The night of the war at a glance
Selenskyj fears increased air raids – last ceasefire in Mariupol
05/07/2022 06:04 am
May 9th is approaching and with it the day when Russia celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany. Observers are expecting a landmark speech by Vladimir Putin on that day, and Ukraine is expecting increased attacks, especially from the air, on and before the date. In Mariupol there should be a last ceasefire to evacuate people from the Azovstal steel plant. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy threatens that if those trapped there die, there will be no further talks with Russia.
In Ukraine, fears of increased Russian airstrikes in connection with the upcoming Moscow Victory Day are growing. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for caution and discipline. “I ask all of our citizens – and especially these days – not to ignore the air alert,” said the head of state on Friday in his evening video address. “Please, this is your life, your children’s life.” In cities close to the front, such as Odessa, a curfew is to apply for two days.
Russia celebrates the Soviet victory over Hitler’s Germany in World War II on Monday, May 9th. President Vladimir Putin will speak at the traditional large military parade in Moscow. It is expected that he will set the direction for the war of aggression against Ukraine, which has been going on for two and a half months so far.
It was precisely for this symbolic day that Selenskyj invited Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the SPD to Kyiv. Scholz could take a “very strong political step” and come to the Ukrainian capital on May 9, the president said at an event hosted by the London think tank Chatham House.
In Mariupol, Russian troops intend to hold fire for the last time today to allow civilians to withdraw from the embattled Azovstal steelworks.
Ukrainian preparations for Russia’s Victory Day
At the weekend, Ukrainians should strictly follow the orders of the authorities and adhere to local curfews, Zelenskyj warned. Because of the danger of mines, entering forests occupied by the Russian military is forbidden. The Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior announced that it would patrol with 5,000 men to prevent possible provocations. In the southern Ukrainian region of Odessa, people must stay at home from 10:00 p.m. local time (9:00 p.m. CEST) until Tuesday morning at 5:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. CEST). There will be no curfew in the capital Kyiv, said Mayor Vitali Klitschko. But he also advised people to stay at home. “In the coming days there is a high probability of rocket fire in all regions of Ukraine,” he said.
Does Scholz have time to travel to Kyiv so quickly?
A spokesman for the federal government referred to the dates that were already known when Selenskyj invited Scholz for May 9th. This includes the inaugural visit by French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday. “The day before, the Federal Chancellor, his G7 colleagues and the Ukrainian President will discuss the situation in Ukraine in a video link on the historic anniversary of the end of the World War,” said the spokesman.
Scholz is planning a television speech on the war in Ukraine, which will be broadcast on television on Sunday evening. Also on Sunday, the President of the Bundestag, Bärbel Bas, is traveling to Kyiv at the invitation of the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk – and could possibly also meet President Selenskyj there. For weeks there was disagreement between Kyiv and Berlin because a visit from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was not desired. Scholz had described the unloading as an obstacle to his own trip. Steinmeier and Selenskyj cleared up the irritations in a telephone call on Thursday. Scholz then announced that Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock would travel to Kyiv.
More US military aid
US President Joe Biden approved more military aid to Ukraine. With an additional package, the country should receive artillery ammunition, radars and other equipment, Biden announced. A $150 million (around €142 million) package has been approved, the US State Department said. Including this aid, the USA has promised or already delivered weapons and ammunition worth more than 3.8 billion US dollars (around 3.6 billion euros) to the former Soviet republic since the beginning of the war. Biden has also asked Congress for an additional $33 billion in military aid and humanitarian assistance.
Stoltenberg warns Russia against using nuclear weapons
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned Russia against using nuclear weapons. “Our message is clear: if nuclear weapons were used, there would only be losers on all sides,” Stoltenberg told the “Welt am Sonntag”. “You can’t win a nuclear war and it should never be waged, including Russia.”
According to Stoltenberg, however, the Alliance has no indication that Russian nuclear weapons in particular have been at a higher level of readiness since the beginning of the war on February 24. Moscow has generally put its deterrent weapons on alert, which is also understood as a threat with the nuclear arsenal.
The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, has meanwhile ruled out any cooperation with Kremlin chief Putin after the end of the war. “Russia’s president has said goodbye to the civilized world,” Heusgen told the newspapers of the Funke media group. Putin should be brought before an international court for war crimes committed by Russia.
That brings the day
- In Mariupol, the Ukrainians’ last defensive post in the Azov valley is constantly under Russian fire. In previous evacuations, only civilians, mostly women, children or the elderly, were allowed to leave the plant in the direction of Ukrainian-controlled areas. Today there should be another escape option.
- Meanwhile, soldiers and wounded are stuck underground. Ukraine is trying to get them out too, said Zelenskyy. He threatened that there would be no more talks with Russia if the civilians and soldiers in Azovstal were killed.
You can read all further developments in our live ticker on the Ukraine war.