The day of the war at a glance
Fear of nuclear catastrophe after renewed nuclear bombardment – Kyiv wants to evacuate 52,000 children
08/11/2022, 8:45 p.m
Europe’s largest nuclear power plant Zaporizhia in southern Ukraine is again under fire. Kyiv and Moscow are blaming each other, fears of a nuclear catastrophe are growing, and the US is calling for a demilitarized zone. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government wants to evacuate 220,000 people from the Donbass and Chancellor Olaf Scholz denounces Russian war crimes. For Ukraine it is the 169th day of repelling the Russian invasion.
Zaporizhia under fire again
In the Ukraine war, fears of a nuclear catastrophe are growing in view of the ongoing attacks on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which is occupied by Russian troops. Moscow and Kyiv blamed each other for new attacks near the nuclear power plant. Ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on the situation near Zaporizhia, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of a “possible disaster” with “catastrophic consequences.” According to the state-owned Ukrainian energy company Energoatom, several radiation sensors near one of the six reactors were damaged in the renewed rocket attacks. “The situation is getting worse, there is radioactive material nearby,” Energoatom explained in the online service Telegram. The attacks also damaged a sewage pumping station, and thick smoke was rising near it.
US calls for demilitarized zone
The US supports calls for a demilitarized zone around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which is occupied by Russian troops. Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces repeatedly broke out in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant. The site of the nuclear power plant has already been hit several times, for which both sides hold each other responsible. “Fighting near a nuclear power plant is dangerous and irresponsible,” said a US State Department spokesman. “We continue to call on Russia to cease all military operations in or near Ukrainian nuclear power plants and to return full control to Ukraine. And we support Ukrainian calls for a demilitarized zone around the nuclear power plant.”
Scholz denounces war crimes
Chancellor Olaf Scholz denounced Russian war crimes in Ukraine. He noted many of these acts “with great horror,” Scholz said, and with a view to Vladimir Putin, stressed: “The Russian president bears responsibility for this war.” However, Scholz did not answer the question of whether Putin would therefore have to answer personally.
Kyiv wants to evacuate 52,000 children from Donbass
The Ukrainian government wants to evacuate two-thirds of the residents in the areas it controls in the Donbass before the onset of winter. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said around 220,000 people, including 52,000 children, should be taken out of the combat zones. The government fears that people will not be able to heat, among other things because of the damage to infrastructure. The fighting is particularly fierce in the Donbass in eastern Ukraine.
1.5 billion euros for military aid
According to Danish Defense Minister Morten Bodskov, more than one and a half billion euros were raised at the donor conference in Copenhagen on financing military aid to Ukraine. 26 countries took part in the conference. British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said the Russian army was not achieving its goals in many areas. It is unlikely that she will ever succeed in conquering the entire country.
Latvia accuses Russia of genocide
Latvia’s parliament officially branded Russia a “state sponsor of terrorism” over the war in Ukraine. Latvia classifies Russia’s actions in Ukraine as targeted genocide against the Ukrainian people, according to a parliamentary resolution. It calls on Western nations to step up their military, financial, humanitarian and diplomatic support for Ukraine and to support initiatives condemning Russia’s actions. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he was grateful for the Latvian parliament’s resolution. Russia, on the other hand, firmly rejected the classification.
Scholz offers Poland another weapon ring exchange
Chancellor Scholz offered Poland a speedy settlement in a dispute over a ring swap of arms designed to balance Polish supplies to Ukraine with replacements from Germany. Such an exchange has already been finalized with the Czech Republic, with others one is about to do so, said the SPD politician before the federal press conference. “Poland is also willing to do that, and we’re happy to do it. And agreements like the ones we’ve made with the Czech Republic, are striving for with Slovakia, and are making with Greece are also possible with Poland,” he emphasized. Such a ring exchange of arms has not yet come about with Poland. The Polish government was not satisfied with the previous Berlin offer of 20 Leopard 2 tanks for delivery from 2023.
Britain supplies multiple rocket launchers
Great Britain announced that it would deliver more multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine, with projectiles having a range of up to 80 kilometers. This “latest tranche of military support” will allow Ukraine to “continue to defend itself against Russian aggression” and the “indiscriminate use of long-range artillery,” Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said. “Our continued support sends a very clear message: Britain and the international community remain opposed to this illegal war and will stand side by side in providing defensive military assistance to Ukraine to help defend against Putin’s invasion.”
Russia no longer accepts Switzerland as a neutral mediator
Russia no longer accepts Switzerland as a neutral mediator in the war with Ukraine. Switzerland is no longer a neutral state as it has joined sanctions against Russia, a representative of Russia’s Foreign Ministry said. Switzerland can therefore represent neither Ukrainian interests in Russia nor Moscow’s interests in Ukraine.
Russian journalist Ovzyannikova under house arrest
The TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, who became known for her live protest against the Russian military operation in Ukraine, has been placed under house arrest. This applies until October 9, a court in Moscow said. The 44-year-old Ovsyannikova, who was arrested on Wednesday, faces up to ten years in prison for discrediting the army. Since the end of July, the mother of two has been fined twice for “discrediting” the army. The verdicts related in particular to publications in online networks in which the journalist criticized the military offensive in Ukraine.
Other important texts on the Ukraine war:
You can read all further developments in our live ticker on the Ukraine war.