The essential :
- A missile strike devastated the Kramatorsk railway station in the east of the country on Friday morning, while hundreds of civilians waited there to be evacuated. At least 52 people, including 5 children, were killed and around 100 others were injured. “This is another Russian war crime for which everyone involved will be held accountable,” Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message released overnight, calling for “a firm global response.”
- Russia and Ukraine are still “agreeing” to meet for negotiations in Turkey despite recent abuses on the ground, a senior Turkish official said on Friday. The diplomatic aspect of the crisis shows no sign of progress since the last session of live talks between the two countries, on March 29 in Istanbul, he underlined.
- A curfew will be in effect from Saturday evening to Monday morning in Odessa, the major Ukrainian port on the Black Sea, in the face of the “threat” of missile strikes, local authorities announced.
10:22 p.m. – Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan overthrown by a vote of no confidence
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on a surprise visit to Ukraine on Saturday, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walked together in the streets of kyiv, several neighborhoods of which were bombed by Russia, the press service of the presidency said. In a video released by the presidency, the men, apparently without protective equipment, can be seen walking around the neighborhood where the presidential administration is located. Surrounded by heavily armed Ukrainian soldiers, they also went to Khrechtchatyk Street, the main artery of kyiv, greeting the few onlookers present. A passer-by, visibly moved to see the British Prime Minister, said to him: “I love the United Kingdom so much. It saved us (…) My children and grandchildren will remember it! We really need from you. Everyone knows that,” he said, presumably referring to British military assistance delivered to kyiv.
9:54 p.m. – Ukraine: five civilians killed in shelling in the east on Saturday
Five people were killed and five others injured on Saturday in Russian shelling in eastern Ukraine, which expects a major Russian offensive in this territory, the regional governor said on Telegram in the evening. “Today, five people died as a result of Russian strikes in the Donetsk region. (…) Five more people were injured,” said Pavlo Kyrylenko.
9:19 p.m. – Ukraine: why the first phase of the Russian offensive is a failure
The courage of the Ukrainian resistance is not the only reason for the setback of Russian troops in the north of the country. Moscow will have to review its strategy.
Read the article Ukraine: why the first phase of the Russian offensive is a failure
8:49 p.m. – Canada increases its humanitarian aid in Ukraine and will offer transport, money, hotel to refugees
Canada announced on Saturday measures to facilitate the arrival on its soil of Ukrainian refugees and pledged to provide an additional 100 million Canadian dollars (73.1 million euros) for humanitarian aid in Ukraine and in the neighboring countries. This additional envelope, which is to be used for emergency health care and basic necessities, was announced by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the international Stand Up for Ukraine fundraiser, which he held jointly with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. “We are continuing our efforts to facilitate the arrival of Ukrainians in Canada,” he said on Twitter. With this new contribution, Canada has provided $245 million in humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the year to counter the fallout from the conflict in Ukraine.
8:01 p.m. – Ukraine announces new prisoner exchange with Russia
Ukraine announces that it has carried out a “third exchange” of prisoners with Russia since the start of the Russian invasion, allowing the release of 12 Ukrainian soldiers and 14 civilians. “By order of President Volodymyr Zelensky, a third prisoner exchange took place today. Twelve of our servicemen, including a female officer, are returning home. We have also enabled the release of 14 civilians, including nine women, making a total of 26 people,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk wrote on Telegram.
7:50 p.m. – Berlusconi “disappointed and pained” by his friend Putin
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he was “deeply disappointed and pained by the behavior of Vladimir Putin”, to whom he was close but who took “very serious responsibility in front of the whole world” by attacking Ukraine. “I cannot and I also do not want to hide that I am deeply disappointed by the behavior of Vladimir Putin, who has taken on a very serious responsibility in front of the whole world,” he said during a public meeting. in Rome of his right-wing Forza Italia party, which is part of the broad coalition supporting the government led by Mario Draghi.
7:41 p.m. — Boutcha atrocities ‘permanently tarnish’ Putin’s reputation, Johnson says
The atrocities committed in Boutcha, a small town near kyiv where many bodies of people dressed in civilian clothes were found after the withdrawal of Russian troops, have “permanently tarnished” the reputation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, says the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “What Putin did to Boutcha and Irpin are war crimes and have permanently tarnished his reputation and the representation of his government,” he castigated during a press conference after a surprise visit to kyiv where he met Volodymyr Zelensky.
7:32 p.m. – Moscow claims to have foiled an attempt to evacuate leaders of the Azov battalion from Mariupol
The Russian Defense Ministry says Russian forces opened fire on a Ukrainian ship trying to evacuate commanders of the Azov Battalion from the besieged city of Mariupol. “The kyiv regime does not give up on attempts to evacuate the leaders of the nationalist Azov regiment and foreign mercenaries from Mariupol,” the ministry said in a statement. On Friday evening, Russian forces fired artillery at a Ukrainian cargo vessel when it suddenly changed direction and attempted to break through the blockade of Mariupol port. Following these shots, the Apache, flying the Maltese flag, caught fire and announced that it would comply with Russia’s demands. According to Moscow, there are no casualties among the crew members. The Apache and its crew were escorted to the Russian port of Yeisk located on the shores of the Sea of Azov.
7:25 p.m. – Military aid to kyiv: “other countries must follow the example” of the United Kingdom
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls on Western countries to follow the UK’s lead on military support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. “Other Western democratic states must follow the example of the United Kingdom,” he said alongside British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has pledged to provide kyiv with armored vehicles and anti-ship missiles.
7:02 p.m. – Boris Johnson offers Ukraine armor and anti-ship missiles
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, visiting kyiv on Saturday, pledged to provide Ukraine with armored vehicles and anti-ship missiles, paying tribute to the Ukrainian military for “the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century”. “It is thanks to the unwavering leadership of President Zelensky and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that the monstrous designs of (Vladimir) Putin are foiled,” Boris Johnson said after his meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a press release. its services.
5:38 p.m. – In Lille, a demonstration of young Ukrainian refugee champions
About twenty young high-level Ukrainian athletes, welcomed in Hauts-de-France to continue their sports preparation, symbolically trained in a park in Lille in support of their country. A total of 25 Ukrainian athletes, mainly pole vaulters, long jumpers and javelin throwers, are currently hosted by the region at the Creps (Centre for Resources of Expertise and Sports Performance) in Wattignies and at the Arena Stade Couvert in Liévin. , regional sports facilities, explains Florence Bariseau, vice-president in charge of youth and sports. These young people “contacted us to organize this sporting event to talk about the situation in Ukraine. Public opinion is starting to get tired of the war but that does not diminish the magnitude and the horrible things that are happening in Ukraine in right now,” says Iryna Lampeka, president of the Portal of Ukraine association.