President Zelensky is happy about Ukraine winning its first Oscar for a documentary about Russia’s attack on Mariupol. Mr Zelensky said the movie tells the truth about terrorism in Russia.
The movie shows how the people of Mariupol are suffering while their city is being destroyed. It’s something we don’t see often.
Director Mstyslav Chernov said he felt happy and proud to be the first person from Ukraine to win an Oscar for the best documentary.
“I might be the first director on this stage to say that I wish I never made this film,” he said at the event in Los Angeles.
“I hope that Russia will never attack Ukraine or take over our cities,” he said. He also mentioned that Russia has killed many people from Ukraine.
Mr Chernov wants everyone to make sure that the true history is remembered and that the people of Mariupol and those who have died there are never forgotten.
Movies create memories, and those memories make up our history.
The director ended his speech by shouting “Glory to Ukraine. “, a phrase that many Ukrainians are now using to show support for their country, both at home and abroad.
The movie is getting a lot of attention on social media in Ukraine. A news channel even called it a “historic victory”. This information comes from James Waterhouse, a reporter for the BBC in Kyiv.
Mr Chernov’s group of three reporters recorded the slow surrounding of Mariupol by Russian soldiers in the early months of Russia’s complete attack in February 2022. Their movie shows the harsh reality of what happened to the people who lived there.
The team took a big risk filming there, and somehow they were able to leave the city by passing through many Russian checkpoints with the filmed material hidden under a car seat.
Mariupol, a city in southern Ukraine near the Sea of Azov, was almost completely destroyed by Russian soldiers after a lot of intense fighting.
Russia says it took over something in May 2022 and calls it “liberation”.
Tag: Zelensky
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Zelensky celebrates Ukraine’s historic Oscar win
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31,000 soldiers have died since Russia’s invasion – Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky has said that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in Russia’s big attack.
The president of Ukraine refused to give the number of injured people because he didn’t want to help the Russian military with their plans.
Usually, Ukrainian officials do not tell the public about how many people have been injured or killed, and other people think the numbers are even higher.
The defence minister said that half of the Western aid for Ukraine is late, and it’s causing people to die and the country to lose land.
Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that he was giving a new number of people who have died because Russia’s numbers are too high.
31,000 soldiers from Ukraine have died in this war. Don’t believe what Putin and his friends are saying about the number, whether it’s 300,000 or 150,000. They are lying. However, we feel a big loss from each of these losses.
Mr Zelensky talked about the huge number of civilians who died in the war in areas of Ukraine controlled by Russia. He said that tens of thousands of people died, but we don’t really know the exact number.
“I don’t know how many of them died, were killed, were murdered, tortured, or deported. ”
Ukraine usually doesn’t say how many soldiers died in battle. Some people think a lot more soldiers died than what Ukraine reports.
In August, US officials said 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers died and up to 120,000 were hurt.
Mr Zelensky said that 180,000 Russian soldiers have died and tens of thousands have been hurt.
BBC Russian and Mediazona website worked together to find out the names of over 45,000 Russian soldiers who have passed away. But it thinks the total number is higher than that.
In February, the UK’s defense ministry said that about 350,000 Russian soldiers were either killed or hurt.
President Zelensky spoke after his defense minister, Rustam Umerov, criticized the Western countries for taking too long to give military help to Ukraine.
“Right now, promising to do something doesn’t mean it’s been done,” he said.
Ukraine is having trouble trying to make Russia leave its land.
Mr Umerov said that Ukraine is at a bigger disadvantage in the war because of the lack of supplies.
“We try our best, but if the supplies don’t come on time, it hurts us,” he said.
In November, Germany said that the European Union’s plan to deliver a million artillery shells by March might not happen.
In January, the EU said that only about half of the promised amount would reach Ukraine by the deadline, and the rest would not arrive until the end of 2024.
President Zelensky said that Ukraine’s big attack last year didn’t start earlier because they didn’t have enough weapons.
The counter-attack did not work well, adding to Kyiv’s problems after initially stopping Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that the plans for the counter-attack were given to Russia before it happened.
Last week, it was said that Ukrainian soldiers moved out of the important town of Avdiivka in the east. This was a big victory for Moscow after many months.
Mr Zelensky said that the reason for the recent problems is partly because the Western countries are not providing enough weapons.
The Biden government said that the delay in Congress approving a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine played a part in the town’s downfall.
On Saturday, leaders from Western countries went to Kyiv to support Ukraine as it marked two years since Russia invaded.
In Italy and Canada, it was announced that they made deals with Ukraine to help keep the country safe until it can join Nato.
Canada’s agreement included over three billion Canadian dollars (equivalent to £1. 7bn) in financial and defense support.
Not just Ukraine, but also other countries are struggling to find the resources they need for their military activities. Western officials say Russia is having a hard time getting enough ammunition and weapons.
“A person from the West said that Russia doesn’t have enough ammunition to meet the needs of the conflict in Ukraine. ”
They also said that Moscow has been able to get more supplies by finding other places to get ammunition and weapons, but this is not a good long-term solution.Volodymyr Zelensky is saying that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in Russia’s big attack.
The president of Ukraine refused to give the number of injured people because he didn’t want to help the Russian military with their plans.
Usually, Ukrainian officials do not tell the public about how many people have been injured or killed, and other people think the numbers are even higher.
The defence minister said that half of the Western aid for Ukraine is late, and it’s causing people to die and the country to lose land.
Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that he was giving a new number of people who have died because Russia’s numbers are too high.
31,000 soldiers from Ukraine have died in this war. Don’t believe what Putin and his friends are saying about the number, whether it’s 300,000 or 150,000. They are lying. However, we feel a big loss from each of these losses.
Mr Zelensky talked about the huge number of civilians who died in the war in areas of Ukraine controlled by Russia. He said that tens of thousands of people died, but we don’t really know the exact number.
“I don’t know how many of them died, were killed, were murdered, tortured, or deported. ”
Ukraine usually doesn’t say how many soldiers died in battle. Some people think a lot more soldiers died than what Ukraine reports.
In August, US officials said 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers died and up to 120,000 were hurt.
Mr Zelensky said that 180,000 Russian soldiers have died and tens of thousands have been hurt.
BBC Russian and Mediazona website worked together to find out the names of over 45,000 Russian soldiers who have passed away. But it thinks the total number is higher than that.
In February, the UK’s defense ministry said that about 350,000 Russian soldiers were either killed or hurt.
President Zelensky spoke after his defense minister, Rustam Umerov, criticized the Western countries for taking too long to give military help to Ukraine.
“Right now, promising to do something doesn’t mean it’s been done,” he said.
Ukraine is having trouble trying to make Russia leave its land.
Mr Umerov said that Ukraine is at a bigger disadvantage in the war because of the lack of supplies.
“We try our best, but if the supplies don’t come on time, it hurts us,” he said.
In November, Germany said that the European Union’s plan to deliver a million artillery shells by March might not happen.
In January, the EU said that only about half of the promised amount would reach Ukraine by the deadline, and the rest would not arrive until the end of 2024.
President Zelensky said that Ukraine’s big attack last year didn’t start earlier because they didn’t have enough weapons.
The counter-attack did not work well, adding to Kyiv’s problems after initially stopping Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that the plans for the counter-attack were given to Russia before it happened.
Last week, it was said that Ukrainian soldiers moved out of the important town of Avdiivka in the east. This was a big victory for Moscow after many months.
Mr Zelensky said that the reason for the recent problems is partly because the Western countries are not providing enough weapons.
The Biden government said that the delay in Congress approving a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine played a part in the town’s downfall.
On Saturday, leaders from Western countries went to Kyiv to support Ukraine as it marked two years since Russia invaded.
In Italy and Canada, it was announced that they made deals with Ukraine to help keep the country safe until it can join Nato.
Canada’s agreement included over three billion Canadian dollars (equivalent to £1. 7bn) in financial and defense support.
Not just Ukraine, but also other countries are struggling to find the resources they need for their military activities. Western officials say Russia is having a hard time getting enough ammunition and weapons.
“A person from the West said that Russia doesn’t have enough ammunition to meet the needs of the conflict in Ukraine. ”
They also said that Moscow has been able to get more supplies by finding other places to get ammunition and weapons, but this is not a good long-term solution. -
Zelensky optimistic Ukraine will triumph on its second anniversary
The Ukrainian president Zelensky has expressed optimism about his country’s ability to triumph, pointing to the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
“We won’t let Ukraine be destroyed,” said Volodymyr Zelensky in a speech in Kyiv.
Western leaders stood together with him in a show of support.
Ukraine is having a hard time getting Russia to leave its land, and this is happening around the time of the anniversary.
Mr Zelensky said on Saturday that he wants the war to stop, but it can only be on Ukraine’s terms.
“That’s why we always say ‘end of the war’ on our own terms. ” That’s why we always say ‘peace’ and ‘fair’ together.
We are working hard to achieve it. We have already lived for 730 days. “We will win on the happiest day of our life. ”
The leaders of Italy, Belgium, and Canada, along with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, all met with him in Kyiv.
They placed flower garlands at a wall to remember people who died in the war.
However, some important visitors were missing. None of the older US leaders were there, but last year President Joe Biden came to the anniversary.
Mr Zelensky met with a group of Democratic senators led by Chuck Schumer on Friday. He said this showed that Washington supported Ukraine.
Ms von der Leyen said good things about the Ukrainian soldiers who defended their country at the start of the invasion. They surprised people by being able to resist Russia’s invasion force.
“You stopped Russia from attacking the main part of Ukraine. ” She said, “You protected your country, you protected all of Europe. ”
Italy and Canada said they signed agreements with Kyiv to help Ukraine join Nato. This is good for Ukraine’s safety.
After, the G7 countries – Canada, Italy, the UK and US – promised to help Ukraine and agreed to impose new penalties on Russia during a video meeting.
Marches have happened in Europe to show support for Ukraine. The participants asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the war.
At least four people were taken by the police in Moscow on Saturday at a protest against the war. The protest was organized by wives of soldiers who had been called to duty.
Protests like this don’t happen often because there are many laws in Russia that punish people who speak out against the government.
Ukraine is struggling as the anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches. Just a week ago, it was announced that soldiers had left the fighting town of Avdiivka, which was a big victory for Russia.
Ukraine’s attempt to fight back didn’t work and they are having trouble getting more help from the US. This is a big problem for them.
At the same time, the battle is still going on. At least four people died in the recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Kyiv hit one of Russia’s big steel factories with a drone on Saturday.
Ukraine has won some battles in the war by sinking Russian warships and shooting down spy planes. But President Zelensky’s promised victory still seems a long way off. -
Zelensky fires Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Chief Military Officer of Ukraine
The president of Ukraine has fired the top military leader, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
There are rumors that the president and Gen Zaluzhnyi, who has been leading Ukraine’s war, are not getting along.
Experienced Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi was chosen to replace someone by the president’s order.
This is the most significant change in Ukraine’s military leadership since Russia invaded in February 2022.
President Zelensky said that the top leaders of the military should be replaced, and that Gen Zaluzhnyi could still be part of the team.
“From today, a new group will lead the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” he announced on Thursday.
General Zaluzhnyi is well-liked by Ukrainian soldiers and the public. He is seen as a hero in the country.
His recent ratings have been better than Mr Zelensky’s.
The president talked openly with Gen Zaluzhnyi about the army’s changes, and thanked him for defending Ukraine from Russia.
The new army leader, Gen Syrskyi, knows how to fight in both defense and attack, according to Mr.
He defended the city of Kyiv, which is the capital of Ukraine, when Russia attacked in 2022.
He planned and led Ukraine’s unexpected and successful attack in Kharkiv. He is now in charge of military operations in eastern Ukraine, which is a big part of Ukraine’s counter-attack.
“We need to make this year very important,” said Mr.
“Very important for Ukraine to reach its goals in the war. ” Russia cannot agree to Ukraine being independent because it goes against our country’s independence.
He said he is changing the army’s leaders, and it’s not about last names or politics. It’s about managing Ukraine’s armed forces and having experienced commanders.
The military needs to use more advanced technology in their actions. “We need to change the leadership,” he said.
Mr Zelensky said he wants a clear plan for the military this year, considering the actual situation of the war with Russia. He said we need to change how we manage, recruit, and mobilize people in the frontline.
Mykhailo Podolyak, who helps the president, said it was necessary to change the tactics used in Ukraine’s counter-attack last year.
He repeated what Mr. Zelensky said about stopping the frontline from staying the same and finding advanced solutions.
The announcement has received different opinions, with some opposition MPs being the first to criticize the changes.
Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko thanked Gen Zaluzhnyi for helping Ukraine and said he hoped the government would make good decisions.
Oleksii Honcharenko, a member of the opposition party led by former President Petro Poroshenko, thinks that the president made a big mistake. He said doing it would be dangerous for the country, and we will all have to deal with the consequences.
Another MP from the Batkivschina party, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, said that we need to help and support the military leaders during the war instead of criticizing them.
Ukraine’s defense minister, Rustem Umerov, said thank you to Gen Zaluzhnyi in a statement.
However, war changes over time. War makes things different and requires things to be different. The fights in 2022, 2023 and 2024 are all separate. In 2024, there will be new changes and we need to be prepared for them. We need new ways of doing things and new plans.
“Today, it was decided to change the leaders of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. ”
“I am very thankful to Valerii Fedorovych for all the things he has accomplished and won. “ -
Ukraine war: Members of parliament reject proposal to punish draft evaders
Ukraine’s Members of parliament decided not to discuss a law that would punish people who avoid military service.
Members of Parliament have said that some punishments in the bill are against the constitution.
Some people think that the bill should have a shorter time for military service, like 18 months instead of 36.
The bill was created to get more people to join the army, because Kyiv is having trouble fighting Russia after almost two years of war.
The plans also said that men can join the military at a younger age, from 27 to 25.
Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that they need 450,000-500,000 more soldiers to fight against Russia’s invasion.
However, some parts of the bill have made people very angry, like the rule that stops people who refused to join the military from owning things and using their own money freely.
The law would also let the Ukrainian government call people to join the military using electronic methods. At the beginning of the war, many men signed up to fight. But now, it’s difficult to find anyone willing to join.
In December, Ukrainians living in other countries were told they may have to join the military. Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said it was an invitation, and the ministry later explained that it didn’t mean there would be punishment for people who didn’t want to return.
Mr Zelensky said that getting more troops was a difficult and expensive problem.
This happens as Kyiv’s recent attack has stopped and the military aid has been reduced in the past few months. The US Republicans said no to a $61 billion military package, and Hungary stopped a EU financial deal worth €50 billion.
John Kirby, who speaks for the White House about national security, said on Thursday that talks about more help from the US have stopped. This is because the government is still deciding on its budget.
