On the 128th day of the conflict in Ukraine, at least 21 people were killed as a result of a Russian strike near Odesa. The American president announced new military aid, while the Russian army left the strategic island. In eastern Donbas, Russia is closing its grip on Ukrainian forces in Lysichansk and also says it is holding “more than 6000» Ukrainian prisoners of war.
At least 21 people were killed as a result of a Russian strike near Odessa
At least 21 people were killed as a result of the attacks on buildings in the Odesa region between Thursday and Friday, according to the emergency services of Ukraine. Ukraine’s Southern Front Command reports that Cold War Tu-22 strategic bombers launched Kh-22 missiles from the Black Sea at apartment buildings and tourist buildings. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov assured that the Russian forces had no intention “Civilian targets”.
Further east, in the Zaporizhia region, “Ukrainian efforts did not lead to great achievements”. and: “We are considering the assessment of Russian positions.”– emphasizes the source of the General Staff of the French armies. As for the Kherson region, which is occupied by the Russians and their separatist allies, it remains. “Militarily and politically controversial, Ukraine’s armed forces continue to target Russian military facilities.” The Ukrainian army, in turn, announced that it struck “Concentration of enemy troops and military equipment”. near Bilozerka Municipality, reports “35 dead”. among the Russian soldiers and destroyed the enemy’s armor.
Snake Island. Ukrainian army accuses Russians of firing phosphorus bombs
On Friday night, the Ukrainian military accused the Russians of firing phosphorus bombs on the Snake Island in the Black Sea. Moscow forces withdrew from this area on Thursday after being pushed out by the Ukrainians. “At around 18:00, the Russian armed forces carried out an air attack with phosphorus bombs twice on Snake Island.” The Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, wrote on Telegram, blaming Moscow “Not respecting his own statements”. Yesterday, the Russian army announced that it had withdrawn from this symbolic territory “as a sign of goodwill” after having “done” them “defined targets”.
“The only thing in which the opponent is consistent is the consistent ‘accuracy’ of hitting.” lambasted Valery Zaluzhni. He accompanied his message with a video in which we see a plane fly over Snake Island and drop at least two bombs that hit their target, leaving stark white streaks in the sky, the hallmark of phosphorus bombs. Phosphorus weapons are incendiary weapons that are prohibited for use against civilians but not against military targets under the 1980 Geneva Convention. Since the end of February, Kiev has accused Moscow several times of its use, including against the civilian population, which the Russian army flatly denies.
Russian forces push Lisichansky eastward
Fighting continues around Lisischansk, one of the two provinces of the Donbas industrial basin in the Luhansk region that Moscow intends to take full control of. According to the British Ministry of Defence, Russian forces “They claim to have captured the village of Privilia”northwest of this city. “Heavy fighting continues, possibly to capture the heights surrounding (his) refinery.” adds London in his daily post. The same reading of the situation by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which has its headquarters in Washington; “Russian troops are probably trying to bypass the northeast corner of the refinery in order to move ahead of the refinery towards Lisichansk.”
But for the general staff of the French armies, if “the Russian forces put too much pressure on Lisischansk”, they do not threaten. “At this stage, the overall cohesion of the defense apparatus of Ukraine in Donbass is not”.. Nevertheless, “We notice the strengthening of Russian armored vehicles, the strengthening of aviation support and strikes in the rear of the Ukrainian forces.” ISW also addresses efforts by the Russian military to regain control of settlements north (north-east) of Kharkiv city. Its governor, Oleg Sinegubov, reported four deaths and three injuries in the region over the past 24 hours (three deaths and two injuries in Izium, one death and one injury in Chuhuiv).
“Isolation” of the Russians according to the British
The day after the announcement of the withdrawal of the Russians from Snake Island in the Black Sea, the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain judged this withdrawal. “most likely” motivated “Isolation of the garrison and its increasing vulnerability to Ukrainian strikes and not as a sign of ‘goodwill'”. as Moscow announced on Thursday.
Norway’s nearly one billion euro donation
Norway announced a donation of nearly one billion euros to Ukraine over two years on Friday during a visit to Kiev by its Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støren. This donation must be used “Humanitarian aid, for the reconstruction of the country, for the sake of [achats d’]weapons and support for the activities of the authorities” Ukrainians according to Oslo.
ECHR calls on Russia to respect prisoners of war
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), seized under urgent procedure, demanded on Friday that the Russian government respect the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war. The facility was occupied by a young Ukrainian woman from Mykolaiv (Southern Ukraine), whose husband, Yaroslav Anatolyovich Oliynichenko, is allegedly being held as a prisoner of war by the Russian forces. Number two of his combat unit was reportedly captured in Mariupol, southern Ukraine.
Article 39 of the ECHR allows it to order “Temporary Measures” when applicants undergo “Real risk of irreparable harm”. Therefore, the Court decided under “provisional measures” to order the Russian government to respect the treaty rights of Nikolaev Olynichenko and to provide him with medical care if necessary, just as it had asked Ukraine to ensure that those rights were respected.
Tens of thousands of victims
There is no overall estimate of civilian casualties during the conflict. At the military level, Western security sources now estimate between 15,000 and 20,000 Russian soldiers have been killed. According to Kiev, Ukrainian forces lose about 100 soldiers per day. There are no independent numbers.
Source: Le Figaro
