US President Joe Biden has announced a separate tranche of $ 500 million in US aid to the Ukrainian government in addition to the $ 800 million in military aid he promised on Thursday.
The new aid brings US total economic support for Ukraine, the president said, to $ 1 billion in the last two months since Russia’s invasion.
The $ 500 million funding could be used by the Ukrainian government “to stabilize their economy, to support communities devastated by the Russian attack, and to pay the brave workers who continue to provide basic services to the people of Ukraine.” “Biden said.”
He also called for “Unite for Ukraine,” a new effort to support Ukrainians who want to come to the United States amid the ongoing brutal invasion, with about two-thirds of Ukrainian children displaced.
In Ukraine, meanwhile, evacuation efforts have become difficult.
Here’s what you need to know:
Ukraine’s military releases apparent interception of Russian communications with alleged order to kill Ukrainian prisoners of war: Ukraine’s military intelligence released on Wednesday an alleged interception of communications by Russian armed forces, citing an alleged order to kill Ukrainian prisoners of war in the eastern town of Popasna. of Luhansk, which bears the brunt of Russia’s renewed attack.
“The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine received audio interception of the occupiers’ conversation concerning the order to kill all prisoners of war by the Ukrainian armed forces who are being held captive in the Popasna region (Luhansk region),” he tweeted. Ukrainian military intelligence on Wednesday.
“This is a blatant war crime, a violation of international law and another striking example of the Russian military being murderers, rapists and robbers,” it added.
The alleged intercepted audio recording, released Wednesday, appears to contain the voices of unknown Russian soldiers, who say: “What the hell can I tell you? [expletive], for Chander, for Chander – you keep the oldest among them, and leave the rest forever. Leave them forever, damn it, so no one sees them anymore, including relatives. ”
CNN could not guarantee the authenticity of the recording and asked the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment.
Evacuations from the Azovstal plant are not possible on Thursday, as there is no stable ceasefire: It is not possible to evacuate civilians from the Azovstal plant on Thursday, as there is no stable ceasefire to ensure safe evacuation, said Mariupol Mayor Vadim Boychenko on Thursday during an online briefing. The mayor called on international partners to assist in a ceasefire and an evacuation corridor. He also noted that about 200 people are currently waiting for evacuation buses in Mariupol, but the buses have not yet arrived. Four evacuation buses with 80 civilians on board left Mariupol on Wednesday and are currently heading to Zaporozhye, the mayor said. He added that on Wednesday, during an attempt to evacuate civilians, Russian troops began firing.
More than 7.7 million people internally displaced in Ukraine, according to the report: More than 7.7 million people have been internally displaced in Ukraine after being forced to flee their homes due to the Russian invasion, according to the latest report by the International migration. According to the third report on internal displacement in Ukraine, published on Thursday, the number of internally displaced people in Ukraine has risen to at least 17.5% – or more than one in six – of Ukraine’s pre-war population. The latest survey, conducted between April 11th and April 17th, found that at least 60% of IDPs were women. More than half of IDPs report a lack of some food products. According to the IOM, 28% of families with children under the age of five say they have had difficulty getting enough food for their children.
Another prisoner exchange is taking place between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister said: Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk said on Thursday that another prisoner exchange had taken place between Ukraine and Russia.
“Today we are returning home 19 people, including 10 military (including 2 officers) and nine civilians,” she said. “This time there are wounded among the released and this is very important. After that, they will be able to receive full treatment and rehabilitation. “
Russia closes consulates of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania: Russia is closing the consulates of three former Soviet Baltic states, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
The statement said the Latvian consulates in St. Petersburg and Pskov, as well as the Estonian and Lithuanian consulates general in St. Petersburg, would be closed and all their staff declared “persona non grata”. The term “persona non grata” literally means “unwanted person.” Declaring someone as such usually means that they have to leave the country.
Add Comment