Mr Zelensky is traveling in the Baltic states. Right now, he is in Latvia. He wants more help from Western allies, like getting more air defence weapons.
He talked in Tallinn, Estonia about how it’s dangerous for the West to hesitate. He said: “When partners are unsure about giving money and help to Ukraine, it makes Russia feel more powerful and brave. ”
He said something new, as a report from the US warned that over $1 billion in military aid given to Ukraine since February 2022 wasn’t tracked correctly.
The Pentagon’s inspector general found that US officials in Washington DC and Europe did not keep track of thousands of weapons, like missile launchers and air defense missiles, properly. There are worries that some of the $1. 69 billion in military aid given to Ukraine may have been used improperly.
In a letter replying to the report, Col Garrett W Trott of the US military’s European Command, stressed that the report did not find any proof of unauthorized or illegal transfer of enhanced monitoring defense items given to Ukraine.
The report admitted that it was not able to investigate if any weapons had been stolen. -
Putin ceases bombardment of hospitals and schools – Report
Vladimir Putin said he is against the ‘terrorist’ attacks in Iran. But his own forces have been bombing homes, hospitals, and schools in Ukraine for days.
The Russian president said sorry to Iran’s leaders after two bombs exploded in the city of Kerman today.
At least 103 people have been confirmed to have died, and over 200 people were injured in the attacks. Iranian officials have called the attacks terrorism.
The explosions happened near a cemetery where many people were having a ceremony to honor Qassem Soleimani, a top commander who was killed by the U. S A flying robot used in 2020.
Today, the Kremlin issued a statement saying Putin strongly disapproves of terrorism and called the attack on innocent people very cruel and heartless.
He spoke after many Russian attacks on Ukraine that hurt and killed many innocent people.
After the first attack last week, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian ‘terrorists’ used almost all their weapons and targeted a hospital, school, and homes.
At least 39 people have died in Kyiv and other towns and cities in one of the worst attacks of the almost two-year war.
The day after, Ukraine attacked the Russian city of Belgorod with planes, and Russia said it killed 25 innocent people. -
Russians in border city close to Ukraine find no place to stay
The people in Belgorod have been attacked by Ukraine in the past, but the attack on Saturday was the worst one since the war started.
Twenty-five people died and over 100 others were injured in a large Russian city near Ukraine.
The Ukrainian missile attacks happened one day after Russia’s biggest air attack in the war, which killed more than 40 people.
This week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia attacked Ukraine with 500 missiles and drones in just five days.
Ukraine will be punished for targeting Belgorod, said President Vladimir Putin. The people who live in the city say that the government is not doing enough to keep them safe.
Local people told Russian media that they heard the air raid alerts only 30 minutes into Saturday’s attack.
They were told to hide, but some found that the basement shelters in their apartment buildings were locked.
One person told the BBC that some basements have a paper with a phone number on the door for the person who has the key. “The worst thing that could happen is if the management company has the key, and since it’s the winter holidays, no one is working. ”
What’s the reason for Russia bombing Ukraine more often.
Sheltering from attack is a bigger problem in Ukraine. Attacks happen a lot and in many places. In winter, it’s dangerous for Ukrainians because Russian attacks happen mostly at night. They have to decide whether to sleep in metro stations or stay at home.
But in Belgorod, a city in Russia with 340,000 people that’s only 30 minutes from the border, one woman named Angela used social media to say that the emergencies ministry’s regional department didn’t know about shelters.
“How is this possible. ” she asked the local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
What if a person came to the city to help family. How can they find out about the management company. There has been a special military operation for two years,” she said, using the Kremlin’s term for the war in Ukraine.
Sergei said he has the same problem in his town, Stary Oskol, which is about 180km (110 miles) from the Ukrainian border. He said that the local government is not doing anything about it and just gives a standard response. If there’s shelling, we don’t know where to go to be safe.
According to another person in Belgorod, the shelters have had problems since the war began.
“I am very mad. People have been talking about it, but the shelter problem has only become known now that there have been casualties,” she told the BBC without giving her name.
A year and a half ago, when a tall apartment building was hit, people tried to find basements to hide in, but all the basements were closed. We don’t have bomb shelters that people know about or can use.
Shortly after Vladimir Putin ordered a big attack in February 2022, officials in Belgorod said they couldn’t tell people where the official bomb shelters were because the Ukrainian military might attack them.
Instead, they shared a video that tells you what to do during an air raid. It says to stay away from windows and go to the ground floor or basement.
When Belgorod was attacked again on January 2nd, many people there left their doors open so others could come inside and be safe from the fighting.
Alexander said, “We are just assisting one another. ”
The local leader has not answered publicly to people’s complaints. The BBC has asked his office for comments, but they have not responded yet.
Before the war, Belgorod had a strong connection with the much larger Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which is on the other side of the border.
Russian forces have bombed the middle of Kharkiv from Belgorod region many times. This area near the border has been impacted by the war more than any other place in Russia.
Yulia says that the bombing will definitely keep happening. “But what is going to be different. “ -
Zelensky’s New Year’s address promises additional weaponry manufactured in Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky has promised to sharply increase the number of weapons produced by Ukraine next year.
In his New Year’s message, Mr. Zelensky reiterated his promise that at least one million drones will be built.
Fighting continued into New Year’s Eve, with five people killed in attacks in Odessa, southern Ukraine, and the Russian-controlled Donetsk region.
Earlier, Vladimir Putin gave a New Year’s speech, praising his army but not explicitly mentioning the war.
The Russian President praised his soldiers as “heroes. at the forefront of the fight for truth” while also touching on economic issues, an important topic for many Russians, and declaring 2024 “the year of the family.
” Speaking on Sunday, as the war against Russia entered its third year, Zelensky said: “Next year the enemy will feel the fury of domestic production. ” He said Ukraine would produce “a million” more drones by 2024 – something he said earlier this month – and that F-16 fighter jets would be delivered by Ukraine’s Western partners deliver.
“Our pilots have mastered the F-16 aircraft and we will definitely see them in our skies,” he said. “So that our enemies can certainly see what our anger really is.
” The New Year’s message came just hours before more attacks. In Russian-occupied Donetsk, four people were killed and 13 injured, according to Denis Pushilin, the Russian-appointed head of Donetsk, on Telegram.
He described the attack as “a massive bombardment from multiple rocket launchers.
” Additionally, in Odessa, southern Ukraine, one person was killed and three others injured in a Russian drone strike, local governor Oleg Kiper said.
Fighting has increased in recent days, after Russia launched attacks across Ukraine on Friday, killing 39 people in what Kiev described as Russia’s biggest missile bombardment of the war hitherto Several cities were affected, including the capital Kiev.
This was followed by Ukraine’s attacks on Russia on Saturday, with Moscow reporting deadly airstrikes in the country’s southwest – leaving 24 dead and more than 100 injured in Belgorod, near the border.
Mr Zelensky called on Western allies to maintain support for Ukraine as the country faces the risk of aid from allies in Washington and Europe slowing down.
Ukraine has received the latest military aid package from the United States – with any further aid being delayed due to controversy in the US Congress.
Mr Zelensky admitted his country’s spring offensive was not as successful as he had hoped, but emphasized in his message that his country had become stronger before the full-scale invasion of Russia.
Mr Putin did not mention the war in Ukraine in his New Year’s speech, which was significantly narrowed compared to last year.
But he said: “To all those at the forefront of the fight for truth and justice: you are our heroes, our hearts go out to you, ” he said. “We are proud of you, we admire your courage. ”
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All eyes on Orban as EU chooses whether to back Ukraine
Ukraine needs Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, to agree in order to benefit from the EU leaders’ summit on Thursday.
He has strongly refused to let Kyiv join the EU and ignored its requests for help.
“We are the ones who speak common sense in Europe,” he said to the Hungarian government before the summit.
He said that Kyiv won’t be able to join the EU because of war, corruption, a large farming industry, and how they mistreat the Hungarian people living there.
Ukraine is being asked to start talking officially with the EU, and the EU plans to give Ukraine €54bn to help its economy until 2024, as well as €24bn in military assistance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is having a tough week, and Hungarian objections are making it even worse. He went to Washington to ask for $61 billion in military funding from the US, but the Republican lawmakers said no.
The Ukrainian leader said that if there is no good news from Brussels, it means Putin stopped the decision. He accused Budapest of causing problems.
Budapest might stop Kyiv from getting what it wants, even though other EU countries support Ukraine. Poland’s new leader, Donald Tusk, said it’s not okay to ignore Ukraine.
However, as EU leaders started coming to Brussels late on Wednesday, it looked like a compromise might be possible.
The EU’s Commission said they are releasing around €10. 2bn out of €30bn of EU funds for Hungary. This money was stopped because Hungary was not following the rules of law.
Many people think that releasing the money is a way to make Mr Orban less stubborn, but officials in Brussels say they were not forced to do it. And they can mention a law in Hungary that allows Hungarian judges to ask the European Court for help.
Brussels wanted many changes to the criminal code and this was one of them.
Most other leaders in the EU strongly support Kyiv. Slovakia’s leader Robert Fico stopped giving military help to Ukraine. But he said he will help Ukraine start talking about joining the European Union.
A few hours after President Zelensky left Washington DC without getting US aid, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament that Ukraine needs our help to be strong now and in the future when negotiating peace.
MrZelensky really wants things to go well at the EU summit and tried to sound positive during his visit to Norway: “We have been very helpful. ” We did everything and followed the European Union’s suggestions.
The European Commission has said that six out of the seven things needed to start formal talks to join the EU have now been done.
Budapest disagrees with this and says Brussels is making it easier for Kyiv. President Zelensky met with Viktor Orban in Argentina on Sunday and they had a serious talk. Later, Ukraine’s president said it was an honest conversation.
The Ukrainian parliament passed a law last week to make people in Budapest feel better. The law gives Hungarians and other minorities the right to study in their own language.
Ukraine made a new law to fight corruption, which the EU asked for. This law takes away some power from the Orban government.
No one in Brussels thinks that Ukraine is ready to join the European Union right away. The EU 27 starting membership talks shows they are standing together in support.Orban said to the French magazine Le Point that he doesn’t exactly have a veto power. Let’s say I don’t help make a decision that I think is not good.
That seems like choosing not to vote. His government has already quietly agreed to punish Russia 11 times, but this is hardly ever mentioned by Hungary’s controlled, pro-government media.
On Wednesday, the Hungarian government’s top aide, Balazs Orban, said that Hungary’s money from the European Union and Ukraine’s money are not connected.
“However, if the EU says Ukraine’s funding should come from a revised EU budget, then the two issues are connected,” he told Bloomberg.
Viktor Orban is determined that Hungary cannot be forced to do something by threats, and that money problems should not be mixed up with important beliefs.
He, similar to Volodymyr Zelensky, says he did everything the Commission requested – a strange similarity at this summit.
But Ukraine has a lot more to lose. President Zelensky might not win the war with Russia, and Mr. Orban wants to have more power in Europe. He is now thinking about the European Parliamentary elections in June 2024. He wants nationalist parties to win.
President Zelensky’s best result would be to come back to Kyiv with an invitation to start talks to join a new group and a check for €78 billion in military and economic help.
The leader of Hungary wants the EU and Ukraine to agree on a “strategic partnership” at the summit. This would be a small step towards Ukraine joining the EU. Billions of euros in EU money that hasn’t been used yet.
“We are going to stay in Brussels,” he said to the Mandiner news site on Wednesday, “We are going to take over it. “ -
Numerous people injured in Russian missile attacks on Kyiv
Many people were hurt in a series of missile attacks on the city of Kyiv, Ukraine last night, according to officials.
Fifty-three people were injured in the attacks, including six kids, according to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.
The buildings for little kids and sick people got damaged because debris fell on them. Authorities said they stopped 10 Russian missiles from hitting their target.
The strikes happened after President Zelensky left the US.
He asked Congress to give more weapons to Ukraine, but most Republicans didn’t agree.
The leaders of the European Union will talk about giving more help to Ukraine on Thursday. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, said it’s important to give Ukraine what it needs to be strong right now.
Mr Zelensky said he will do something about the attack that happened on Wednesday night. “Russia did something bad again by shooting missiles at night. They were aiming at homes, schools, and power plants during the winter,” he wrote on X.
Zelensky didn’t get much from his trip to the US because aid discussions reached a deadlock.
Ukraine’s Air Force said that an attack on Kyiv started at around 3:00 am. It was the second time this week that the capital was hit by a ballistic missile.
It said it had destroyed “all” 10 flying targets heading towards the city with anti-aircraft missiles.
The windows of the apartments were broken and the cars were damaged. There were big bangs before the warning sirens went off because of the missiles.
Russia started using cruise missiles again last week, officials said. They hadn’t used them for 79 days.
“Ballistics are used to make sure people can’t hide in bomb shelters,” Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote on social media.
The Ukraine military said they found Iskander-M ballistic missiles and S-400 missiles. These missiles are very fast and are used to defend against attacks from the air, but they can also be used to attack targets on the ground.
In Ukraine, the largest mobile network company wants to start working again on Wednesday. This comes after a big cyberattack, which seems to be the biggest one since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Tuesday’s attack on Kyivstar, the biggest mobile company in Ukraine, has put many people at risk of not getting warnings about air raids.
The city of Odesa was attacked by drones for a few hours during the night, according to a military leader in the region. Two men got hurt and some public things got broken.
The President of Ukraine came to Norway on Wednesday for a surprise visit to talk about getting help for his country’s defense.
He went there after visiting the US, where he tried really hard to get more military aid from Congress before the current amount runs out.
However, it seems that Mr. Zelensky’s efforts to convince Washington DC to release military aid have not been successful.
President Joe Biden told the Republicans that if they don’t give more weapons to Ukraine, it would help Russia and that’s not good.
Mr Zelensky said that he and Mr Biden decided to get more air defence systems for Ukraine because it’s really important.
“Ukraine needs every system and missile to protect our cities and people. ” “They are helping to keep people alive,” he said.
MrZelensky wants help before the European leaders meeting. Ukraine wants to start talking about joining the EU.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said again that the EU should not start discussions about joining. “The EU is going to make a big mistake and we need to stop it, even if 26 members want to go ahead with it,” said Mr. Orban on a local website called Mandiner.
“If we want to show our support to Ukraine and send a signal about their importance in the region, we can do that, but it doesn’t mean they will become a member. ”
Hungary has not always agreed with its European Union friends. It has reduced the punishment against Russia and last December stopped a deal to give Ukraine €18bn (£15. 5bn) in 2023
The EU is likely to release €10bn for Hungary on Wednesday, but some people say they are doing this to convince Mr Orban to be more helpful to Ukraine.
