

Moscow also issued sanctions to the Polish-owned Yamal pipeline, which transports Russian gas to Europe.

These implications were unclear for Europe as it imports over a third its gas from Russia.

Berlin confirmed that they were looking into the news. A spokesperson for the Economy Ministry said that the German government is “taking all necessary precautions” and was “preparing for different scenarios”.

BURNED OUT TANKS

While fighting continued, Belgorod’s governor, who is located on the Russian side of Kharkiv’s border, stated that one village was being shelled by the Ukrainians, leaving one injured.

The advance via Kharkiv has been confirmed by the Ukraine authorities but there are no details.

“We’re having success in Kharkiv, where the enemy is constantly being pushed back and we liberate population centers,” stated Brigadier General Oleksiy Horomov, the Deputy Chief for the Main Operations Directorate, of Ukraine’s General Staff.

Kyiv claimed that Moscow will hold an fake referendum about independence or annexation in order to make Russia’s occupation of southern Ukraine permanent.

According to the Kremlin, Wednesday’s decision was left up to Kherson area residents whether to accept Russia. But such decisions must be supported by clear legal precedent.

Russian forces continue to bombard the Azovstal Steelworks at Mariupol’s southern port. This is last stand of Ukrainian defenders.

Petro Andryushchenko wrote that “if there’s hell on Earth, it is there,” as an aide of Mariupol Mayor Vadym Biichenko. He has since left the city.

According to Ukraine, it’s possible that Mariupol has seen the deaths of tens or thousands of people. Ukrainian authorities claim that between 150,000- 170,000 residents of the city still live there in spite the Russian occupation.