Russia forces African recruits to become suicide bombers & Zelensky declares ‘state of emergency’

Day 1,421.


Today, as President Zelensky declares a national emergency over
the energy crisis triggered by Russian attacks on Ukraine’s
infrastructure, we ask what Europe’s strategy is now, before
examining reports Russia has forced African recruits into suicide
missions on the battlefield. Then we assess how events in Iran
and Venezuela could reshape global energy prices, and whether
those shocks will ultimately help or hinder Vladimir Putin.


Contributors


Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley
on X.


Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence).
@DomNicholls on X.


Ben Farmer (Africa correspondent). @benfarmer on X.


Stephanie Baker(Senior writer at Bloomberg and sanctions expert).
@StephaniBaker on X.


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Each week, Dom Nicholls and Francis Dearnley answer your
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CONTENT REFERENCED:


Russia forces African recruits to become suicide bombers (The
Telegraph):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/12/russia-using-africans-cannon-fodder-ukraine/ 


EU chief diplomat Kallas: World’s woes mean it’s time to start
drinking (POLITICO):


https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-chief-diplomat-kaja-kallas-state-world-means-time-start-drinking/ 


EU reveals details on 90 billion 'Ukraine Support Loan' (Kyiv
Independent):


https://kyivindependent.com/eu-reveals-details-on-90-billion-ukraine-support-loan/?mc_cid=28574c74cc&mc_eid=08d0680a95 


Stephanie Baker’s Book: ‘Punishing Putin: The gripping expose of
the global economic sanctions against Russia’s war in Ukraine’
– 


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Punishing-Putin-gripping-economic-sanctions-ebook/dp/B0CWWFJ52G


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