Ukraine is not just battling the enemy, but also fighting for Europe. When Ukraine becomes a part of our family, it will be their biggest win. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament that we have an important role to play.
However,Orban said to the Hungarian government on Wednesday that having Ukraine join the EU goes against what is best for Hungary.
53 injured in Kyiv after Russian missiles are shot down
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Putin under fire as Ukraine destroys supersonic fighter over Black Sea
Video has been found of Ukraine shooting down a cutting-edge Russian bomber over the Black Sea, which is a big victory against Vladimir Putin’s military.
The very fast warplane with two engines was getting ready to attack in the Odesa region when it got shot down by Ukrainian air defenses near Snake Island, also known as Zmiinyi Island.
Russian searchers looked really hard but couldn’t find the two pilots who were supposed to have been thrown out of the aircraft.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky praised his air defences for shooting down the Su-24M tactical bomber in the incident.
Mr Zelensky said in his talk at night that a Russian warplane was shot down today near Snake Island in the Black Sea.
The plane was going to attack the Odesa area. The terrorists lost again.
We will keep working to make sure the terrorists lose. “We are making our air defense system stronger. ”
Video has been found of the time Ukraine shot down a modern Russian plane over the Black Sea, showing that they won against Vladimir Putin’s army.
The fast military plane was getting ready to attack in the Odesa region when it was shot down by Ukrainian air defenses near Snake Island, also known as Zmiinyi Island.
The Russian search for the two crew members was not successful. They couldn’t find the two pilots, who were said to have been thrown out of the aircraft.
The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has praised his air forces for shooting down the Su-24M bomber in the incident.
Mr Zelensky said on TV tonight that a Russian plane got shot down in the Black Sea near Snake Island.
The plane was going to attack the Odesa region. The terrorists have lost again.
We will keep working to make sure the terrorists lose. We are making our air defense system stronger. -
Zelensky cancels briefing for US Senate due to budget dispute
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky canceled a important meeting with US politicians because they couldn’t agree on how much money the US should give to Ukraine in the future.
Virtual meetings in the Senate and House were planned for Tuesday, but got called off at the last minute.
A high-ranking Ukrainian official said they might lose the war against Russia if they don’t get more help from the US.
Senate leader Chuck Schumer did not say why Mr Zelensky did not come.
The leader of the main group of Democrats in the chamber said the president of Ukraine was busy with something important at the last moment, but didn’t say what it was.
The leader of Ukraine was supposed to talk to senators through a video at a private meeting with important US officials. The meeting continued, but the talks about the aid package quickly turned into a mess.
Mr Zelensky’s top assistant, Andriy Yermak, said earlier on Tuesday that Ukraine could lose without ongoing help from the US.
“It will be hard for people to stay in the same places and survive,” he said in a speech at the US Institute of Peace in Washington DC.
Mr Yermak said things were very bad just before Mr Zelensky left.
The embassy of Ukraine in Washington DC did not quickly answer a question from the BBC asking for more information about why the cancellation happened.
It comes right after the White House asked for more help for Ukraine. The US Congress is still not close to agreeing on a plan to fund the war.
“We don’t have any money left and we are running out of time,” said Shalanda Young, the White House budget director, in a letter to Republican and Democratic leaders that was published on Monday.
She said that if Congress doesn’t give more money to Ukraine for its military by the end of the year, it would make it hard for them to fight against Russia. And there’s no extra money left to use.
On Monday, the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, didn’t seem interested in giving more money, even though people were asking for billions of dollars.
“The Biden Administration has not addressed any of my conference’s valid worries about the unclear plan in Ukraine, how to solve the conflict, and how to make sure the aid from American taxpayers is used properly,” he wrote on social media.
The lack of funding is happening while fighting on the frontlines seems to have stopped making progress.
Ukraine’s planned attack in the south seems to have gotten slower, and the forces in Kyiv are having a hard time keeping control of the area they had taken on the east side of the Dnipro river.Since the war started in February 2022, the US Congress has agreed to give more than $110 billion in military and economic help to Ukraine. The Biden administration has been saying for months that most of the money has already been given out.
Frederick Kagan, who works at the American Enterprise Institute and used to teach at the US Military Academy, says that the delays in funding are causing actual problems for Ukraine in the war. The plan to fight back against Russia is being reduced and there is uncertainty about future actions to get back the land that has been lost.
“He said that the people from Ukraine have to make a difficult decision here. ” “If they don’t think they’ll get more from the United States, then they need to save what they already have. ”
He said that the Ukrainian military needs tanks, vehicles, planes, drones, and long-range weapons. The US is the only country that can give them these things quickly and in the amounts they need in the next year.
Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress still mostly agree on giving more help to Ukraine, even if it’s not as much as the White House wanted. Converting the approval from Congress into laws that the president can approve has been very difficult.
The Republican and Democratic senators in the US are talking about a big $106 billion spending plan. It will help Ukraine and give military help to Israel and Taiwan. It will also give more money for security at the US-Mexico border.
However, it is this part of the package that has caused the most political upset. Democrats are hesitating to agree to new immigration rules. These changes include how people seeking asylum at the border are handled and making it harder to qualify to enter the US.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas said on TV that if we give more money to Ukraine, they have to make big changes to their border rules.
Chuck Schumer says he will try to pass a bill for military aid this week, but it’s not clear if enough Republicans will vote for it without agreeing on immigration issues.
The US media says that there was a big argument on Tuesday at a secret meeting about the help the Biden administration is giving. Senate Republicans said Democrats are not listening to their request for money to keep the border safe.
Even if the Senate approves aid to Ukraine, it’s not clear if the House of Representatives will also approve it. Speaker Johnson said he’s for giving Ukraine more money, but he voted with 117 other Republicans to stop $300 million in extra help for Ukraine.
If he brings a large aid package for a vote in the Senate and relies on Democrats to pass it, he could split the Republicans and risk losing power before budget negotiations next year.
A lady walks past a picture of a Ukrainian soldier shooting a Javelin anti-tank missile made in the US.
“The United States is expected to have a deficit of over $2. 5 trillion this year,” said Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale of Montana in an interview with BBC World Tonight’s James Coomarasamy on Tuesday.
“Why should the US take money from China and give it to Ukraine. That’s not good for us. ”
The White House is trying to get more support from Congress by offering more aid to Ukraine for its economy and national security. Ms Young wrote to Congress saying she needed money to make weapons in different factories all over the country.
“We will update important weapons and gear like Javelins made in Alabama, Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems made in West Virginia, Arkansas and Texas. ” “Also, there are artillery shells made in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Iowa, and many other states,” she writes.
As the election gets closer, the White House may want members of Congress to talk about how their work is helping the economies in their districts.
Mr Kagan said he was not surprised that the US is arguing more about giving money to Ukraine as the conflict there continues for three years.
He says the American people should have their representatives talk about what America’s interests are and have a real debate about how to spend the large amount of money.
But eventually, he said the situation was obvious.
“The result of this war will mainly depend on what the Ukrainians do, but also on what the United States decides to do. “ -
Zelensky running for presidential office again
How do you have elections during a war?
For months, people in Ukraine have been arguing about whether they should have a presidential election in March next year like they planned or not.
No elections, not even for president, are allowed because the country is under martial law since Russia invaded in February 2022.
A lot of people in Ukraine are upset by the idea because they are worried that having a vote could take attention away from the country’s struggle for survival.
Tensions went down after President Zelensky said in November that it was not the best time for elections.
However, the problem is not finished yet and has caused a big argument in the country, like never before since Russia invaded it.
One of the main reasons for the conflict is not just Ukraine, but the US.US political parties
US politicians, especially a few in the Republican party, are influencing the conversation about the upcoming 2024 Ukrainian elections, according to Olha Aivazovska, who leads the election monitoring network Opora.
She says that some very conservative Republicans are using the problem as a reason to stop giving military help to Ukraine.
And these sounds are becoming stronger. As Donald Trump’s focus on America’s own interests becomes more important in the Republican party, the support for Ukraine is getting stuck in US political arguments and disagreements between parties.
Many Republicans support Ukraine, but the far-right part of the party might still use this against Ukraine during the next US presidential elections.
They are doing it already. Earlier this month, Vivek Ramaswamy, who wants to be the Republican candidate for president, said that Ukraine is not a good example of democracy and is saying that they won’t have elections this year unless the US gives them more money.
Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham said that Ukraine should have presidential elections in 2024 during his visit to Kyiv in August.President Zelensky knows he has to deal with the increasing talk from the US. The US is Ukraine’s main friend, and its military help is important for stopping Russia’s attack.
“MrZelensky said in an interview on Ukrainian TV last August that there are several things that can divide US support for Ukraine. ” One thing that worries me is the elections because I heard that some people in the Republican party are against continuing support.
Until now, Mr. Zelensky did not completely say no to the elections. He talked about the difficulties like security, laws, and money, and said he is “prepared” to run for president again if there is a war during the elections.
In a recent interview on Ukrainian TV, Mr. Zelensky said that he wants to have elections within a year or whenever they are needed.
Earlier this month, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Mr. Zelensky was thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of having elections during a time of war.
Backlash within the country.
Even if the government makes changes to the rules to allow elections, there are still many problems that make it hard to hold a vote.
Security is the most important thing.
Olena Shulyak, who leads the Servant of the People party, says it’s not possible to have elections during the war because many of our citizens are either outside the country or have been forced to leave their homes.
“We can’t have elections because we can’t keep our people safe, and our soldiers can’t participate or run for office. ”Other problems include schools being damaged, an old list of voters, limited rights under military rule, and not enough money.
Specialists say that it’s not possible to have a fair election with competition in the current situation.
In November, a survey done by Kyiv’s International Institute of Sociology found that over 80% of people wanted to wait until the war is over before having elections.MPs from different political parties say it’s not right to have elections next year.
President Zelensky’s unclear statements about the chance of having elections have caused problems in his own country.
Opposition politicians and news outlets said that the government was getting ready to have a presidential election in 2024. Some politicians said they want to try to become the president.
People were starting to think that President Zelensky might not be as popular because of a situation at the front line. They thought he wanted to have the elections in 2024 as scheduled while he was still well-liked.President Zelensky said that Ukraine should not have elections right now.
The president gave a speech on TV in early November to stop the rumors. He said it’s not the right time for elections.
“We need to decide that it’s time to defend and fight. The fate of the state and people depends on it,” he said.
When will Ukraine vote for their leaders?
Alina Zagoruyko, an MP and the leader of the group that oversees elections and referendums in parliament, says that Volodymyr Zelensky will still be the rightful president even after his time in office ends next year.According to Article 108 of Ukraine’s constitution, the current president keeps doing their job until the new president takes over.
“But if the war continues for a long time, then we might have to think about having elections even in difficult conditions,” Ms.
Many politicians and experts believe they should start getting ready for the elections after the war.
Many small towns and villages, such as Bakhmut and Avdiivka, are completely destroyed. Most of the people have either died or moved away from the country. The system for voting in an election is ruined. Organizing elections in those places will be very difficult even when there is no war. -
Ukrainian forces gain foothold on south bank of river – Zelensky
Ukrainian military have established a presence on the left or east bank of the Dnipro river, according to chief of staff of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration, Andriy Yermak.
Although some Ukrainian soldiers have established positions in a settlement, Russia acknowledges this and says the forces will soon be routed.
Ukraine would make great progress if the region is held.
A year ago, Russia withdrew from the right side of the river.
Since then, efforts have been made by the Ukrainian army to establish and maintain a bridgehead on its eastern coast.
Referencing a secured position using a military word, “The Armed Forces of Ukraine captured a bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnipro,” Mr. Yermak stated to a US research group.
Prior to this, US-based specialists said that only slight progress had been made inside the village of Krynky, which was regained a year ago. It is located 30 kilometres from the city of Kherson and 2 km (1.25 miles) inland from the river.
On Wednesday, Russia acknowledged that “small groups” of Ukrainian soldiers had taken up positions in the left-bank settlement.
However, Vladimir Saldo, the officer appointed by the Russians to oversee the still-occupied Kherson region, maintained that they had suffered significant casualties and were stuck in a “fiery hell” with no prospect of victory. “We have now deployed our additional forces. “Krynky is the enemy’s trap,” he declared.
Two days after the strange publication and subsequent withdrawal of news of a withdrawal from positions on the left bank by Russian state media, he finally acknowledged that Ukrainian forces had established a foothold.
There had been several unsuccessful attempts in the spring and summer to cross the river.
Small boat raids over the Dnipro were carried out by Ukrainian forces on multiple occasions. But the task was made harder by Kyiv’s lack of air superiority.
Ukrainian forces might be able to start moving armoured cars and air defence systems across the river after they secure a bridgehead. This would move them closer to their goal of infiltrating Crimea, the peninsula that Russia unlawfully acquired in 2014.
“The military forces of Ukraine are gradually demilitarising Crimea. 70% of the route has been travelled, Mr. Yermak continued. He pleaded with Western nations to arm Kiev more, claiming that Russian drones operating in Iran and North Korean artillery were being used against Ukrainian forces.
According to President Zelensky, combat is getting worse in the east, close to the town of Avdiivka, on Tuesday. However, he went on to say that Russian forces were “losing men and equipment” in their attempt to take control of the damaged city.
In June, Ukraine began its much awaited counteroffensive with the goal of regaining land in the east and south. Still, the counteroffensive has not succeeded in regaining any substantial ground.
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There is no ‘stalemate’ in the confrontation with Russia – Zelensky
The disagreements between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his military leaders are becoming more evident to the public. They have been arguing openly about the situation in the war with Russia.
Igor Zhovka, who is a deputy leader of Zelensky’s office, criticized a statement made by Ukraine’s military leader. The statement said that the war with Russia is at a standstill. This has caused tensions in Kyiv and raised concerns about Western support for the conflict.
He was replying to an interview with top military official Valery Zaluzhny. The military official said that we have reached a point in technology where neither side in the war has an advantage and it is unlikely that there will be any significant new developments.
Zhovka said on Ukrainian TV that the Russians will thoroughly read, write down, and analyze Zaluzhny’s interview. He said he got calls from colleagues in other countries who were very worried and wanted to know if the war was really at a point where no progress was being made.
Maybe this is a really smart plan, and we will have some success doing it. But honestly, I am very surprised,” Zhovka said.
The tensions are happening at an important time in the war. The slow counter-attack from Kyiv and the violence in the Middle East are causing worries that the Western financial and military help could decrease.
Zelensky disagreed with Zaluzhnyi’s opinion during a press conference with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday. However, he acknowledged that people are exhausted after being at war for 18 months.
