The cruiser of the Russian fleet Moscow, below, is seen in the port of Sevastopol, Crimea, on April 7. (Satellite image © 2022MaxarTechnologies)
Thursday marks the 50th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a significant change in Moscow’s approach. Ukrainian authorities have been warning for days that they expect a major offensive by Russian forces in the eastern region of Donbass.
The United States and the EU have pledged a total of $ 1.3 billion more in military aid to Ukraine as Russia prepares to launch an eastern offensive.
Meanwhile, organizations such as the United Nations have warned that the protracted war in Ukraine could lead to more problems in an already struggling global economy with food insecurity as a major problem.
Here are the latest developments:
Victims of the war: As of April 12, the number of civilians killed in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24 was 1932, the United Nations Office on Human Rights (OHCHR) said Thursday. He warns that “the actual figures are significantly higher.”
Global impact: The UN Secretary-General has warned that the world is on the brink of a “perfect storm” as the war in Ukraine exacerbates an already troubled global economy. In a press release Wednesday, the UN said the war could lead to a “three-dimensional crisis” in food, energy and finance – areas already heavily affected by Covid-19 and climate change. “We are now facing a perfect storm that threatens to devastate the economies of developing countries,” said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “The people of Ukraine cannot stand the violence that has been inflicted on them. “And the most vulnerable people in the world cannot suffer the damage of another disaster for which they are not responsible,” he said.
Damaged key Russian warship: One of the most important warships of the Russian Navy was severely damaged in the Black Sea, a huge blow to the military fighting the Ukrainian resistance 50 days after Russia’s invasion of its neighbor. Russian sailors have evacuated the missile cruiser Moscow, the flagship of its Black Sea Fleet, after a fire that blew up ammunition on board, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Ukraine’s South Operational Command said on Thursday that Moscow had begun to sink after being hit by Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles. Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Thursday that “Moscow” “remains on the surface” and that measures are being taken to withdraw it to the port. The ministry said the crew had been evacuated to other Black Sea Fleet ships in the area. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told CNN’s Brianna Kaylar that “there was an explosion” at Moscow, but said the United States could not say at this time whether the ship had been hit by a missile. Whatever the cause of the fire, analysts say it has hit the heart of the Russian navy hard, as well as national pride, comparable to the loss of the US Navy during World War II or today’s aircraft carrier.
Ukrainian national security adviser Alexei Danilov told CNN on Thursday that the alleged cruiser strike was a very important mission for his country’s military and promised more dramatic action would be taken. “This is a very important mission for us. “Moscow was there near Snake Island and was hit yesterday by two powerful Ukrainian missiles,” Danilov told CNN’s Frederick Plaitgen in an interview. “[Putin] came to kill our children, our women, our civilians. This is our gift to him. And this is just the beginning. There will be more than one Moscow. “Ukraine’s national security adviser continued to congratulate the Ukrainian military on the way it defended the country, but warned not to underestimate the Russian military. Danilov also reiterated his country’s call on the international community to send more. “We are grateful for what we have already been given,” he said. “We need helicopters, planes, powerful weapons, howitzers … We need a lot.”
Potential meeting between Zelenski and Putin: Turkey is still working to arrange a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelenski, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Turkish news channel NTV on Thursday. “We know that critical issues will be addressed at the leader level, so we will try to unite the leaders,” he said. Cavusoglu said Turkey continues to approach the talks with “cautious optimism”, especially after the recent events of alleged war crimes in Buca and Irpen, which “had a negative impact on the process”.
The condition for a possible meeting between Putin and Vladimir Zelensky is an agreement document ready to be signed by the two leaders, the Kremlin said on Thursday. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Zelensky has repeatedly called for talks with the Russian president, but so far there have been no top-level talks.
Russia’s opposition leader calls on the West to launch social media against Putin’s regime: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has released a series of tweets calling for a new front of “truth and free information” against Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he calls a “Kremlin war criminal.”
Navalny, who is serving a 9-year sentence in a Russian penal colony after being convicted of fraud last month, said in his tweets that “truth and free information hit Putin’s crazy regime as hard as Javelins,” US anti-tank weapons used by Ukrainian forces against Russian armor.
Increased international defense aid to Ukraine: Pentagon is working to move $ 800 million worth of weapons, ammunition and other security aid to Ukraine, announced by US President Joe Biden yesterday in Ukraine as soon as possible, a senior defense official said. in Thursday. “We have no illusions about the size and scale of this thing. But we also mean the clock. We know that time is not our friend. And we will do everything we can to move this, to move these shipments as quickly as possible, “the official told reporters during an off-camera briefing.
The European Union approved an additional 500m euros ($ 544m) for military equipment for Ukraine’s armed forces on Wednesday, according to a statement from the European Council of the European Union.
“The coming weeks will be decisive. As Russia prepares for an offensive in eastern Ukraine, it is crucial to continue and strengthen our military support for Ukraine in order to protect its territory and population and prevent further suffering, “said Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union. for foreign affairs. cases and security policy.
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