On the third day of the Russian offensive, heavy fighting continues in the Ukrainian capital. “We will defend our country,” promised President Volodymyr Zelensky.
American intelligence predicted its fall in less than forty-eight hours. But two days and two nights after the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, the capital, Kiev, is still resisting. This Saturday morning, “fierce fighting” continue to oppose the Russian invader to the Ukrainian soldiers, determined to defend their city, which Vladimir Putin has made his priority target.
The features more and more marked with each of his appearances, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky broadcast a brief video on his social networks, filmed this Saturday morning outdoors, in the center of Kiev. “I’m here. We are not going to lay down our arms and we are going to defend our country. Our weapons are our truth. It is our land. It is our country. Our children. We will defend all of this. Glory to Ukraine!” did he declare.
According to the Associated Press agency, the Ukrainian president was urged early this Saturday by the American government to leave Kiev to take shelter. According to a senior US intelligence official quoted by AP, Volodymyr Zelensky declined, pithy: “The fight is here. I need ammunition. Not a means of transport.”
A residential building in Kiev affected
Militarily, a new level has been crossed, with Moscow announcing that it has used naval and air cruise missiles. “During the night, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation struck Ukrainian military infrastructure sites with long-range high-precision weapons”said Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry.
One of these missiles hit a large residential building in Kiev, not far from Zhuliany airport, the Ukrainian State Service for Emergency Situations said on Saturday morning, without it being known whether residents were inside. On social networks, several videos and photos showing the building partially gutted on several floors have been relayed. In particular by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs. “Kiev, our splendid, peaceful city, has survived another night of attacks by Russian ground forces and missiles”wrote on Twitter Dmytro Kuleba.
Anticipating a hardening of the Russian assault during the night, the Ukrainian authorities had urged the inhabitants of Kiev to stay in their underground shelters, in particular in the metro stations, or not to approach the windows of their apartments. “Tonight they will try to seize Kiev”had warned in the evening Volodymyr Zelensky.
“In Kiev, heavy fighting continues. Ukrainian army repels Russian saboteurs, authorities said in the middle of the night. On its official Facebook account, the Ukrainian Army claimed to have “repelled” a Russian attack and destroyed a column of five military vehicles, including a tank, near the Beresteiska metro station, located on Victory Avenue, in the northwest of the capital. Of “fierce fighting” were also reported about thirty kilometers southwest of the capital, where the Russians “try to land paratroopers”said the Ukrainian army.
“This war will last”
In what also looks like a communication war, Russia assures for its part that in the separatist territories of Donetsk and Luhansk, in the east of Ukraine, of which Vladimir Putin recognized Monday “independence”, the pro-Russian forces made advances. According to the Defense Ministry spokesman, the Russian military also took “full control of the city of Melitopol”, in the south of the country. Since the beginning of the invasion, the Russian forces claim to have destroyed 821 military infrastructures, including 14 airfields. So many assertions impossible to verify.
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On the diplomatic front, the Ukrainian president said this Saturday morning that he had again met with his French counterpart. “A new day has begun on the diplomatic front, with a conversation with Emmanuel Macron. Weapons and equipment from our partners are on their way to Ukraine. The anti-war coalition works”, he wrote in English on Twitter. The Elysée confirms to Release that the President had the Ukrainian head of state on the phone again “to get news”: “President Zelensky told him that they had held Kiev.”
“This war will last, we must prepare for it”Emmanuel Macron predicted this morning during his visit to the Paris Agricultural Show. “What we are going through will not be without lasting consequences”in particular for the agricultural sectors, indicated the Head of State, who specifically cited the wine, cereals, energy and animal feed sectors. “This war was unilaterally chosen by President Putin”, he recalled. Shortly after, the Elysée announced that a Restricted Defense and National Security Council dedicated to the situation in Ukraine had been convened this Saturday at 5 p.m.
Update : updated at 09:54 with Volodymyr Zelensky’s refusal to leave Kyiv