Russia faces three diplomatic snubs in 10 days as India, Azerbaijan and Botswana pull away
Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Russia has faced diplomatic rebukes from three countries over the past 10 days. India, Azerbaijan, and Botswana have all formally protested Moscow's actions, Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU) reports.
Details of diplomatic protests
According to the intelligence service, the governments of these countries have expressed dissatisfaction with Russia's actions for different reasons, reflecting the continued erosion of Moscow's international standing.
India lodged a strong protest after a Russian missile strike hit the cargo vessel MV Golden Leo near the port of Odesa, killing four Indian nationals. India's Ministry of External Affairs stressed that attacks on civilian vessels are unacceptable.
Azerbaijan submitted a diplomatic protest after Russian forces struck a gas station owned by Azerbaijani energy company SOCAR in Ukraine's Mykolaiv region. Baku is demanding an investigation and compliance with international norms protecting civilian infrastructure.
Botswana has officially raised concerns over a growing number of cases in which its citizens have allegedly been deceived into joining Russia's war against Ukraine.
"This rhetoric illustrates a kind of tectonic shift in relations with countries that until recently were considered close partners," the Foreign Intelligence Service said, commenting on India's response.
The agency also noted that the Azerbaijani president later declared his country's readiness to fully replace Russia in supplying oil and gas to the European market.
Based on the intel data, the Kremlin's increasingly aggressive behavior is driving away international partners and further limiting Russia's diplomatic options in its pivot to the East.
Russian influence declines
Earlier reports indicated that African countries are gradually distancing themselves from the Kremlin over recruitment schemes used to enlist their citizens for Russia's war.
Azerbaijan has also repeatedly accused Russia of violating its international obligations through attacks on civilian infrastructure.
In addition, Russia's loss of its status as a reliable energy supplier has allowed alternative exporters to steadily increase their share of the European market.
Russia faces economic troubles and battlefield losses
Meanwhile, Russia's situation continues to deteriorate not only on the battlefield but also on the home front.
Over the past week, Russian military losses have increased significantly. Whereas the average number of Russian troops killed or wounded had previously stood at around 1,100 per day, that figure has now risen to about 1,400.
At the same time, the Kremlin tries to project an image of stability despite a deepening fuel crisis. Despite official claims that the situation is improving, Russia faces fuel shortages, declining production, and soaring prices.
The intelligence service also said Russia's real economic indicators point to an economy nearing stagnation. The country's corporate sector has accumulated more than $117.5 billion in overdue accounts receivable, while the share of troubled payments has reached 3.8% of GDP, indicating a complete economic standstill in the Russian Federation.
