Fighting and attacks in Ukraine continue. The Ukrainian President was cautiously optimistic about the talks with Russia. The developments at a glance.
An end to the fighting in Ukraine is still not in sight. Alarm was reported from several cities in Ukraine during the night. Negotiations between representatives of Russia and Ukraine on an end to the war have been adjourned and are scheduled to resume today.
Kyiv: So far no agreement on escape corridors
According to information from Kyiv on Wednesday, civilians from embattled towns and villages in Ukraine cannot hope for an evacuation. Kyiv has not received a response to its proposals to the Red Cross, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said in a video released on Wednesday. «The question of humanitarian corridors for Izyum and Mariupol is open. It is currently impossible to get people out of there safely,” said Vereshchuk. “Ways for the delivery of food and medicines to conquered cities are being worked out.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) emphasizes that agreements on humanitarian corridors must always be negotiated between the conflicting parties. It is in constant contact with government representatives in Moscow and Kyiv. However, the organization does not guarantee such agreements, but uses them to deliver relief supplies and bring the civilian population to safety. The core task of the ICRC is humanitarian protection and support for victims of war and armed violence.
The situation in some Ukrainian cities such as Isjum in the north-east of the country, which is under siege by the Russian army, or the south-east Ukrainian port of Mariupol, which has been completely surrounded for days, is considered catastrophic. In the past few days, people had repeatedly escaped via agreed escape corridors. Several evacuation attempts had failed in Mariupol until around 20,000 people were finally able to leave the city on Tuesday.
Vereshchuk accused the Russian units of shelling columns of refugees and assembly points in settlements. Russia, for its part, is making similar allegations against Ukrainian troops.
Ukraine also accused Russia of taking hostages in a hospital in the southeastern Ukrainian port of Mariupol. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Wereshchuk said in a video message on Wednesday that there were around 400 civilians in total. “And now the shots are being fired out of the hospital,” said Vereshchuk. The aid organization Media Initiative for Human Rights had previously raised similar allegations. There was initially no comment from the Russian side. The information cannot be independently verified.
Ukraine: More than 100 children killed so far
According to information from Kyiv, more than 100 children have been killed since the Russian attack on Ukraine began. So far, 103 children have died and more than 100 have been injured, Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. “The invaders kill at least five children a day.” The figures are not complete because areas where there is fierce fighting or which are occupied by Russia are not accessible. Around 400 school buildings and teaching facilities were attacked and around 60 were completely destroyed, Venediktova continued. She called on the UN to investigate.
“A bloody line was crossed today: more than 100 children were killed in 20 days of Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Ukraine’s Defense Ministry tweeted. «Every minute a child leaves Ukraine to escape the war. Russia will be held accountable and will pay for everything,” the ministry said. The information cannot be independently verified.
Selenskyj cautiously optimistic
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism about the talks with Russia. The negotiating positions sounded more realistic, he said in a video message. But it will still take a while before Ukraine can be satisfied. “We all want peace and victory as soon as possible,” said the President. “But it takes effort and patience. We still have to fight and work.” Every war ends with an agreement. “The meetings will continue.”
Both sides negotiated in a video conference at the beginning of the week. Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said on Tuesday evening that talks would continue on Wednesday. Ukraine demands an end to the war and a withdrawal of Russian troops. Among other things, Moscow is demanding that Kyiv recognize the annexed Black Sea peninsula of Crimea as Russian and the Ukrainian separatist areas as independent states.
Russia: Fighting continues in Luhansk
According to Russian sources, fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine continues around the city of Sievjerodonetsk. Units of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic were fighting on the city’s borders in the northwest, northeast and east, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in his morning report on Wednesday. About 100,000 people live in Sieverodonetsk. The insurgents in the Donetsk region took control of several villages, Konashenkov said. That couldn’t be checked.
Konashenkov put the number of Ukrainian tanks and armored vehicles destroyed since the beginning of the war on February 24 at 1,353. In addition, 111 aircraft, 68 helicopters, 160 drones and 159 missile defense systems were hit.
Report: 10 civilians shot dead by Russians in Chernihiv
According to a Ukrainian media report, at least ten civilians were shot dead by Russian troops in Chernihiv in northern Ukraine. People were queuing for bread, the public broadcaster Suspilne wrote on Wednesday and published a photo that is supposed to show the corpses. There was no comment from the Russian side. The information cannot be independently verified.
The city of Chernihiv near the Russian border has repeatedly been the target of Russian attacks since the beginning of the war. The humanitarian situation there is considered catastrophic, many buildings have been destroyed.
In the Chernihiv region alone, prosecutors have recorded at least 200 war crimes cases since the Russian attack began on February 24, Suspilne said. On Tuesday, occupying troops in the town of Hajvoron opened fire on employees of an agricultural company. One person was killed and four injured. On Monday, Russian soldiers shot dead three young men in Mochnatyn – a 19-year-old and 17-year-old twins – who were running through the village.
Kyiv: Heavy casualties for Russia
According to their own statements, the Ukrainian armed forces have again inflicted heavy losses on the Russian troops. Two Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets were shot down near the southwestern Ukrainian port of Odessa, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Wednesday. According to the regional military staff, Russian units tried to eliminate Ukrainian air defenses near Odessa, but this was unsuccessful. According to the report, several Russian warships are cruising off the coast, one of which is also said to have fired on Ukrainian positions. So far, however, there have been no attempts to land.
The General Staff in Kyiv announced that Ukrainian troops were putting up heavy resistance across the country. The Russian units are currently concentrating primarily on securing their territory gains. Ukrainian artillery and air force attacked the Russian supply lines. Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak spoke of a series of counterattacks.
“The leadership of the Russian Federation is trying to find allies, soldiers who are ready to die in Ukrainian fields,” Podoliak said. According to Ukrainian data, about 13,800 Russian soldiers have been killed since the war began on February 24. About 430 tanks, 1,375 armored vehicles and hundreds of other vehicles were destroyed, as well as around 85 combat aircraft and more than 100 helicopters. The information cannot be independently verified.
Source: Stern
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