People are feeling very tired. Everyone is feeling sleepy or lacking energy. People have different opinions. But everyone is the same as a person, no matter what their status is. However, this does not mean that there is no solution to the situation. I want to make this clear again. We have already discussed this. Zelensky said this is not news.
We should come together and fix the problems, collaborate more with our allies on protecting the airspace, open up the skies again, and empower our team to take aggressive actions. This is something we should consider. Just only this. This text is not about our future location. “But now,” explained Zelensky.
Zaluzhny talked about what Ukraine should do and the kind of help they need from partners to overcome challenges.
However, the way he described the conflict made people in Ukraine question and gained attention from the media worldwide. The interview with Zelensky, given to TIME, made the Ukrainian president seem more and more alone.
“I have the strongest belief in our victory, even when everyone else may doubt it. ” Nobody, according to Zelensky in his conversation with TIME, it is challenging to convince Ukraine’s allies to believe in the same things, and it requires a lot of effort and dedication.
People are getting very tired of the war. It feels like it’s a never-ending feeling that keeps getting worse. Zelensky said, “You can witness this in the United States, in Europe. ”
He said that the war between Israel and Hamas has taken focus away from Ukraine’s fight against Russia, making it harder to keep other countries interested in helping Ukraine.
Certainly, we suffer negative consequences from the happenings in the Middle East. Zelensky said that people are dying and the world needs to help there to save lives.
He made additional comments while von der Leyen was visiting Kyiv on Saturday.
The war in the Middle East is very clear and it distracts everyone’s attention. I believe that one of the goals of the Russian Federation is to achieve something, and this is definitely true. “We observe the results,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian leader recently showed support for Israel after the Hamas attacks on October 7. He suggested that leaders from around the world should visit Israel and offer help to the people who have been affected by these terrorist attacks.
Ukraine is currently facing a challenging situation as it tries to fight back against Russian forces in the southern and eastern parts of the country.
Kyiv was able to attack from the air and successfully hit a shipyard in the city of Kerch, located in the Russian-held Crimean peninsula.
The leader of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleschuk, praised and congratulated the pilots who carried out the attacks in a message on Telegram. A person in charge from Russia said that a place where ships are built was attacked, but the weapons from the sky stopped the missiles from hitting their target. CNN cannot confirm or check either of the statements on its own.
The Crimean Bridge, which is also called the Kerch Bridge, was closed for two hours on Saturday and no vehicles were allowed to pass during that time. Russian government did not explain why they closed the road that connects mainland Russia to the occupied peninsula. -
Israel-Gaza conflict diverts attention from Ukraine – Zelensky
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has said that the war between Israel and Gaza is distracting attention from the conflict in Ukraine.
He said that Russia had one of the goals of invading Ukraine completely in February 2022.
He said that the fighting in Ukraine was not at a point where neither side was making progress, even though the country’s highest military leader recently said it was.
Ukraine’s attack in the southern region has not been very successful up until now.
This has made some of Kyiv’s Western allies worried about getting tired of war, with some suggesting that some countries might be less willing to keep providing Ukraine with advanced weapons and money.
On Saturday, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that soldiers from the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade “Zakarpattia (Transcarpathia)” were killed. He ordered a thorough investigation into what he called a “tragedy”.
He didn’t mention the number of soldiers who died in the southern Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine. Ukraine’s military stated that it was due to a Russian missile attack on Friday.
According to news in Ukraine and Russian military bloggers, over 20 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in a village near the front lines while attending an award ceremony.
Ukraine’s military said that on Saturday they were able to damage the sea and port facilities of a shipbuilding plant located in Crimea. Crimea is a southern peninsula that Russia took control of in 2014 without permission.
Russia’s defense ministry said that out of the 15 missiles fired by Ukraine on a plant in the city of Kerch in eastern Crimea, 13 were stopped and not hit their target, but a Russian ship was damaged.
During a meeting in Kyiv, President Zelensky said that the ongoing Middle East conflict is diverting attention away from Ukraine.
He said Russia wanted to make this focus less strong, but emphasized that we have the ability to handle everything.
Mr Zelensky was asked to give his thoughts on the recent statement made by Ukraine’s top military commander, Valery Zaluzhny. According to Zaluzhny, the war is transitioning into a static stage, which means it is becoming more stationary. This could be advantageous for Moscow as it would give them the opportunity to strengthen their military forces again.
“Everyone is getting exhausted and there are different views,” Mr. Zelensky responded, saying, “But this is not a deadlock. ”
He said that Russia has control over the skies and Ukraine needs F-16 warplanes and better anti-aircraft defenses from the US quickly to improve the situation.
The Ukrainian leader said that last year, people talked about a difficult situation in Ukraine’s battlefield. However, he mentioned that Kyiv later won important battles in the northeast region of Kharkiv and the south region of Kherson.
Mr Zelensky also denied that he was facing increasing pressure to think about discussing with Russia, as stated in the media.
Today, none of our European Union, United States, and other partner leaders are urging us to start negotiations with Russia and give away something to them. This won’t happen.
Moscow also gave its opinion on Mr. Zaluzhny’s statement on Thursday. The spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin said the current situation on the battlefield is not at a standstill.
Dmitry Peskov said that Ukraine needs to achieve all the goals set during the war. He also mentioned that it is silly to even consider the possibility of the Kyiv regime winning on the battlefield.
President Putin has said many times that Ukraine’s counter-attack did not succeed. His Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, recently stated that Kyiv is losing the war even with new weapons from Nato allies.
In a recent report, the UK defense intelligence stated that Russia probably lost about 200 armored vehicles during their attacks on the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine.
It is possible that Russia has lost many soldiers near the town since October 2023.
The report said that Russia’s leaders are willing to accept a lot of people being harmed or killed in order to gain small amounts of land.
Recently, Moscow has been attempting to make progress in eastern and north-eastern Ukraine. However, Ukraine’s military claims that they have successfully defended against all the attacks.
The statements made by the two sides in the conflict have not been checked and proven to be true by a neutral party. -
Russia most certainly targeted nuclear reactor in Ukraine – Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky suspects that a drone strike originating from Russia in western Ukraine had likely targeted a nuclear power facility.
On Wednesday, drones made in Iran attacked the area near a power plant in the west of Khmelnytsky region.
The attack hurt 20 people and caused only small damage, like broken windows.
The IAEA said that the plant is still working normally.
The Ukraine’s Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant experienced strong blasts, shared IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in a statement. The explosions show the risks to nuclear safety caused by the war, he said.
The Khmelnytsky plant has two machines that produce power. One machine is running, but the other machine has been turned off on purpose since August.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, there have been constant worries about the impact on a nuclear power plant.
Russian forces have taken control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, located in the eastern part of Ukraine, starting from March 2022.
Kyiv says that Russia bombed the factory and put it at risk of leaking radiation. They call this action “nuclear terror”. There haven’t been any serious accidents since the big invasion last year.
MrZelensky mentioned that the assault in the Khmelnytsky region highlights the need for more assistance from other countries to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses.
He said that Russian drones and missiles have parts from Western companies and countries. The Khmelnytsky attack showed how risky it is when Russia can ignore international rules and restrictions
On Tuesday, the leader of Germany, Olaf Scholz, said that Germany will provide Ukraine with €1. 4bn ($15bn; £12bn) in financial help.
The new aid will have missile defense systems to protect Ukrainian infrastructure. This is because Russia might use cold weather and energy shortages as weapons against the civilian population.
On Thursday, Ukrainian intelligence said that a car carrying four people from Russia’s FSB security service exploded in Berdyansk, in the Zaporizhzhia region. According to news in Russia, someone was killed by a homemade bomb.
The bombing that was reported is the most recent in a series of attacks aimed at Russian officials and people who support them in Ukraine, which is currently under Russian control.
In September, Vladimir Malov, who was a member of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political party in the Kherson region, died when his car was exploded in what seems to be a planned murder. -
Poland’s conflict with Ukraine infuriated many people in Europe
Europe’s help for Ukraine was surprised this week when Poland, who had always been a strong supporter of Ukraine, said they would no longer send weapons to them.
The decision was made because Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, expressed dissatisfaction with Warsaw’s ongoing ban on Ukrainian grain imports. This is another example of Poland’s government becoming more confrontational towards Kyiv, especially as they approach a close general election.
The political drama has brought up some important questions, the most important of which is, will Europe’s strong resistance against Russia’s full-scale invasion weaken now.
How did a problem with buying grain turn into a big argument between countries. The European Union stopped getting grain from Ukraine for a little while in May, to make sure farmers in Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia could sell their grain for a good price. The EU stopped the ban last week, making the countries angry. They promised to keep the restrictions, which led to protests in Poland.
Poland is having a national election on October 15. The ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) is expected to do badly in this election. Anyone who pays attention to European politics knows that farming is very important. Farmers are people who play an important role in politics and have reasons to take action. Citizens also have concerns about having enough food, although sometimes they care too much or in ways that don’t make sense. The PiS party needs the support of people who live in rural areas to stay in control.
So, it’s understandable that the Polish government wants to do something attention-seeking and patriotic. But things got worse on Tuesday when Zelensky said at the UN general assembly that it is concerning to see some of our friends in Europe portraying solidarity as a political show and making a big deal out of something small.
The Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, said on social media the next day that Poland is no longer giving weapons to Ukraine because they are now supplying their own country.Poland changed its stance and promised to still send the weapons it had promised before. Polish President Andrzej Duda said that the words of his prime minister were understood in the most negative way possible.
The argument brought up important questions about how Europe stays together.
But, most European officials, including those from Poland, don’t think there will be a big change in how they support Ukraine.
A senior European defense source said, “This is mainly about elections and farmers are a strong support group for PiS. ” Poland will keep giving weapons to Ukraine. For however long it is needed. “I’m completely sure about that,” says a representative from NATO. A European Union official said that Poles really want Ukraine to win the war because if they don’t, Russia (their biggest enemy) will be able to attack them directly. However, because of the upcoming elections, Poland wants to show their strength and power.
The anger towards Poland is very strong, even though some believe the noise about it is just for people in the country.
A person from the EU said to CNN that Ukraine has already given Poland a solution for their grain problem. That’s why they’re really angry at Poland. There are 24 countries who have been unfairly treated by Poland for the past 18 months because they did not provide enough support to Ukraine.
The same feeling was expressed by people from NATO, EU institutions, and European countries.
The person is saying that the contempt towards Poland can be understood by looking at the elections, the nationalist goals of the government, and their strong opinions on topics like grain, migration, and other things they consider as a danger to Poland.
They also criticize Brussels and the EU when it suits their plans. This is a desperate attempt to get people to vote – when you don’t have anything important to offer, you make up an enemy and blame them for problems at home to hide your failures in domestic policy.
The most important thing to consider from all of this is how it may affect Ukraine in the future. The Western countries are trying very hard to include Ukraine in their organizations. The country is working to become a member of both the EU and NATO, and everyone supports this decision.
However, there are already limitations and requirements that come with that support. Most countries in the EU agree that in order to include Ukraine, there must be significant changes in how the EU works.
If Ukraine were to become a member, the money that is currently given to countries for things like farming would instead be given to Ukraine. See if Polish farmers will buy it.
The current EU structures would also allow its newest member to have a lot of power in the institutions, such as the parliament and council of member states.
Some members of NATO don’t like the idea of a country that is currently at war being able to use the article 5 mechanism. This mechanism is when allies are obligated to help each other.
Many NATO countries don’t want to spend money on defense, even for themselves, let alone for each other.
Poland’s aggressive behavior enables countries who feel they have been unjustly pressured, especially by Poland, to stand up for Ukraine. These countries can now question the wisdom of the West providing extensive support to a country that is not even a part of their alliance.
European officials are really angry about what happened this week because it gives Russian President Vladimir Putin a chance to spread propaganda.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that there are some conflicts between Warsaw and Kyiv when asked about the argument. We think that these tensions will get worse.
People say that when Russia spreads false information, it benefits Russia but harms the West. Fights between Western countries make it seem like they are not united, and when they are not united, it benefits Russia. -
Zelensky quotes his soldiers as Abraham Lincoln
Volodymyr Zelensky sent a strong message to Vladimir Putin that Ukrainian soldiers will keep fighting fiercely against Russian forces for every bit of land, not giving up easily.
The leader of Ukraine used a quote from Abraham Lincoln, a well-known past president of the United States, to inspire people during his visit to Washington DC on Thursday.
After having a meeting with the current president Joe Biden and speaking to a group of people at the US National Archives Museum, Mr. Zelensky shared a series of messages on X, which used to be called Twitter.
He praised the strong Ukrainian military for working hard to defend against Russian fighters and push them away.
‘Today, I saw some important papers at the National Archives. One of the papers was a message from Abraham Lincoln to General Grant,’ he wrote.
A document that motivates and encourages people. “Grab on tight like a bulldog, and bite and struggle as much as you can. ”
President Lincoln’s words show how brave and strong America was. President Lincoln’s words accurately describe the way Ukrainians engage in combat.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is giving a speech at the National Archives building in Washington on Thursday, September. On the 21st of January, 2023.
We won battles for Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Snake Island in the Black Sea.
In our fight for Bakhmut, our soldiers are constantly moving forward, no matter what happens. In our effort to protect every part of Ukraine’s land.
Every day during this war, Ukrainian soldiers are holding strong, just like a bulldog holding onto something tightly.
“They constantly attack and fight against the Russian invaders as best they can. “During his previous meeting at the White House, Mr. Biden proposed a new military aid package valued at £244 million, which includes weapons and defenses against air attacks.
Mr Zelensky, wearing military clothes with long sleeves, tried to gain more support from the US during his quick visit to the Capitol.
President Biden and first lady Jill Biden greeted Mr. Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska. Zelensky expressed gratitude towards members of Congress for their significant support.
Mr Biden assured Mr. Zelensky that the American people are determined to make sure that we do everything possible to make sure other countries support Ukraine.
“Our main goal is to greatly surpass our objective. ”
When Zelensky got to the White House, he was welcomed with a big show, just like when he came last year.
He was welcomed with a special entrance on a red carpet in the South Lawn. Then, he spent time in the Oval Office and had a bigger meeting in the East Room. The two first ladies also had time alone together. This was a more impressive reception than what world leaders usually receive.
Lawmakers said that someone claimed that the Ukrainians have a good war plan and that they are currently winning. This is important because many countries around the world are paying attention to how much support Western countries are giving to Kyiv.
Mr Zelensky admitted that it is difficult, very difficult to overcome strong defenses, according to Independent senator Angus King.
They think they will make progress, but it will be slow and steady, not fast.
Russia and Ukraine have launched very powerful attacks against each other in the war in the past few days.
