Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky made his first visit to the east of the territory on Sunday. since the start of Russia’s offensive, which has narrowed its siege on two key locations in Donbas.
(Read: Moscow and kyiv, further than ever in their negotiations)
The Ukrainian leader dressed in khaki military attire and a bulletproof vest, inspected the destruction in Kharkov as well as disabled vehicles on the side of the roadaccording to images broadcast on Telegram.
(He is interested in: ‘Russia is counting on Europe’s inability to do something heroic’)
Zelensky had been in the capital kyiv since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
After his visit, Zelensky announced the dismissal of the head of the Ukrainian Secret Services (SUB) in charge of Kharkiv. In an unusual public reprimand, the president affirmed that the high command “did not work in the defense of the city from the first day” of the war and thought only of himself.
Although the president did not mention the name of the official, the Ukrainian media identified him as Roman Dudin, director of the Security Services of the Kharkov region.
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city located in the northeast, was shelled almost daily at the start of the offensive. But the attacks subsided a few weeks ago as Russian troops massed in order to focus on Donbas in the east.
Russia claimed responsibility for the seizure of the key town of Limán on Saturday, an advance that accentuates the pressure against Lyssychansk and Severodonetsk.
“In this war, the invaders are trying to get a result, whatever it is. But they must understand for a long time as we will defend our land to the end,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky will speak on Monday at the European summit in Brussels, where the leaders of the 27 member states will meet to make a decision on a possible embargo on Russian oil.
The European bloc is considering excluding the pipeline that delivers crude to Hungary from the new sanctions package, EU sources told AFP.
Russia intensifies bombing
A Russian shell fell on a residential building, a girl died and four people are injured in hospital.
The situation in Lyssychansk has “clearly aggravated”, the governor of the Lugansk region, Sergei Gaidai, said on the Telegram messaging application on Sunday.
In Severodonetsk, the situation is just as complicated, according to Gaidai, and the Russian assault continues in the city, where there is fighting in the streets.
On Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for taking the key city of Liman. Control of the town paves the way to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in Donbas.
On Sunday, the Ukrainian army reported that Russian troops were massively regrouping in this area. The mayor of Severodonetsk, Olexander Stryuk, assured that “the Russians have used many means to take the city but they have not succeeded.”
The “constant bombardments” complicate the supply a lotespecially drinking water, and the city has been without power for more than two weeks, he said.
During his trip to Kharkov, Zelensky discussed reconstruction plans with local authorities. According to him, there is a possibility that the areas devastated by the fighting “will have a new face”.
Local authorities count more than 2,000 houses destroyed by Russian attacks in the region. In Kharkiv, however, customers were beginning to return to the famous Crystal cafe, which reopened at the end of April.
Residents come for coffee, a bite to eat or to try “Biloshka” ice cream, a specialty of the house, which has been served since the 1960s. “We need to keep jobs. The city is getting back to what it was little by little “Cafe owner Alyona Kostrova told AFP.
The menu has been cut due to supply problems and the establishment operates with a reduced workforce. The atmosphere is very different in Saltivska, a neighborhood far from the center where Russian missiles still fall. “I wouldn’t say people buy a lot. people have no money“said Vitaly Kozlov, 41, as he sold eggs, meat and vegetables.
“I come once a week” to sell things, Volodimir Svidlo said. The 82-year-old man without a pension lives off what he harvests in his garden. To make ends meet, he sells onions, neldo, and flowers.
Possible new sanctions on Russia
Zelensky will turn to the European bloc to continue his attempts to increase pressure against Moscow.
so far uA new round of sanctions against Russia that touches the bulk of the hydrocarbon sector has been stopped by Hungarywhich depends heavily on these resources and fears consequences for its economy.
The central European country – which is landlocked and supplied by the Druzhba gas pipeline – asked for 800 million euros ($860 million) in EU funds to adapt its refineries and pipeline capacities to receive alternative supplies, for example. from Croatia.
Currently a new proposal is being discussed to exclude Druzhba from the oil embargo to limit sanctions on oil supplies by ship.
INTERNATIONAL WRITING
*With information from EFE and AFP
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