Knocking on hell’s Dvornikov: the battle for Donbas

<p>Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has entered a new phase, and its forces in Ukraine have a new commander—one with a history of targeting civilians. The next few weeks are likely to see huge, bloody battles for control of the eastern <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/russia-begins-a-new-phase-of-its-war-in-ukraine/21808840" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donbas</a> region. As Sunday’s presidential run-off vote approaches our French-election series <a href="https://www.economist.com/1843/2022/03/03/emmanuel-macrons-charm-offensive?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">profiles</a> the incumbent, Emmanuel Macron. And why <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/around-the-world-people-like-and-dislike-the-same-scents/21808584" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">smell</a> preferences vary little across cultures.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></p><hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>