On the 85th day of the conflict, the Russian Ministry of Defense announces that 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers, who were entrenched in the Azovstal metallurgical complex in Mariupol, have surrendered. US President Joe Biden meets with Swedish and Finnish leaders after their formal application for NATO membership. In eastern Ukraine, Russian bombardments have caused the death of “at least 15 civilians”, kyiv announced on Wednesday evening. Here is what to remember from the situation in Ukraine this Thursday.
The essential
- 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers from Azovstal have surrendered, Moscow says
- At least 15 civilians killed in Russian shelling in the east of the country, according to kyiv
- Meeting between Joe Biden and Swedish and Finnish leaders, NATO candidates
- 34 French diplomats expelled from Russia
- Radio France’s daily podcast, “War in Ukraine”, can be listened to here
The situation on the military front
1,730 Ukrainian soldiers from Azovstal have surrendered, Moscow says
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced Thursday that 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers holed up on the Azovstal steel site in Mariupol have surrendered since Monday. “Over the past 24 hours, 771 fighters from the Nationalist Azov Regiment have gone to the Azovstal steel site in Mariupol. In total since May 16, 1,730 combatants, including 80 wounded, have become prisoners“, the ministry said in a statement.
According to a pro-Russian separatist leader, “commanders and high-ranking fighters of the Azov regiment have not yet come out” of this last bastion of the Ukrainian resistance of Mariupol. According to him, a thousand members of this paramilitary unit integrated into the Ukrainian army are still hiding there. A figure already announced by kyiv last week. In the streets of the Ukrainian capital, the population paid tribute on Wednesday to the “supermen” of this steel complex.
The total capture of Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, would constitute an important advance for Russia. It would allow it to connect by land the Crimean peninsula (south), which Moscow annexed in 2014, to parts of Donbass (east) already in the hands of pro-Russian separatists. “Russians fly to Mariupol. The occupiers are now trying to put the commercial port in order to export the equivalent of millions of dollars of cereals, metallurgical products“In particular, argued on Telegram the town hall of Mariupol.
According to a US official speaking on condition of anonymity on Wednesday, “Russian officials acknowledge that despite claiming to be the ‘liberators’ of the Russian-speaking city of Mariupol, Russian troops are committing serious acts in the city, including the beating and electrocution of city officials, and they loot homes“.”Russian officials are concerned that these acts may further incite Mariupol residents to resist the Russian occupation“, he continued.
At least 15 Ukrainian civilians killed in bombings in the East
In eastern Ukraine, “the occupiers shelled 43 localities in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions“, causing the death of”at least 15 civilians“, said in the evening the Ukrainian army. The Russians are trying to break through near Popasna and in the direction of Severodonetsk, one of the major cities in the hands of the Ukrainians in this area, warned a senior local official. The state -Ukrainian major clarified Thursday morning that the “occupants“had launched an offensive and carried out assaults near Severodonetsk”but they were unsuccessful“.
The Russian army seeks to “circle” and to “defeat“Ukrainian units”in order to take full control of the Donetsk, Lugansk and Kherson regions“, noted the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. Eastern Ukraine has been the priority objective of Russian troops since their withdrawal from the vicinity of the Ukrainian capital at the end of March.
The diplomatic situation and international reactions
Meeting between Joe Biden and Swedish and Finnish leaders, NATO candidates
US President Joe Biden meets Thursday with Swedish and Finnish leaders who are knocking on NATO’s door to protect themselves from Moscow. The Atlantic Alliance is on the menu on both sides of the ocean since its secretary general Jens Stoltenberg is due to discuss in Copenhagen at midday with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, whose country has been a member of NATO since 1949.
“I warmly welcome and strongly support the historic candidacies of Finland and Sweden“, said US President Joe Biden. According to the spokeswoman for the executive Karine Jean-Pierre, he will receive Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö at the White House on Thursday morning.
While waiting for this membership process to be completed – which can take several months and requires the unanimity of the members -, “the United States will work with Finland and Sweden to remain vigilant to any threat to our common security and to deter and respond to any aggression or threat of aggression“, hammered the White House.
The Kremlin expels 34 French diplomats
In retaliation for the expulsions in April by France of 41 Russians, the Kremlin announced Wednesday to expel 34 French diplomats. They have two weeks to leave Russia. The French Foreign Ministry denounced the Russian response, noting that Paris had expelled “several dozen Russian agents“, while “Conversely, the work of diplomats and the staff of our embassy in Russia falls fully within the framework of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic and Consular Relations“.”The decision of the Russian authorities has no legitimate basis“, denounced the French diplomacy.
The humanitarian situation and solidarity with Ukrainians
More than six million refugees have left Ukraine
More than six million Ukrainians have fled their country since the beginning of the invasion by the Russian army on February 24, the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva said on Thursday. As of May 11, 6,029,705 Ukrainians had first sought refuge in neighboring countries before often continuing their odyssey, according to the dedicated UNHCR website. Poland hosts by far the largest number of refugees (3,272,943 as of May 11).
Women and children represent 90% of these refugeesmen aged 18 to 60, likely to be mobilized, not having the right to leave.
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