Update of the situation in Ukraine

The situation on the ground, international reactions, sanctions: an update of the situation in Ukraine after the Russian-led military operation.

Russian strikes

On Sunday, Russia claimed, for the second day in a row, that it used hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, this time to destroy the Ukrainian army’s fuel reserves in the south.

Using these weapons, Russia ‘trying to regain momentum’ In the conflict in which his army faltered, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin asserted, estimating that these weapons “The situation has not changed”.

In Mariupol, a strategic city in southeastern Ukraine that has been bombed for weeks and suffers shortages of water, gas and electricity, local authorities have accused the Russian military of bombing an art school that served as shelter for several hundred people. , to ensure that civilians are trapped under the rubble.

The Azovstal steel and metallurgical plant in Mariupol, one of the largest iron plants in Europe, was also severely damaged by the bombing.

In northwest Kyiv, a shell exploded in a courtyard outside an apartment building, injuring at least five people.

Israel must “choose”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Israel to do so “to choose”– Concretely support Ukraine against Russia, during a video address to MKs, the Israeli parliament.

“Ukraine made its decision 80 years ago and we have the righteous who hid the Jews, it is time for Israel to make its choice (…) Indifference kills, calculations kill”said Volodymyr Zelensky, while Israel has so far refrained from taking a position, eschewing its relations with Moscow.

Orphans evacuated from Mariupol

Their relatives said that a group of 19 children, most of them orphans, stranded in a sanatorium in Mariupol and their situation aroused great concern, were evacuated to pro-Russian areas in the east of the country.

Ten million displaced

Ten million people, more than a quarter of Ukraine’s population, have now fled their homes due to the Russian war, said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.

“The war in Ukraine is so devastating that 10 million people have fled, either internally displaced or refugees abroad.”did he say.

Negotiations: progress according to Ankara

Turkey confirmed that Russia and Ukraine have made progress in their negotiations and are close to reaching an agreement.

For his part, Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that he was always “ready for negotiations” with Vladimir Putin, in an interview broadcast by CNN. “No matter what discussions our negotiating team had, I believe that only the two of us, Putin and I, can come to an agreement,” he said.

Slovakia receives missiles

Defense Minister Yaroslav Nad said the US Patriot anti-aircraft missile system is on its way to Slovakia, in a move that could pave the way for that country to deliver to Ukraine the S-300 system of its Russian design.

Beijing denies aiding Moscow militarily

The Chinese ambassador to the United States said that Beijing is not sending military aid to Moscow for its attack on Ukraine, without specifying whether this position also applies to the future.

There is misinformation that China provides military aid to Russia. We reject him”Qin Gang said.

Penalties

France has frozen almost 850 million euros in assets of Russian oligarchs – yachts, apartments, bank accounts – on its territory.

Australia has adopted new sanctions against Russia by banning exports of alumina and bauxite, two components essential to aluminum production, and has promised more arms and humanitarian aid to Kyiv.