Switzerland Today
Greetings from Bern!
Thirty-three years ago today the Berlin Wall came down. The Swiss government was caught by surprise and fumbled its response, with the then foreign minister judging the events unworthy of a press conference. “Something important happens every day in the world – [the foreign minister] can’t comment on everything,” said his spokesman. How will history judge the Swiss government’s reaction to Russia and its invasion of Ukraine? Today we hear from one young Russian seeking asylum in Switzerland, and we look at how Switzerland is preparing for nuclear escalation.
In the news: Several veterans, including Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri (pictured), have been named in a 26-man football squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
- Four goalkeepers are on the list, including first-choice goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who is currently injured. When it comes to Swiss winning chances, the bookmakers have Switzerland mid-table at around 100-1 to lift the trophy. Brazil are favourites.
- The Swiss government has called for efforts to boost conflict detection methods amid the war in Ukraine which poses a threat to Switzerland’s security and peace in Europe. The annual threat assessment report published today paints a bleak picture. In particular, the war in Ukraine has had far-reaching effects on the security situation, it says.
- Switzerland will extend until March 2024 its streamlined process for hosting refugees from the war in Ukraine, the government said today, deciding it was not yet safe for people to return home. Since March more than 67,000 Ukrainians have received refuge in Switzerland. As of the beginning of the month, 6,394 people had permanently left Switzerland to return home.
‘My psyche was completely unprepared for what was happening.’ The announcement of partial mobilisation in Russia has been a watershed moment for the population. One man who fled Moscow for Switzerland explains how everything changed the day President Vladimir Putin called up reservists to fight in Ukraine.
After the invasion of Ukraine began, a kind of unspoken social contract had prevailed in Russia: the “special military operation” to “denazify and demilitarise” Ukraine would be conducted by professionals, while everyone else would watch it unfold on television. In September, however, all of this changed.
The prospect of coming home from work as usual and ending up near Kherson or Bachmut two days later became a highly realistic – if difficult-to-accept – scenario for many Russians. Among them is Vladislav Donchenko (pictured). Poorly trained and unmotivated men who are being forcibly drafted have little chance of surviving combat operations.
In this article, Donchenko describes his initial shock, taking part in demonstrations, the risk of being conscripted, and seeking asylum in Switzerland.
As the war in Ukraine escalates, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to use his nuclear arsenal, fuelling fears across Europe. How is Switzerland preparing for nuclear escalation?
Switzerland appears to be relatively well prepared for the consequences of a nuclear event in Ukraine. The government has improved its protection against nuclear, biological and chemical threats and hazards since the 2011 accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.
However, Switzerland could also do more. In this article my colleague Sara Ibrahim looks at its most serious shortcomings, and what the consequences of Russia using a nuclear weapon would be for the Alpine nation.
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