Two straight days of attacks on the Ukrainian capital have given pause to tentative signs of pre-war life re-emerging in the city following Russia’s announced pivot towards a new offensive in the eastern Donbas region.

Former Soviet countries are seeking ways to redirect their export and transit cargo bypassing Russia amid its aggression against Ukraine.

Kadyrov has been among the most vocal supporters of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. Thousands of "Kadyrovtsy", an armed militia formally integrated in Russia’s law enforcement, but de-facto loyal to Kadyrov, have been fighting in Ukraine