Ukrainian authorities fear dozens of dead after a Russian bombardment hit a school in the Lugansk region, where 90 people were housed. The Ukrainian General Staff reports intense fighting in different areas of Donbass, in the east of the country, while in Mariupol the Russian assault on the Azovstal steel mill continues, whose combatants have said they will resist “until there is life” and called for the evacuation of their wounded.
At least two people dead and 60 people presumably under the rubble would be the result after a Russian bombardment against a school in the town of Bilogorivka, in the Lugansk region where 90 civilians were taking refuge, according to regional governor Serhiy Haidai.
On the 74th day of the conflict, Russian troops increase their siege against cities, towns and villages, especially in eastern and southern Ukraine and against the besieged Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol, as local forces launch a counteroffensive. Both sides claimed to have destroyed the opposing military equipment.
As the war on the ground rages, the diplomatic camp discusses possible aid for kyiv. The United Kingdom announced military aid for about 1.5400 million dollars. The G7 leaders will hold a virtual meeting this Sunday, May 8, in which President Volodímir Zelenski will intervene.
The mayor of Irpin, near kyiv, announced that the Prime Minister of Canada had arrived on a surprise visit to the town. Another visitor to the Ukrainian capital is the president of the Bundestag, the German parliament. And the American first lady, Jill Biden, visiting Slovakia, crossed the border to meet in the Ukrainian city of Uzhgorod, with Olena Zelenska, the wife of President Zelensky.
These are the main news of the day:
- 7:33 (BOG) “As long as we are alive”, Ukrainian forces in Azovstal vow to fight
In a virtual conference, Captain Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, to which the Ukrainian forces resisting inside the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol belong, reiterated that his troops will not surrender as requested by Moscow.
“We will continue to fight as long as we are alive to repel the Russian occupiers,” Palamar said.
The soldier also made an urgent appeal to the international community to help kyiv evacuate the wounded soldiers from the place. “We don’t have much time, we are under heavy bombardment,” he explained.
After the evacuation of the last civilians from the steelworks on Saturday, May 7, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that the focus is now on removing the injured and medical personnel from the site. “Of course, if everyone complies with the agreements. Of course, if there are no lies, ”he emphasized.
Ukrainian troops in the last defensive redoubt of the strategic port city are desperately trying to stop Moscow from declaring complete victory there.
Mariupol is key to the conflict because of its outlet to the Sea of Azov as it represents a land link from the self-proclaimed pro-Russian breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk to the east with Crimea to the south, annexed by Vladimir Putin in 2014.
- 07:17 (BOG) Governor notes that Ukrainian troops withdrew from Popasna
Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the eastern Ukrainian city of Popasna, Lugansk region governor Serhiy Gaidai said, confirming earlier reports that the area had been taken over by Moscow soldiers.
Gaidai told local television that Ukraine’s military had withdrawn to take up more fortified positions. “Everything was destroyed there,” he added.
Hours earlier, the head of the Russian republic of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, said his troops had taken control of most of that city in the country’s southeast.
Since last April, Russian forces have launched a new offensive push over most of the nation’s eastern flank, with some of the heaviest attacks and shelling taking place recently around Popasna in the Luhansk region.
- 7:03 (BOG) Ukrainian prosecutor indicates that 225 children have died in the middle of the conflict
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office declared that the war launched by the Kremlin has so far left at least 225 children dead and another 413 minors injured.
However, the prosecuting body stressed that the figures may be much higher, because they do not include the deaths of children in the areas that are now under the greatest attacks or those in the areas occupied by the Russian military.
- 6:42 (BOG) Zelenski in commemoration of World War II: “evil has returned”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted an emotional video on social media as Europe commemorates Germany’s formal surrender in World War II, comparing the Russian invasion to the one his country suffered from the Nazis.
“In Mariúpo, during two years of occupation, the Nazis killed 10,000 people; in two months of occupation, the Russians have killed 20,000. Darkness has returned to Ukraine. And it turned black and white again. Evil has returned Again! (…) In a different way, under different slogans, but with the same purpose,” said the president, referring to the ongoing war against his nation, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, on March 24. february.