On Wednesday, Putin strongly hinted at the number of young Russians he has sent to die in the war in Ukraine. -
Zelensky in Washington to request further war funds from US
The president of Ukraine is in the capital of the United States trying to get more money to defend against Russia’s attack on their country.
Volodymyr Zelensky will speak to lawmakers in the Capitol, go to the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon, and have discussions with President Biden at the White House.US politicians disagree on giving money to Ukraine. Many Republicans think it would be better to use the money for problems within the United States.
Zelensky went to visit after giving speeches at the UN in New York. In his speeches, he asked countries to come together and stand against Russian aggression.
There is growing tension between countries because he criticized Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary for stopping the import of Ukrainian grain.
Poland has decided to stop supplying weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, except for the ones that had already been agreed upon before. -
Putin is ‘driving the world to an ultimate war’ – Zelensky warns
Russia is using nuclear power plants in other countries to cause harm, according to Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke at the United Nations assembly in New York.
The president of Ukraine received applause at the yearly meeting by asking for help in fighting against Vladimir Putin‘s aggressive ambitions.
In a passionate speech, he said that the Kremlin has been using food, energy, and even children as weapons against his country. He warned his allies that they could face the same situation.
He said that we need to stop Russia, who has nuclear weapons, from starting a big war.
Zelensky believes that evil people cannot be trusted. He also warns that Russia is trying to start a big war.
Zelensky said that when one nation uses hatred as a weapon against another nation, it doesn’t just end there.
The aim of the ongoing war against Ukraine is to use our land, our people, our lives, and our resources as tools against you and the international rules that are in place.
Ukraine is working really hard to make sure that after Russia attacked them, no country will ever have the courage to attack another nation.
‘We need to prevent the use of weapons, hold accountable those who commit war crimes, allow deported individuals to return home, and make the occupier leave the land they unlawfully occupy. ‘
‘We need to work together to achieve our goal, and I believe we can. ‘
He spoke for 15 minutes on stage and accused Russia of keeping the Zaporizhzhia power plant captive to pressure Europe.
Zelensky also mentioned that the invader is using unfair tactics in the global food markets to try and get other countries to acknowledge that it owns the land it took from Ukraine.
His comments were very harsh in a series of speeches by important people criticizing Russia’s aggressive actions.
The assistant made an error in providing the instruction. Could you please provide the context or specific text that needs to be rewritten. Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky was sitting in Russia’s seat while Zelensky was giving his speech.
Polyansky sarcastically asked if he spoke when an Associated Press reporter inquired about how he felt about the speech, with a sly grin on his face.
I didn’t realize he was talking. I was using my phone. -
Zelensky’s United nations speech in brief
The people at the conference are still listening to speeches from other leaders. People from Guatemala, Hungary, Switzerland, Egypt, and Kyrgyzstan will be contacting them. And that’s right before the afternoon session officially starts.
However, the main focus was on Volodymyr Zelensky, who is the president of Ukraine. Here is a short overview of what he talked about.
He told world leaders that Russia is invading his country, and it’s a very serious threat to the whole world. He also said that Russia should not be allowed to have nuclear weapons.He said that President Putin is turning everything, like food, energy, and nuclear power, into weapons. He said Russia taking control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant – which is the largest in Europe – has made it dangerous like a “dirty bomb”.
Russian forces in Ukraine kidnapped many children and taught them to dislike their own country. -
Zelensky applauded after speaking at United Nations summit
Zelensky gets clapped for about 30 seconds by other people after he completes his speech.
And that’s the end of one of the important events of today – lots of reporters and leaders leave the assembly hall as he goes off the stage.Zelensky talked about his plan for peace, which he believes will stop the war in Ukraine.
He says that there is a plan for a peace summit, and he invited his audience to come once it is confirmed.
He believes that unity should be talked about openly and not in secret.
Zelensky said that evil cannot be trusted, giving the example of Prigozhin. Prigozhin was the leader of a private military group and rebelled against Putin. However, he died in a plane crash two months later.
Zelensky finished his speech by wishing that Russia’s war will be the final one worldwide. He said “Slava Ukraini” as he left the stage. -
Zelensky asserts food has turned into weapon
The Ukrainian president claims that while there are treaties prohibiting the use of weapons, there are no actual limitations on the weaponization of everyday items like bread.
“Since the start of the full-scale war, Russia has blocked the Ukrainian ports,” he claims. “Our ports on the Danube River remain a target for missiles and drones.”
Zelensky claims that Russia is pressuring other nations to recognise seized Ukrainian territory as Russian by exploiting food supply, and he thanks those nations for purchasing Ukrainian grain to thwart these efforts.
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Zelensky says Putin cannot be trusted, ask wagner boss for proof
Zelensky has talked about his plan for peace that he believes will stop the war in Ukraine.
He also mentioned that there will be a peace summit soon, and encouraged everyone to come once it is confirmed.
He believes that unity should be talked about openly, not in secret meetings.
Zelensky said that you can’t trust evil people, like Prigozhin. He was the leader of a group that rebelled against Putin and later died in a plane crash.
Zelensky finished his speech by expressing his hope that Russia’s war will be the final one in the world. He said “Slava Ukraini” as he walked off the stage. -
Two UN responsibilities assigned to President Zelensky
Zelensky got a nice greeting, but he wants more than just hugs and handshakes from the people at the event in New York.
First: He wants to motivate current allies to continue providing military assistance, even though the counter offensive against Russian forces is progressing slower than anticipated.
Second: He wants to talk to world leaders who haven’t chosen a side in the war and want it to stop because it’s causing harm to their economies.
Ukraine’s president will go to a special meeting about the United Nations’ troubled development goals, which many countries believe are not being given enough attention due to the war.
He will explain a specific plan to help the United Nations protect the idea of countries staying intact and stop acts of aggression.
Lately, the UN has had trouble doing both things. Last night, Zelensky asked why there is still a place on the security council for people he referred to as “Russian terrorists”. -
Ukraine war: Attack on market in ‘calm city’ results in 17 deaths
President Zelensky strongly criticized a purposeful attack on the calm city of Kostyantynivka in Ukraine.
At least 17 people, including a child, died in the explosion. It happened on a crowded street in the middle of the day, which is unusual.
Kostyantynivka, a town in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, is close to where fighting is happening.
Videos on social media show a big orange blast at the end of a street where people were shopping. Russia has not yet made a statement about the attack.
Volodymyr Zelensky, who has accused Moscow, said that the people who were killed did not do anything wrong and cautioned that the number of deaths might rise. Handling Russia involved ignoring the boldness of their bad actions.
It is believed that around 32 people are hurt. Some stores and a pharmacy were damaged or affected.
“The Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, said that all services are functioning properly and assured the residents that the fire is under control. ”
Later on, shortly after 6:00 pm local time (4:00 pm BST), Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klimenko announced that the search and rescue operation was finished.
Videos and pictures that are being shared online seem to show the exact moment when the explosion happened, as well as the disturbing aftermath.
This appears to be the worst attack of its kind in a while. It happened on a busy street where people were going to market stalls and café terraces.
Ukraine’s chief prosecutor is looking into the attack. They are investigating to see if any laws and rules of war were broken during the attack.
Prosecutors are doing everything they can to document the war crimes done by Russia.
Officials in Russia have not said that they are responsible for the attack. They said they didn’t aim at people during their attack.
Kostyantynivka is near the fighting, and it has been hit multiple times this year.
On April 2nd, six innocent people died. Missiles and rockets destroyed 16 buildings where people live and a nursery school.
On May 13th, two people, one of whom was a 15-year-old girl, died in an attack. The attack involved the use of Smerch rockets, which hit tall buildings, homes, a gas station, a drug store, and stores.
On 24 July, two kids were murdered in an assault. Ukraine claims that Russian authorities used cluster munitions to carry out the attack.
It is also about 17 miles (27km) away from the city of Bakhmut, where there has been a lot of intense fighting for a while. -
Zelensky declares significant changes to Ukraine’s defence as forces cross Russian lines
Volodymyr Zelensky plans to fire his defense minister, which is a significant change in Ukraine’s government during the war.
Today, the Ukrainian president spoke during the night and said it’s important to have new ways of thinking in the defence ministry.
Oleksii Reznikov’s future has been uncertain for a while due to accusations of corrupt activities in his department. He was mentioned in a top post in November 2021.
Kyiv officials are looking into the department’s financial records, but Reznikov is not directly involved in these investigations.
Zelensky sent a message on Telegram saying that Reznikov will be replaced by Rusten Umerov.
Umerov is the person in charge of selling things that belong to Ukraine’s government.
Zelensky said that Oleksii Reznikov has experienced more than 550 days of intense, all-encompassing war.
I think the ministry should try new ways of working and communicating with the military and society.
Ukraine’s parliament, called Verkhovna Rada, needs to agree on the new choice for defense minister.
Zelensky said that the lawmakers know this person and he expects them to approve his request.
‘Fall is a time to become stronger,’ he said. ‘Hooray for Ukraine. ‘
Reznikov, one of the important officials who stayed in the capital when Russian forces blocked it during the beginning of the war, has not spoken about the change publicly.Ukrainian generals and US officials said on Friday that Ukrainian forces successfully broke through a strong defense line in the southern part of Russia.
According to Brig Gen Oleksandr Tarnavski, the Kyiv forces have successfully broken through Russia’s defensive lines near Zaporizhzhia.
“He said that we are currently positioned in the area between the first and second lines of defense. ”
‘We are currently finishing off the enemy troops in the middle of the attack. They were protecting the Russian soldiers who are trying to escape and regroup behind their second line of defense. ’
After fighting for several weeks, Ukraine captured the village of Robotyne in the southeast on Monday. This is part of their ongoing efforts to push back against the enemy and make progress in the war.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence is currently being investigated by the government in two separate inquiries regarding making money from war.
This means that the ministry buys military food like eggs or canned beans at much higher prices than normal, like when they signed a contract that cost 13 billion hryvnias (£280,000,000).
According to a report by the Ukrainian news website ZN. UA, the defense ministry purchased eggs for 17 hryvnias each, which is much higher than the normal price of seven hryvnias per egg in Ukraine.
Deputy defense minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov, who was in charge of helping the army with supplies and organization, quit in January after the scandal happened.
Reznikov said that the increased prices were a mistake made by the contractor, and he believed that the investigation was just a way to manipulate the situation.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) previously announced in January, but later removed, that they caught another deputy minister allegedly accepting a bribe of $400,000 for overpriced electrical generators. -
Zelensky appoints new defence minister for Ukraine, citing need for ‘new strategies’
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has removed his defense minister from his position. He stated that there is a need for different ways of dealing with the ongoing war against Russia, which has been happening for 19 months.
This week, the parliament will be asked to choose someone new for an important job. I have decided to find someone else to be the minister of defense of Ukraine. “Oleksii Reznikov has experienced over 550 days of intense war,” Zelensky stated.
The president chose Rustem Umerov, a previous member of Ukraine’s parliament, to be the new defense minister.
The Ukrainian parliament, called the Verkhovna Rada, is familiar with this individual, and Mr. X has experience and established relationships there. Zelensky said that Umerov does not require any more introductions. I think that the parliament will help this candidate.
Umerov is currently leading the State Property Fund, which aims to bring investments to Ukraine. He has also been involved in exchanging prisoners of war. He also worked as a high-level negotiator in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and said multiple times that he didn’t think Russia would follow the agreement. Russia has stopped using the plan.
His appointment is happening at a very important time for Ukraine’s counterattack in the south. Also, it is happening as Ukraine’s relationships with its allies and people who donate enter a new stage. Ukraine is working hard to make the training and sending of F-16 combat planes faster. They also want to get other equipment and weapons to help them fight back.
Reznikov quit his job on Monday and posted on Facebook that he resigned because of a decision made by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. I am prepared for the report. “Let’s stay in line. ”
He put pictures of himself with his letter of quitting on the internet.
Reznikov became defense minister in November 2021 after working in other important government jobs, like deputy prime minister. This information can be found on the defense ministry’s website.
He was taken out of his position after some corruption scandals happened in Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.
Zelensky got rid of a lot of important people earlier this year because of a scandal involving buying supplies during wartime. The deputy defense minister left his job after being accused of being corrupt. Then in August, Zelensky fired everyone who was in charge of getting soldiers for the military in different regions, because there were a lot of criminal cases going on.
While Reznikov has not been directly involved in any of these scandals, people still believe that his association with them has caused harm to his image.
And on Saturday, a wealthy and influential person in Ukraine named Ihor Kolomoisky, who strongly supports Zelensky, was taken into custody for being suspected of committing fraud.
Zelensky said that getting rid of corruption in Ukraine’s government is important for Kyiv to have a chance of joining NATO and the European Union, which they have been waiting for a long time.
In a report released in 2021, Transparency International found that Ukraine is the second most corrupt country in Europe, right after Russia. Worldwide, it was ranked 122nd out of 180 countries.
Zelensky became powerful quickly in 2019 because he promised to get rid of corruption in the government. Zelensky used to be a comedian and was on a popular TV show where he played the role of Ukraine’s president. He didn’t have any experience in politics before he got elected. However, he connected with the people’s strong feelings of being let down and disgusted by widespread corruption in the country.
Ukraine is now a candidate state for the EU. However, to become a full member, Kyiv must increase its efforts to address corruption, according to Brussels. -
‘Everyone knows who killed Prigozhin’, – president Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky denied Ukraine’s involvement in the plane crash that resulted in the demise of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.- He has also made it clear that Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader, is the one who should be held responsible.
“He told reporters today that we are not related to this. ” “Everyone knows who does. ”
The Russian government’s air transport agency announced that they are starting an investigation into an airplane crash that happened yesterday in the Tver Region.
‘The list of passengers included the first and last name of Yevgeny Prigozhin. ’ -
Russian bombing kills seven individuals, including 3-weeks old baby and a family
Seven people—including a baby just 23 days old, her brother, 12, and parents—were murdered by Russian shells in southern Ukraine on Sunday.
According to Interior Minister Igor Klymenko, bombs were dropped on their home in the Kherson settlement of Shyroka Balka.
Another villager and two men from nearby Stanislav were also among the deceased.
“We must put an end to terrorists. Force must be used to stop them, according to Mr. Klymenko. “They have no other understanding.”
The minister revealed images of the attack’s aftermath in Shyroka Balka, including bodies of some of the dead that had been digitally covered and black columns of smoke rising from buildings.
Among the four Ukrainian districts that Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed to have annexed last year, Kherson was one.
The western portion of the territory was retaken by Ukrainian forces in November of last year, but Russian forces have continued to shell the sector from the other side of the Dnipro River.
