War

Evacuations from the Azot plant in the city of Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk region, are currently impossible. Serhii Haidai, head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, said this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. "It is now physically impossible to get out of the plant and it is simply dangerous to do so due to nonstop shelling and fighting," Haidai said. According to him, 568 people are in the shelters, including 38 children. "Last month, when we proposed [evacuations], these people refused to evacuate. Exit from the plant is possible only when a complete ceasefire is achieved," Haidai said. He added that Sievierodonetsk is…

The delegation of the French National Gendarmerie arrived in Ukraine in mid-April on a two-week mission, but is still working with Ukrainian law enforcement. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova informed about it on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. "A delegation of the National Gendarmerie of the French Republic (IRCGN) arrived in mid-April for two weeks, but they are still working with us. The first group carried out examinations of bodies found in mass graves, conducted forensic research, and engaged in DNA analysis," The official said that it was this group of experts that collected genetic material from the families who were looking…

A total of 322 children have been killed and over 581 injured in Ukraine since the Russian invasion started. The relevant statement was made by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “As of June 17, 2022, over 900 children in Ukraine were affected by the Russian armed aggression. According to the data from juvenile prosecutors, a total of 322 children were killed and over 581 injured,” the report states. These data are not final, as they are being investigated within the areas of hostilities, temporarily occupied and liberated areas. Currently, most casualties were recorded in…

French President Emmanuel Macron says that Western countries have the agreement not to provide Ukraine with certain categories of weapons, including assault aircraft and tanks, to avoid involvement in the war with Russia. "You are talking about an informal agreement, but it is almost an official position of NATO partners. We help Ukraine defend itself, but we do not enter the war against Russia. Therefore, it was agreed not to supply certain weapons, such as assault aircraft or tanks, and President Zelensky is aware of this agreement," Macron told Ukrainian journalists on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to Macron,…

President of France Emmanuel Macron has stated that France is ready to provide Ukraine with additional Caesar self-propelled howitzers. Macron made a corresponding announcement at a joint press conference with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi, and President of Romania Klaus Iohannis in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Noting that France will increase its military support for Ukraine, in particular, by providing Caesar self-propelled howitzers, Macron said: “We are ready to make decisions on additional Caesar systems in the coming weeks.” Read also: France, Germany will never be negotiators behind Ukraine's…

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) says that 4,481 civilians have been killed and 5,565 injured in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion started on February 24. That's according to a civilian casualty update published by OHCHR on June 16, Ukrinform reports. According to the update, those killed include 1,739 men, 1,159 women, 119 girls, and 125 boys, as well as 40 children and 1,299 adults whose sex is yet unknown. Those injured include 1,133 men, 788 women, 125 girls, and 164 boys, as well as 173 children and 3,182 adults whose sex is yet…

The multilevel system of defense and high motivation of citizens to defend the city make impossible capture of Mykolaiv by Russian invaders. That’s according to a local defense chief, Major General Dmytro Marchenko, who spoke in an interview with RFE/RL’s Crimea. Realities project, Ukrinform reports. The general spoke of the three lines of defense set up around the city, adding that in all areas of potential breakthrough have been mined, which wasn’t the case initially. “To take Mykolayiv… they would need to withdraw all their troops from all other areas, simply create a large reserve and try to break through…

About 160,000 square kilometers in Ukraine need to be inspected for explosives due to the Russian aggression. "Due to the Russian armed aggression, about 160,000 square kilometers in Ukraine need to be inspected for explosives. This area is much larger than Greece or two Croatians. Such a scale is a challenge!" Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar posted on Telegram. According to the deputy minister, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining elaborate joint mine action projects to restore safety in the liberated areas. "Under the chairmanship of the defense minister, the National Mine…

President of France Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi, and President of Romania Klaus Iohannis have visited Irpin, Kyiv region. Ukrinform reports with reference to BFM TV. Ukraine: Emmanuel Macron en visite à Irpin, dans un quartier en partie détruit par les bombardements pic.twitter.com/XkzE93JQiX — BFMTV (@BFMTV) June 16, 2022 The European leaders are accompanied by Minister of Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Chernyshov. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to join them later, in particular during the press conference scheduled for 14:00. During President Macron's visit to Irpin, Ambassador of France to…

The human toll At least tens of thousands" of Ukrainian civilians have died so far, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on June 3 in comments to Luxembourg's parliament. In Mariupol alone, officials have reported over 21,000 civilian dead. Sievierodonetsk, a city in the eastern region of Luhansk that has become the focus of Russia's offensive, has seen roughly 1,500 casualties, according to the mayor. Such estimates comprise both those killed by Russian strikes or troops and those who succumbed to secondary effects such as hunger and sickness as food supplies and health services collapsed. (https://youtu.be/EfL7G_yaxBA) At least 318 children have been…