In a video released by Zelensky in Borodyanka for May 8, Ukraine’s Day of Remembrance & Reconciliation, he asks, “never again? Try telling Ukraine that.” He draws comparisons between Ukraine fight against Russia to WW2 fight against fascism. Air raid sirens sounded as I posted. pic.twitter.com/J8qOzzWuOA
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) May 8, 2022
Zelensky declared that his country’s troops backed by military and economic aid from the West will win the conflict.
“No evil can escape responsibility, it cannot hide in a bunker,” he warned.
The Russian president has used the speech of “denazifying” Ukraine to justify the conflict that leaves thousands of people dead, around 10 million displaced and dozens of cities and towns destroyed.
- 06:30 (BOG) The President of the German Bundestag visits kyiv
The president of the Bundestag, the lower house of the German Parliament, Baerbel Bas, arrived in kyiv this Sunday to discuss with local authorities about the large-scale Russian attacks.
The official met with the country’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, and her official visit also aims to commemorate those who died in World War II.
Ukraine commemorates this May 8 the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, to remember its victims in that conflict.
- 06:12 (BOG) Ukraine makes significant progress in Kharkiv, according to US experts.
The latest report from the US-based Institute for the Study of War indicates that the Ukrainian counteroffensive northeast of Kharkiv is achieving a “successful counteroffensive.”
“Ukrainian forces are making significant progress around Kharkiv and will likely advance towards the Russian border in the coming days. Ukrainian forces continued to repel Russian advances towards Barvinvoke and Russian forces have likely abandoned efforts to drive directly southeast towards Slovyansk,” the military think tank states.
- 05:55 (BOG) Moscow says it shot down Ukrainian military aircraft on Zimiini Island
A statement from the Russian Defense Ministry detailed that its military shot down two Ukrainian SU-24 bombers and a Mi-24 helicopter over Zimiini Island, also known as Snake Island, in the Black Sea, overnight.
According to Moscow, in total and in the last 24 hours, its fighters have destroyed four local army fighter planes, four helicopters and an assault boat.
On Saturday, May 7, the military authorities in kyiv claimed that one of their drones sank a second Russian ship in the Black Sea as part of their offensive on the same island.
On April 14, Moscow admitted the sinking of its iconic Soviet-era missile ship, ‘Moskva’ (Moscow), after an explosion that caused a fire. kyiv maintains that they were the result of an attack by it with Neptune missiles.
- 5:41 (BOG) Russian missiles hit Odessa, destroying a Ukrainian warship
The port city of Odessa in southwestern Ukraine has been the target of a new round of missile strikes by Kremlin troops.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its Army destroyed a Ukrainian Navy ship near the city after being hit by shells.
The Russian ministry noted that it is a ‘Project 1241’ corvette, a Soviet-era class of frigate that goes by the name ‘Tarantul’.
- 5:25 (BOG) Ukraine fears the death of at least 60 people after Russian bombardment in Lugansk
A school in the town of Bilogorivka, in the Lugansk region, eastern Ukraine, was destroyed after being hit by a bombardment by the Russian Army on the afternoon of Saturday, May 7, according to regional governor Serhiy Gaidai.
Emergency teams found two bodies and rescued 30 survivors, but fear dozens of deaths.
“Most likely, the 60 people who remain under the rubble are now dead,” Gaidai said, adding that Russian troops also shelled the nearby town of Pryvillia, killing two boys, ages 11 and 14.
🇺🇦 MFA strongly condemns #Russian shelling of a school in Bilohorivka, sheltered 60 people, on May 7. #russia committed this brutal war crime shortly before the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, constantly repeating the tragedy of World War II.#StopRussianWar pic.twitter.com/dxf3fX7GrZ
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) May 8, 2022
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the bombing.
“Russia committed this brutal war crime shortly before Remembrance and Reconciliation Day, constantly repeating the tragedy of World War II,” the Foreign Ministry said in a message posted on its Twitter account, accompanied by images of what happened.
With Reuters, AP and EFE
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