Russia had accused Ukraine of “terrorism” the day before for what it claimed was an attempt to launch a missile attack on the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia’s mainland to the Crimean Peninsula.
Despite President Volodymr Zelensky’s assertion that the bridge is a lawful target because it serves as a military supply route, Ukraine has not confirmed the attack.
In a related development, Moscow claimed to have fired warning shots at a cargo ship travelling towards the Ukrainian port of Izmail in the southwest Black Sea.
Since pulling out of a historic grain deal mediated by the UN last month, this is the first time Russia has fired on merchant cargo outside of Ukraine.
In a statement, Russia claimed that its Vasily Bykov patrol ship had opened fire with automatic weapons on the Sukru Okan ship, which was flying the flag of Palau, after the captain of the latter failed to stop the ship for an inspection.
The Sukru Okan continued towards the port of Izmail after the inspection group finished its job on board, according to the defence ministry.
Meanwhile, a representative of the exiled Ukrainian mayor of Mariupol claimed that on Sunday, fighting among Russian soldiers resulted in the deaths of numerous Ukrainian residents.
According to Petro Andryshchenko’s message on Telegram, the victims of the “shoot-out” in the village of Urzuf were two adolescent girls, four young males, and a lady.
He claimed that a dispute between Chechen soldiers and staff from the local commandant’s office led to the gunfight.
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Ukraine claims to have thwarted a plot to kill Zelensky
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) announced on Monday that a suspected Russian informant had been arrested in connection with a conspiracy to kill Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to a statement from the SBU, the detained woman has not been officially identified but is from the Mykolaiv region in southern Ukraine.
She had allegedly been “gathering intelligence” regarding Zelensky’s anticipated trip to Mykolaiv at the end of July, according to the SBU, in preparation for a Russian airstrike to assassinate the president.
However, SBU agents discovered the “subversive activities of the suspect” and implemented additional security measures, thwarting the scheme.
According to the SBU, it arrested the woman “red-handed” while she “was trying to pass intelligence to the invaders.”
The SBU discovered through the monitoring of the woman’s conversations that she was also tasked with locating military ammunition storage facilities and electronic warfare equipment.
She purportedly roamed the district’s land and recorded the locations of Ukrainian artefacts.
The investigation revealed that the offender was an Ochakov resident from the Mykolaiv district who had previously worked as a salesperson in a military supply store.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Zelensky’s nation began in February 2022, there are multiple known attempts on his life. At the beginning of the conflict, the Ukrainian president was to be killed by Russian special troops.
In an article released in April 2022, TIME magazine detailed how Russian troops had parachuted into Kyiv on February 24, the day the conflict started, to kill or kidnap Zelensky and his family.
The presidential guard attempted to enclose the area using police barriers and heaps of plywood as Ukrainian and Russian forces engaged in combat in the streets of Kyiv, according to TIME.
Rifles and bulletproof vests, according to military intelligence veteran Oleksiy Arestovych, were given to Zelensky and approximately a dozen aides as Russian troops made two attempts to invade the presidential compound.
Arestovych told TIME, “It was an absolute madhouse.” “Everyone needs automatics.”
Zelensky rejected the British and American offers to evacuate him as well as the suggestion of his bodyguards to leave the property. I need ammo, not a ride, he famously said in response.
Later, when Ukrainian soldiers fought Russians in the neighbouring streets, Zelensky left the facility to record a defiant video message on his phone.
In March of last year, Zelensky’s assistant to the Ukrainian president, Mykhailo Podolyak, claimed that Zelensky had escaped more than a dozen murder attempts.
“External sources mention two or three tries. There have, in my opinion, been more than a dozen such attempts. According to Podolyak, who was mentioned in Ukrainska Pravda, “We are continuously receiving information that some reconnaissance organisations are attempting to access government buildings and other places of similar importance.
Zelensky was Putin’s primary objective when he attacked government buildings and made an effort to assassinate the nation’s important leader, according to Western intelligence, he continued.
Shortly before this alleged assassination attempt, Zelensky discussed living with the knowledge that his death is still a top target for Russian troops in an interview with CNN in July.
“I’ll be honest with you and say that I’ve decided to shut myself down if I continue to think about it nonstop. Very similar to Putin right now, who never leaves his bunker,” Zelensky remarked.
Zelensky added that he thinks it’s crucial for Ukrainians to understand that their president is also under peril as they struggle to stave off the Russian invasion.
“If I choose to isolate myself, I won’t be able to comprehend what is happening in the nation around me. I’ll get disconnected from civilization. We would lose our society if I lost this link. I’m certain that society must realise that, if they are in danger, their President is, too. We must all be in danger, he remarked.
They are aware that I have protection, etc., of course, but I must stand by my people. You are aware that you are capable of locking yourself in a cage like an animal and remaining there permanently while feeling like your life is in danger.
Zelensky claimed that by leaving his personal security “to the professionals,” he is able to “free (his) mind to resolve the strategic issues.”
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Zelensky calls the ‘world to act’ after missile attack damaged grain supplies
In response to “Russian terrorists” who have attacked the world’s food supply, the world “must respond,” according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In the Danube River city of Izmail, near Odesa, drones attacked a warehouse where Ukraine’s grain exports were stored.
Approximately 40,000 metric tonnes of grain headed for Africa, China, and Israel were destroyed after a fire broke out at industrial and port facilities, causing equipment damage.
The following message was uploaded by Zelensky on Telegram: “Russian terrorists have once again targeted ports, grain facilities, and global food security.
“The world must act,”
Explosions and a sizable fire are visible in video taken by Romanian fishermen on the opposite bank of the river.
Attacks followed Russia’s termination of a contract that permitted Ukrainian shipments to be made from the Black Sea port to international markets.
In a Facebook update, Ukraine’s South operational command stated: “The enemy’s goal was clearly the facilities of the ports and industrial infrastructure of the region.”
In the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia, where people struggle with high food prices and famine, Ukraine is a significant provider of wheat, maize, vegetable oil, and other agricultural products.
In defiance of a de facto blockade Russia reinstituted in mid-July, buildings at the port of Izmail were also demolished, and ships were stopped as they prepared to load up with Ukrainian grain.
Since Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports in mid-July, the port, which is across the river from NATO member Romania, has served as the primary alternate route for grain exports out of Ukraine.
By convincing merchants that the ports are hazardous to use, Kyiv claims the aim of the strikes is to reimpose Russia’s blockade.
In a statement, American ambassador Bridget Brink denounced the strikes and listed recent Russian targets, including “Homes. Ports. cereal silos. historic structures. Men, women, and kids.
Round-the-clock and escalating Russian attacks on Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Kherson once again demonstrate Russia’s lack of interest in peace, disregard for the safety of civilians, and disregard for people across the world who depend on Ukrainian food.
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Russian missile attack kills at least four people in Zelensky’s hometown
At least four persons have died as a result of a Russian missile attack on a home in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Images from the scene show a massive hole that spans from the fourth to the ninth floors of the apartment building, with black smoke rising out of it.
‘A 45-year-old mother and a 10-year-old daughter’ were among the fatalities, according to a social media post by Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Zelensky presidential office.
“International law will never succeed if the aggressor does not perceive a real power behind it,” he continued. Closing the Ukrainian skies with missile defence and air defence equipment is where the power starts.
A four-story university building that was partially demolished, according to interior minister Ihor Klymenko.
Zelensky said in a statement shared on social media that the enemy has been obstinately bombing cities and city centres as well as shelling homes and other civilian objects in recent days.
However, we won’t be scared or broken by this dread. Saving our people is what we are doing.
Since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of last year, attacks on Kryvyi Rih have been extremely infrequent.
The significant exception occurred last month, when a missile strike that struck a five-story residential structure resulted in three fatalities and 25 injuries.
Three drone missile attacks on Moscow’s federal buildings were followed by this morning’s strike.
The façade of two office towers were “slightly damaged,” according to the city’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, but no one was hurt.
Although Zelensky did not explicitly affirm or deny that Ukraine was responsible for the strikes, he did state in his nightly speech that “gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia”—specifically, to its military bases and symbolic centres. He added that this process was inevitable, natural, and wholly fair.
Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-installed head of the forcibly annexed province, reported that two individuals were killed in a Ukrainian artillery strike in the partially held Donetsk region.
Pushilin claimed that during the shelling of Donetsk, the provincial capital, a bus had also been struck.
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Putin declares his openness to peace talks as Russia celebrates Navy Day
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has indicated that his nation would be amenable to peace talks.
Russia and Ukraine have both previously stated that certain requirements must be completed before peace negotiations can begin.
In spite of the potential for retaliation over a Ukrainian attack on a vital road bridge to Crimea, Putin has now stated that African and Chinese initiatives might serve as the foundation for peace in Ukraine.
Although he said he hadn’t ruled out negotiations about Ukraine, he added that it would be challenging to put a ceasefire into effect because Ukraine is presently on the offensive, according to DW.
The notion of a ceasefire has been rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky because it would allow Russia to maintain authority over about one fifth of his nation’s land.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, Ukraine attempted to assault Crimea with 25 drones over the course of one night, and nine of those drones crashed into the Black Sea.
2014 saw the annexation of Crimea by Russia; ever since, Ukraine has been waging war against Russia.
Attacks on the region have grown and become more frequent in recent weeks as Kiev attempts to retake Crimea.
According to Russian authorities, three Ukrainian drones were shot down above Moscow early on Sunday, destroying two office buildings.
Following the airstrike on Moscow, the Kremlin threatened to use nuclear weapons, with Putin loyalist and former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev stating that there is “simply no other way out.”
According to the MailOnline, he reportedly advised Kyiv to “pray to our warriors” so they won’t “allow the global nuclear fire to flare up.”
“Our Armed Forces protect the people of Russia and our land,” declared Medvedev in response to the enemy’s concerted counteroffensive.
“This is obvious to all moral individuals.” Beyond that, though, they also stop global war.
After all, under the terms of the directive issued by the Russian President on February 6, 2020, we would have to deploy nuclear weapons if we assumed that the [Ukrainians’] offensive, which had NATO‘s support, was successful and they had captured any of our territory.
Simply put, there is no other way out.
As a result, our adversaries must pray to our soldiers. They prevent a flare-up of the global nuclear fire.
The statement was made as Putin and other military leaders celebrated Russia’s Navy Day on Sunday with a parade off the coast and the addition of 30 new ships to the fleet.
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‘War is returning to Russia’ after Moscow drone – Zelensky claims
Hours after Moscow accused Kyiv of using drones to target Moscow, the Kremlin said that war is “gradually returning” to Russia. This accusation was the latest in a string of attacks, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A corporate and shopping complex in the west of the capital was targeted, according to the Russian Defence Ministry, despite the fact that three drones were intercepted on Sunday. No injuries were recorded, but a 50-story building’s fifth and sixth floors were damaged, according to state news agency TASS.
Videos of the incident showed both emergency services and debris.
Zelensky stated in his daily presentation that “Ukraine is strengthening and the war is gradually returning to Russia’s territory, to its symbolic centres and military bases.” “This is a natural, inevitable, and completely just.”
According to a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Air Force, the recent drone assaults on Moscow were intended to shock Russians who had become complacent following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In Russia and Moscow, something is always in the air. According to the spokeswoman, Yurii Ihnat, who appeared on Ukrainian television, “now the war is affecting those who were not concerned.”
“Something does hit, no matter how much the Russian authorities would like to pretend they have intercepted everything.”
Unmanned aerial vehicles are being used more frequently by the Ukrainian military for purposes other than surveillance.
There will be more drone strikes in the future, according to Ukrainian Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose Digital Transformation Ministry is in charge of the nation’s “Army of Drones” acquisition strategy. Kyiv is stepping up a summer counteroffensive to drive Russian forces off Ukrainian land.
This week’s first objective was Moscow. An attack on two non-residential structures, including one close to the Ministry of Defence headquarters, was blamed on Ukraine on Monday. Russia referred to that occurrence as a “terrorist attack,” despite the fact that its military interventions in Ukraine frequently result in civilian casualties.
At least two civilians were murdered and 20 others were hurt in a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy late on Saturday. Two more were killed in a rocket attack on Zaporizhzhia.
Over the weekend, heavy bombardments had been used in both regions. While a military official in Zaporizhzhia claimed Russian forces had launched 77 attacks on 20 communities around the region, damaging 31 homes and other infrastructure, Ukrainian officials in Sumy reported 25 incidences of shelling in a single day.
Residents of the Russian capital are uneasy despite the fact that there were allegedly no injuries or fatalities as a result of the strikes in Moscow.
One person who saw the attack on Sunday described how it disrupted some downtime that was scheduled.
“My friends and I had rented an apartment to relax here, and at some point, there was an explosion; it was like a wave, and everyone jumped,” she told Reuters. You couldn’t see anything because of the thick smoke. Fire was visible from above.
On Sunday, Ukrainian drones also attacked the Crimean Peninsula that Russia has annexed.
The land that Moscow illegitimately acquired from Ukraine in 2014 was intercepted by 25 unmanned aerial vehicles, according to the Russian Defence Ministry, 16 of which were shot down.
According to the ministry, the other nine aircraft crashed into the Black Sea as a result of electronic warfare equipment jamming their signals. Although there don’t seem to have been any casualties.
On Friday, Russia claimed to have shot down a Ukrainian missile over Taganrog, a city in southern Russia. Regarding the incident, which appears to be a rare instance of Ukraine firing missiles inside Russian territory, Ukraine made no comments.
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Ukraine shifts Christmas Day to distance itself from Russia
As part of its ongoing effort to distance itself from Russia, Ukraine has changed the date of its state-sanctioned Christmas Day holiday from 7 January to 25 December.
A parliamentary measure to “abandon the Russian heritage of imposing Christmas celebrations” was made legislation by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Kyiv has been severing its religious, cultural, and other links to Russia in recent years in order to align itself with the West.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, this process intensified.
The legislation was approved by Ukrainian parliament two weeks ago, and Mr. Zelensky signed it on Friday.
The legislation also changes the dates of two other official holidays: Defenders’ Day, which honours veterans of the armed forces, goes from October 14 to October 1, and Day of Ukrainian Statehood moves from July 28 to July 15.
Moscow hasn’t spoken out publicly on the subject yet.
Ukraine has been under absolute control attempts for centuries, first by imperial Russia and afterwards by the Soviet Union, which was ruled from Moscow, but with no success.
This includes the Russian Orthodox Church’s (ROC) imposition of rule over Ukraine’s churches.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual head of all Orthodox Christians, did, however, grant independence to the recently founded Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) in 2019.
The ROC, which has come out in open defence of President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, was incensed by the action.
The OCU, along with a number of other Orthodox churches, including the ROC, had previously observed Christmas Day on January 7 in accordance with the Julian calendar.
