Russia continues its offensive in Ukraine, Sunday March 13, eighteen days after the start of the invasion decided by the Kremlin. The Ukrainian authorities have communicated new human tolls, referring in particular to the bombardments on the besieged city of Mariupol, while Moscow gives no information on this subject. Russian forces are also still trying to surround the capital Kiev, in the suburbs of which an American journalist was killed on Sunday.
More than 2,100 dead in Mariupol, where the Red Cross fears a “worst-case scenario”
Some 2,187 residents were killed in Mariupol, a strategic port in the southeast besieged by Russian forces, the town hall said on Sunday. “Occupiers cynically and deliberately strike residential buildings, densely populated areas, destroy children’s hospitals and urban infrastructureshe said on Telegram. In 24 hours, we have experienced 22 bombings of a peaceful town. About 100 bombs have already been dropped on Mariupol.” Russia did not communicate no review on this.
The city was hoping for the arrival on Sunday of a convoy of humanitarian aid, remained more than five hours stuck at a Russian roadblock on Saturday. Attempts to evacuate hundreds of thousands of civilians have repeatedly failed. In the absence of a humanitarian agreement, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Sunday against “a worst-case scenario” in Mariupol. “History will judge with horror what is happening in this city if no agreement is reached as soon as possible between the parties”insisted the ICRC.
American journalist shot dead near Kiev
An American journalist was killed and another wounded by bullets on Sunday in Irpin, on the northwestern edge of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. The two men were hit while driving with a Ukrainian civilian, also injured, told AFP a doctor engaged with the Ukrainian forces, who took care of the victims.
The downed reporter was identified as Brent Renaud, a 50-year-old documentary filmmaker who had notably collaborated with the New York Times in the past. “He was in the area to work on a project (…) concerning the refugee crisisannounced the American magazine Time. Our thoughts are with Brent’s loved ones. It is essential that journalists have the possibility to safely cover the invasion of Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis [qui en découle].” This is the first foreign journalist killed since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Kiev almost surrounded by Russian forces
The Russian army also continued its offensive in Kiev on Sunday, seeking to clear the defenses of Ukrainian troops west and north of the capital. In the south of the country,At least 11 people were killed in Russian strikes on the port city of Mykolaiv, near Odessa, according to the Ukrainians. In the west, a strike targeted Ivano-Frankivsk airport early in the morning, the city’s mayor said.
The governor of the Zaporizhia region said on Sunday that the Russian army had kidnapped the mayor of Dniprorudné, in the south of the country. The day before, the Ukrainian authorities had already reported the kidnapping of the city councilor of Melitopol, located 80 km further south. Russia has not confirmed any of this information and has not provided a human toll on its offensive.
Over 800 protesters arrested in Russia
More than 800 people were arrested on Sunday during rallies against the offensive in Ukraine, organized in 37 Russian cities, reported the NGO OVD-Info, which specializes in monitoring the demonstrations. Nearly 300 were arrested in Moscow, according to the Russian Interior Ministry, and at least 156 in Saint Petersburg, OVD-Info said.
Despite the Kremlin’s announcement of a ban on demonstrations, pacifists gather daily in Russia to denounce the military intervention in Ukraine. At least 14,700 protesters have been arrested in the country since the start of the offensive on February 24, estimates OVD-Info.
Demonstrations also took place in Germany on Sunday. In Berlin, between 20,000 and 30,000 people protested against the invasion of Ukraine, according to the police. In Frankfurt, about 11,000 people expressed their solidarity with the Ukrainians. Other marches took place in Stuttgart, Leipzig and Hamburg.