Last week, rebel forces captured Myawaddy, a key trading hub in Myanmar, from the ruling junta. Rebels who fought against junta troops in Myawaddy described a demoralized military that was unwilling to hold its ground. This event reveals the shifting dynamics throughout the country as its once dominant military struggles with defeats on the battlefield.
The fall of Myawaddy means that Myanmar's two most important land border crossings are now under the control of the resistance, following the rebels' takeover of Muse near the Chinese border last year.
In related news, the armed forces of Russia and Myanmar plan to hold more than 50 joint events this year within the framework of bilateral military cooperation, according to Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. "We have a solid basis for further development of relations between the armed forces of Russia and Myanmar. This year, we have planned more than 50 events of bilateral military cooperation, including reciprocal visits of the commanders-in-chief of branches of the armed forces, as well as joint operational and combat training projects," Fomin said during talks with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s Prime Minister, Chairman of the State Administration Council, and Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services.