However, the OCU has since converted over to the more accurate Gregorian calendar that is used in most of the globe.
Since many Ukrainian believers have joined the OCU in recent years, the majority of them are now probably celebrating Christmas on December 25.
Additionally, some people may celebrate Christmas twice.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), the other well-established branch with parishes all over the nation, is still followed by millions of people.
On the most recent developments, the UOC has not made any remarks.
In 2022, it formally announced its break with Moscow, but a number of its clergy have since faced legal action for their pro-Russian actions.
According to the UOC, there is no proof to back up the allegations of collusion.
Ukraine’s coat of arms, the Trident, will replace the Soviet emblem on Kyiv’s Motherland Monument, one of the highest sculptures in the world.
The decision by Ukraine to rescheduled Christmas is the nation’s newest measure to distinguish itself from its northeastern neighbour.
Renaming of streets honouring Russian and Soviet historical personalities has lately occurred in cities and villages around Ukraine.
The removal of several monuments and the Ukrainian prohibition on Russian films released after 2014 are similar.
Following Russia’s illegitimate annexation of the southern Crimean peninsula of Ukraine in March 2014, certain actions were taken.
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Zelensky fires Ukrainian ambassador to UK after criticism
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has removed Vadym Prystaiko from his position as the country’s ambassador to the UK.
Reports suggest that the dismissal came after Prystaiko publicly criticized President Zelensky’s handling of a dispute over expressing gratitude for British military aid.
Prystaiko had referred to Zelensky‘s commitment to thanking the UK defense minister daily as “unhealthy sarcasm.”
Despite no official reason being given by Kyiv for the dismissal, it has been confirmed that Prystaiko is no longer serving as the ambassador.
Earlier this month, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace cautioned Ukraine, stating that its allies were not a retail platform like Amazon.
He emphasized the importance of Kyiv showing appreciation for the weapons it receives, as this could influence Western politicians to provide further assistance. Wallace’s comments came after President Zelensky criticized the military alliance, NATO, for the delays in granting Ukraine membership.
“How else can we show our gratitude? We can wake up in the morning and thank the minister. Let him write to me and tell me how to thank him,” Mr Zelensky said of the defence minister’s comments.
Mr Prystaiko told Sky News there was a “little bit of sarcasm” in his president’s response, which he believed was “unhealthy”.
“We’re not expecting anybody to fight for us, we only ask for equipment,” he said, adding “Ben can call me and tell me anything he wants”.
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Allies unable to give Ukraine timeframe on joining Nato
NATO member states have stated that Ukraine can join the military alliance “when allies agree and conditions are met,” following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s criticism of the delay in Ukraine’s accession.
While acknowledging the need for a swifter process, NATO’s communique did not provide a specific timeframe.
President Zelensky expressed his frustration, describing the delay as “absurd” and noting the apparent lack of readiness to invite Ukraine to join NATO or become a member. He is currently in Vilnius, Lithuania, where the summit is taking place.
Although Kyiv recognizes that it cannot join NATO while engaged in a conflict with Russia, it remains eager to join as soon as possible once the fighting comes to an end.
In their first working session at the #NATOSummit, Allies took decisions to bring Ukraine closer to NATO, and reinforce the Alliance’s collective deterrence and defence
— NATO (@NATO) July 11, 2023During a briefing, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that allies had reaffirmed Ukraine’s future NATO membership and had agreed to forgo the need for a formal membership action plan in the process.
“This will change Ukraine’s membership path from a two-step process to a one-step process,” he said.
But Mr Zelensky tweeted that the lack of an agreed timeframe meant his country’s eventual membership could become a bargaining chip.
“A window of opportunity is being left to bargain Ukraine’s membership in Nato in negotiations with Russia. Uncertainty is weakness,” he said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s comments come in the midst of disagreement among NATO members regarding Ukraine’s membership in the alliance. Some members express concerns that granting Ukraine near-automatic membership could incentivize Russia to further escalate and prolong the conflict that resulted from its invasion of Ukraine.
NATO’s communique acknowledged Ukraine’s increasing interoperability and political integration with the alliance, as well as the progress it has made in implementing reforms. Member states pledged their support for continued reforms in Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is scheduled to meet with President Zelensky at the inaugural meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council on Wednesday.
During the summit, a series of military packages were announced. A coalition of 11 nations will commence training Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 fighter jets at a center to be established in Romania starting in August.
Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was quoted by Russian news agencies as warning that Moscow would be compelled to use “similar” weapons if the United States supplied controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine. Cluster munitions release bomblets over a wide area and are banned by over 100 countries due to their impact on civilians. Shoigu stated that while Russia possesses similar cluster weapons, they have refrained from using them thus far.
Human rights groups have reported the use of cluster munitions by both Russia and Ukraine during the 17-month-long conflict following Russia’s invasion in February last year.
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Putin’s top military officer in Ukraine returns after mysterious absence
In spite of rumours that he had been “purged,” Putin‘s top officer in charge of the campaign against Ukraine made an appearance in a new film.
Since Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner, sought his removal during the failed uprising last month, Valery Gerasimov has not been seen.
By releasing video showing the general listening to a report from his military leaders, the Kremlin appears to be putting an end to speculations of the general’s death.
During his attempted coup, Prigozhin repeatedly denounced Gerasimov and defence minister Sergei Shoigu for denying supplies to his mercenary fighters in Ukraine.
Gerasimov’s absence since the revolt prompted claims Putin had got rid of him, something the Russian president has not been shy about doing.
Putin has fired several leaders during the war, including Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, known as ‘The Butcher of Mariupol’, and General Rustam Muradov who was behind the massacre in Vuhledar.
The uncertainty over Gerasimov follows reports Putin is furious by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky bringing key commanders of the Azov regiment home from Turkey.
Moscow claims it was ‘deceived’ over an agreement that Azov commander Denys Prokopenko, 32, and his lieutenants would remain in Turkey after their part in the Siege of Mariupol.
Putin is also likely to be further enraged by Zelensky’s visit to the liberated Snake Island in the Black Sea, marking the 500th day of the war.
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Bridge spanning Russia and Crimea shut down after missile attack from Ukraine
A significant border between Russia and the annexed Crimea has been temporarily closed as a result of a Ukrainian missile attack.
The Kerch Bridge’s traffic was stopped in both directions after Russian air forces claimed they had shot down a missile nearby.
According to the Russian research group Rybar, Ukraine employed a “modernised missile from an S-200 complex with a range of about 250 miles.”
According to sources, the weapon was brought down on Sunday on the Kerch, or Crimean, side of the 10-mile bridge.
It appears there were no casualties but any damage to the bridge will be seen as a blow to Moscow.
The bridge is largely seen as a vanity project for Vladimir Putin, who ordered the £3 billion crossing to be built after he illegally invaded Crimea in 2014.
It was severely damaged last October when a ‘truck bomb’ blew up and killed at least three people, Russian investigators said at the time.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky previously said his government ‘did not order’ the attack but his deputy minister of defence, Hanna Maliar, seemingly admitted responsibility over the weekend.
As part of a list of 12 Ukrainian achievements posted on Telegram, he said: ‘273 days ago, (we) launched the first strike on the Crimean bridge to disrupt Russian logistics.’
Sergey Aksyonov, head of the pro-Russian government in Crimea, said: ‘In the Kerch area, air defence forces shot down a cruise missile. No damage or casualties.
‘I ask everyone to remain calm and rely only on trusted sources of information.’
Russia was already fearful of disgruntled Wagner fighters, who have turned against Putin, would try to destroy the bridge.
Last week, tourists heading to the Black Sea peninsula faced severe delays of up to seven hours, as each vehicle was subject to strict security checks.
Guards went to extremes, which included sending children to get x-rays and inspecting every single section of the cars, such as the glove compartments, according to citizen information service InformNapalm.
Now, Russian war channels are discussing the possibility the Ukrainian military will set its sights on the bridge again.
Kyiv previously made a video targeted at Russians planning holidays in Crimea, warning them to ‘stay away’.
The slightly bizarre clip, which was released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, starts with the question: ‘Big plans this summer?’
It begins like a budget ad with grainy clips of surfers in the water, with captions that read: ‘A travel advisory is in effect for certain beaches.
’We warned you last summer to stay away from Crimea.’
The video then suddenly cuts to images of explosions and tourists fleeing missile attacks. A Russian woman is also shown crying in the back of a car.
‘Our seasonal forecast calls for stormy weather,’ it warns finally before ending with lightning.
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Zaporizhzhia power plant still under “serious threat,” – Zelensky warns
Russia is ‘technically ready,’ according to the president of Ukraine, to attack the power plant.
He declared on Saturday that there was a “serious threat” since Russia was technically prepared to produce a nearby explosion at the station, which might result in a radioactive spill.
He made no more statements but credited his intelligence operatives as the information’s source.
Zelensky urged world leaders to pay closer attention to the circumstances around Zaporizhzhia, the biggest nuclear reactor in Europe.
He also urged sanctions on Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom.
The plant, located near the city of Enerhodar in southern Ukraine, has been occupied by Russia since early March last year, shortly after Moscow’s invasion.
Russia has previously denied Kyiv’s accusations that Russia was preparing an explosion at the plant. Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of shelling the vast facility.
Last week, authorities conducted renewed nuclear disaster response drills in the area.
Yuriy Malashko, governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, said they were intended to coordinate the response of all services to an ‘emergency situation’ at the plant.
Footage showed rescuers in yellow and white protective gear and gas masks, using dosimeters to check passenger cars and trucks for radiation levels and then cleaning wheels before vehicles underwent additional decontamination at specialised washing points.
A man on a stretcher was brought into a medical tent as sirens blared.
Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, suffered the world’s worst nuclear accident in 1986, when clouds of radioactive material spread across much of Europe after an explosion and fire at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant.
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Ukraine’s counter-offensive operations have begun – Zelensky says
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, appears to have acknowledged the launch of his country’s long-awaited counter-offensive against Russia.
“Counter-offensive and defensive actions are taking place,” he said.
But he added that he would not talk in detail about which stage or state the counter-offensive was in.
The comments come after an escalation of fighting in the south and east of Ukraine and speculation about progress of the widely anticipated push.
Ukrainian troops are reported to have advanced in the east near Bakhmut and in the south near Zaporizhzhia, and have carried out long-range strikes on Russian targets.
But assessing the reality on the front lines is difficult, with the two warring sides presenting contrasting narratives: Ukraine claiming progress and Russia that it is fighting off attacks.
Meanwhile in Russia’s Kaluga region – which borders the southern districts around Moscow – governor Vladislav Shapsha said on Telegram that a drone crashed near the village of Strelkovk early on Sunday. The BBC has not independently verified the report.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a video interview published Friday that Ukrainian forces had certainly begun their offensive but that attempted advances had failed with heavy casualties.
Speaking in Kyiv on Saturday after talks with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Mr Zelensky described the Russian leader’s words as “interesting”.
Shrugging his shoulders, raising his eyebrows and pretending not to know who Mr Putin was, Mr Zelensky said it was important that Russia felt “they do not have long left”.
He also said that Ukraine’s military commanders were in a positive mood, adding: “Tell that to Putin.”
Mr Trudeau announced 500 million Canadian dollars (£297m) in new military aid for Ukraine during the unannounced visit.
A joint statement issued after the talks said Canada supports Ukraine becoming a Nato member “as soon as conditions allow for it”, adding that the issue would be discussed at the Nato Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July.
Meanwhile, fighting has escalated in recent days in the key southern Zaporizhzhia region, Russian officials say. Ukrainian forces are thought to be trying to push south to split Russian forces in two, breaking through the occupied territory which connects Russia to Crimea.
Ukraine’s hope of advances in the region could be hindered by huge flooding in the south of the country after the Nova Khakovka dam was destroyed last week.
The flooding has covered around 230 square miles (596 sq km) either side of the Dnipro River.
In his nightly address on Saturday, Mr Zelensky said 3,000 people have been evacuated from the flooded Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.
And Kherson’s regional head Oleksandr Prokudin said water levels had dropped by 27cm, but more than 30 settlements on the right bank of the river – which is Ukrainian-held territory – were still flooded and almost 4,000 residential buildings remained underwater.
Nato and Ukraine’s military have accused Russia of blowing up the dam, while Russia has blamed Ukraine.
However, it seems highly likely that Russian forces, which controlled the dam, decided to blow it up in order to make it more difficult for Ukrainian forces to cross the river as part of their ongoing counteroffensive, the BBC’s Paul Adams says.
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Zelensky’s holiday home on Black Sea to be sold to fund Russia’s invasion
Russia has declared the nationalization of Volodymyr Zelensky’s holiday home on Crimea’s Black Sea coast and intends to sell the property to finance its invasion of Ukraine.
The leader appointed by Russia in Crimea, which was unlawfully annexed by Moscow in 2014, made a video announcement on Thursday, stating that the local legislature has decided to nationalize 57 properties formerly owned by Ukrainian tycoons and public figures.
“Crimea will regain rights for a number of properties including a building in Simferopol that belongs to the banned Crimean Tatar parliament as well as Olena Zelenska’s flat,” said Sergey Aksyonov, referring to the president’s flat that is registered in his wife’s name.
“Enemies of Russia won’t be making money in Russian Crimea,” he added.
Prior to his election as president in 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky was widely known as Ukraine’s most popular comedian and co-owner of a successful TV production company.
In 2013, the Zelenskys purchased a three-room penthouse apartment in the prestigious coastal town of Livadia in Crimea. However, they never had the opportunity to reside there due to ongoing renovations and the subsequent annexation of Crimea.
Russian state media estimated the value of the property to be approximately $800,000 (£648,000).
Russia’s annexation of 2014 triggered a massive land grab across the peninsula as at least 4,000 enterprises and individuals had their property expropriated just in the first year of the invasion.
In many cases, owners were forced to pay bribes to simply re-assert their property rights as the Russian government started to register properties anew.
Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of the Russia-declared parliament, said on Thursday the Zelenskys’ flat will be sold off and the proceeds are likely to be used to fund the war in Ukraine.
“It will be put up for sale, and money will first of all go towards the needs of the special military operation, families of the killed soldiers and families of the mobilised men,” he told state Russian TV.
He suggested the Ukrainian president is not going to miss the property: “Of course, it is not a big loss for him.”
Mr Zelensky reportedly was not renting it out.
Earlier this year, Russian authorities in Crimea ordered the nationalisation of about 700 properties, from vineyards to factories, belonging to some of Ukraine’s richest tycoons suspected of “enemy activity” and links to the Kyiv government.
It was not clear where the proceeds from that sell-off went.
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Ukraine forms marine corps as Wagner chief issues warning of Russian uprising
As the leader of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group claimed that military setbacks had allowed Kyiv to create “one of the strongest armies in the world,” Volodymyr Zelensky announced the formation of the country’s first marine corps.
On the force’s national holiday, Zelensky was captured on camera presenting honours to both male and female marines while sporting his well-known khaki army sweatshirt and pants.
In his nightly address, the Donetsk mayor recalled the visit to the area near Vuhledar and Maryinka, saying: “I presented state awards to the warriors and ribbons “For Courage and Bravery” to the best units defending this part of the frontline.”
The president said the Ukrainian government would create a specialised marines corps and promised to provide new weapons and equipment.
The update came as Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner Group, warned Russia could face a revolution similar to that in 1917 unless the country’s elites get serious about the war.
He again criticised the military leadership, naming defence minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of the defence staff Valery Gerasimov, saying they had ‘f**ked up’ repeatedly, leading to the loss of more men in the battle for Bakhmut than the entire 10-year war in Afghanistan.
Prigozhin said Soviet leader Josef Stalin would not have accepted such failure.
Mocking Vladimir Putin’s purpose for his ‘special military operation’, he said: ‘So the de-Nazification of Ukraine, which we announced – we made Ukraine a nation, known to everyone around the globe.
‘They are like Greeks at their peak, or Romans.’
In an interview with a prominent pro-war blogger posted on his Telegram channel, he went on: ‘We legitimised Ukraine, it became a country which is known to everyone.
‘As for de-militarisation, [this is] a painful issue indeed. So if they had at the start of it 500 tanks – now they have 5,000. If there were 20,000 men who were able to fight – now there are 400,000.
‘So how exactly did we demilitarise it? Quite the opposite! We militarised it up to the brim.
‘I think Ukrainians today are one of the world’s strongest armies. They have high levels of organisation, training, military intelligence.
‘They have various ammunition and moreover, they are able to switch between any system – Soviet, NATO, anything at all – with the same success. They take their losses philosophically.
‘All they do is to achieve the supreme goal, just like us during the Great Patriotic War [Second World War].’
Prigozhin, left, is known as a close ally of Putin (Picture: AP) Prigozhin lambasted the comfortable elites in Russia ‘shaking their arses’ in the sun while ordinary citizens get theirs back in zinc coffins, adding: ‘This divide can end as in 1917 with a revolution.
‘First the soldiers will stand up, and after that – their loved ones will rise up.
‘There are already tens of thousands of them – relatives of those killed. And there will probably be hundreds of thousands – we cannot avoid that.’
Russia needs to mobilise more men and to gear the economy exclusively to war, Prigozhin said.
He continued: ‘What must we do – not to lose Russia? Because today we are in a state when we can lose Russia.
‘We must introduce martial law. We must call new waves of mobilisation. We must switch everyone to production of weapons.
‘Stop building skyscrapers, new roads, new infrastructure – and work only for the war. We must live like in North Korea for several years, and shut the borders.’
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Zelensky and Xi Jinping engage in first phone call after Russia invasion
The first communication between the two leaders since the start of Russia’s conflict, according to Ukraine’s Volodymr Zelensky, was a “long and meaningful” phone chat.
In addition to the nomination of an ambassador to Beijing, Zelenksy said on Twitter that the call would “give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations.”
China confirmed the call and said that it “always stood on the side of peace”.
I had a long and meaningful phone call with 🇨🇳 President Xi Jinping. I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2023Unlike the West, Beijing has sought to appear neutral on the Russian invasion.
But it has never hidden its close ties to Moscow, or condemned the invasion, and last month President Xi paid a two-day state visit to Russia.
He referred to President Vladimir Putin as his “dear friend”, proposed a vague 12-point peace plan and insisted that China stood on the right side of history.
However, he made no commitment to providing Russia with weapons.
Within days of the visit, President Zelensky invited the Chinese leader to visit Kyiv for talks, noting they had contact before the full-scale war but nothing since it began in February 2022.
In a readout of Wednesday’s phone call, China quoted President Xi as saying that China, “as a responsible majority country”, would “neither watch the fire from the other side, nor add fuel to the fire, let alone take advantage of the crisis to profit”.
That statement appears to be a swipe at China’s biggest international rival, the US, which has provided the most help towards Ukraine’s response to the Russian war.
But the likelihood of China helping to end the war appears remote, not just because Russia has shown no readiness to withdraw its forces from Ukraine’s sovereign territory – a key demand from Kyiv.
Critics have also questioned the idea of Beijing acting as a mediator, citing not only Mr Xi’s firm friendship with Russia’s leader but also China’s soaring trade with Russia and its refusal even to speak of an “invasion”.
But President Zelensky has repeatedly reached out to the Chinese president, an acknowledgement that China’s vast wealth and global influence could swing the outcome of the war.
On Wednesday he appointed a former minister, Pavlo Ryabikin, as ambassador to Beijing.
China’s 12-point plan to end the war was immediately criticised by Ukraine and the West. It included a proposal for unilateral sanctions to be dropped and failed to offer clear plans for Ukraine’s future security or for territory seized by Russia.
However, in its readout on Wednesday, Beijing did announce its willingness to engage directly with Ukraine, by sending a special representative on Eurasian affairs to Kyiv and other capitals for “in-depth communication” on a political settlement.
Xi Jinping has had recent diplomatic success by persuading Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties. While it is possible he may have developed a taste for the role of a key international stakeholder, there may also be an economic element to his intervention.
China’s flagging economy is still fragile after years of tight Covid-19 restrictions.
It is dependent on export trade and cannot fully bounce back as the war in Ukraine drags on.
News of the phone call made headline news in China’s carefully controlled state media outlets, which printed China’s interpretation of the call.
On Chinese social media sites, users appeared supportive, with many calling for peaceful dialogue and supporting what they saw as China acting like a responsible country.
“China must break the deadlock and melt the ice!” read one typical comment.
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Zelensky applauds the move to issue a warrant for Putin’s arrest
Zelensky applauded the decision and referred to it as a “historic choice, from which historic responsibilities will begin” in his evening address to the country.
We have an important international justice ruling today.
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin in a case with a real chance of success,’ he stated.The leader of the terrorist nation and a different Russian officer are now formally suspected of committing a war crime.
The illegal transfer of thousands of our children to the territory of the terrorist state is known as the deportation of Ukrainian children.‘Over 16,000 cases of forced deportation of Ukrainian children by the occupier have already been recorded in criminal proceedings investigated by our law enforcement officers.
‘But the real, full number of deportees may be much higher.’
He added: ‘It would be impossible to commit such a criminal operation without the order of the top leader of the terrorist state.
‘Separating children from their families, depriving them of any opportunity to contact their relatives, hiding children on the territory of Russia, throwing them in remote regions – all this is an obvious state policy of Russia, state decisions and state evil. Which begins precisely with the top official of this state.’
The ICC seeks to arrest Vladmimir Putin over war crimes committed in Ukraine. Putin’s Minister for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova is also being sought by the ICC for her role in the abduction of children from Ukraine to Russia. The warrant for Mr Putin and another for Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, relate to the alleged trafficking of children across the border into Russia.
ICC president Piotr Hofmanksi said: ‘It is forbidden by international law for occupying powers to transfer civilians from the territory they live in to other territories.
‘Children enjoy special protection under the Geneva Convention.’
Under article 2 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG), ‘Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group’ is considered to be an act of genocide.
US President Joe Biden said Mr Putin had ‘clearly committed war crimes’ and the warrant, although not recognised in the US, was ‘justified’ and made ‘a very strong point’.
His remarks came after UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said it was essential that those at the top of the regime in Moscow were held to account for the atrocities which have taken place since the invasion a year ago.
In a statement posted on social media, Mr Cleverly said: ‘Those responsible for horrific war crimes in Ukraine must be brought to justice.
UK Foreign secretary James Cleverly has welcomed the ICC’s decision to prosecute Putin, with several other British politicans also voicing their support ‘We welcome the step taken by the independent ICC to hold those at the top of the Russian regime, including Vladimir Putin, to account.
‘Work must continue to investigate the atrocities committed.’
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, also backed the move.
‘Today’s announcement sends an important message: there will be no hiding place for Putin and his cronies and the world is determined to make them pay for what they have done,’ he said.
‘These cases are just the tip of the iceberg. One day Putin will face justice: until then, the focus of all who believe in Ukraine’s liberty and freedom must continue to be on ensuring her victory.’
While there is no immediate prospect of Mr Putin facing arrest, legal experts have pointed to the examples of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic and Liberia’s president Charles Taylor as international leaders who wound up in the dock in The Hague.
Former Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi was also overthrown and murdered by his own people just four months after being issued an arrest warrant by the ICC- footage of which reportedly left a strong and consequential impression on Putin.
Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, told the BBC: ‘It is, I suspect, going to be a long journey but people said that about Yugoslavia and Rwanda and many of those people responsible for the carnage ended up in the dock of a court.
‘In the short term it will be very hard for President Putin to move around the world because there are so many countries who are parties to the ICC who will be duty bound to arrest him.’
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The 15 African states who abstained in UN vote against Russia
On Thursday, the UN General Assembly in New York overwhelmingly backed a resolution denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over a year prior.
Fifteen African countries abstained and 28 supported the vote
South Africa, Ethiopia, Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Namibia, Central Africa Republic, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Guinea, Mozambique, Sudan, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe abstained in the vote.
The resolution demanded an end to hostilities in Ukraine and the departure of all soldiers. Though not legally binding, the measure has political influence.
141 countries voted in favor, 32 abstained, and seven countries opposed. Africa represented over half of the abstentions.
Eritrea and Mali were the only African countries who voted against.
Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini and Guinea-Bissau did not take part in the voting.
Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana and Kenya were among the African countries who backed the vote.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the resolution which he described as a powerful signal of global support.
Friday marks exactly a year since the full-scale invasion began.
The #UNGA 11th ESS (resumed) just adopted draft resolution A/ES-11/L.7 on Principles of the Charter of the #UN underlying a comprehensive, just & lasting peace in #Ukraine (by recorded vote: 141 in favour-7 against-32 abstentions)
— UN Media Liaison (@UNMediaLiaison) February 23, 2023
– FULL TEXT 🔗 https://t.co/cY7MpDcTt5 @UN_PGA pic.twitter.com/wCtq8719t5 -
Zelensky cancels out territory deal with Putin amidst war
Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has ruled out ceding any land to Russia as part of a future peace agreement.
In an interview with the BBC to commemorate a year since Russia’s invasion, he cautioned that giving up land would allow Moscow to “keep coming back,” while Western weaponry would advance the cause of peace.
A expected spring offensive, according to Mr. Zelensky, has already started. “Russian attacks are already happening from several directions,” he said.
He does, however, believe Ukraine’s forces can keep resisting Russia’s advance until they are able to launch a counter-offensive – although he repeated his calls for more military aid from the West.
“Of course, modern weapons speed up peace. Weapons are the only language Russia understands,” Mr Zelensky told the BBC.
He met UK and EU leaders last week in a bid to bolster international support and to ask for modern arms to defend his country. When Ukraine’s president asked for modern fighter jets, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said “nothing is off the table”.
But Kyiv has become increasingly frustrated with the speed with which Western weapons have arrived. Deliveries of battle tanks – promised last month by a swathe of Western countries, including Germany, the US and the UK – are still thought to be weeks away from arriving on the battlefield.
President Zelensky also addressed a threat by Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko to wage war alongside Russian troops from his territory if a single Ukrainian soldier crossed the border.
“I hope [Belarus] won’t join [the war],” he said. “If it does, we will fight and we will survive.” Allowing Russia to use Belarus as a staging post for an attack again would be a “huge mistake”, he added.
Russian forces launched part of their full-scale invasion from Belarus 12 months ago. They drove south towards Ukraine’s capital Kyiv but were fought back and made to retreat within weeks, after suffering heavy casualties.
When asked if he was surprised by Russia’s tactics in the war, Mr Zelensky described them as “valueless”.
“The way they destroyed everything. If their soldiers received [and carried out] those orders, that means they share those same values.”
Ukrainian data released this week suggested Russian troops in Ukraine were dying in greater numbers this month than at any time since the first week of their invasion. The figures cannot be verified, but the UK’s Ministry of Defence said the trends were “likely accurate”.
“Today, our survival is our unity,” said Mr Zelensky on how he thought the war will end. “I believe Ukraine is fighting for its survival.” His country was moving towards Europe economically, as well as through its values, he said.
“We chose this path. We want security guarantees. Any territorial compromises would make us weaker as a state.”
“It’s not about compromise itself,” he said. “Why would we be afraid of that? We have millions of compromises in life every day.
“The question is with whom? With Putin? No. Because there’s no trust. Dialogue with him? No. Because there’s no trust.”
Source: BBC
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Russia cannot be allowed at Olympics, Zelensky says
Allowing Russia to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, would amount to demonstrating that “terror is somehow acceptable.”
He mentioned that he had discussed the matter with Emmanuel Macron, the president of France.
He continued, “Moscow must not be permitted to use the Olympics for propaganda.”
According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), athletes from Belarus and Russia may participate in the Olympics as neutrals.
But Ukraine has threatened to boycott Paris 2024 if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete.
Attempts by the IOC “to bring Russian athletes back into the Olympic Games are attempts to tell the whole world that terror is somehow acceptable”, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
Russia must not be allowed to use the Games “or any other sport event as propaganda for its aggression or its state chauvinism”, he added.
The IOC said this week that Russian and Belarusian athletes could compete as “neutral athletes”, stating that “no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport”.
But Mr Zelensky says there can be no neutrality in sport while his country’s athletes are dying on the battlefield.
He also drew comparison with the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin when the Nazis were in power.
“There was a major Olympic mistake,” he said. “The Olympic movement and terrorist states definitely should not cross paths.”
The UK government has also condemned the plan to allow athletes to compete neutrally as a “world away from the reality of war”.
Image caption,Russian forces have been bombarding Kherson all weekend Mr Zelensky’s comments came as Russian forces continued to bombard the Ukrainian region of Kherson into the night, after a day of attacks which left at least three people dead.
Six others were wounded, two of them when a hospital was hit, local officials say.
The Kherson regional administration said the region was shelled almost 40 times on Saturday and was pounded continually on Sunday.
Kherson was the only regional capital to have fallen to Russian forces since the February 2022 invasion, but they were forced into a humiliating retreat in November.
President Zelensky said Russia had also stepped up its attacks in the eastern Donetsk region. He said his forces needed new weapons to confront a “very tough” situation of constant attacks.
“Russia wants the war to drag on and exhaust our forces. So we have to make time our weapon. We have to speed up events, speed up supplies and open up new weapons options for Ukraine,” he said.