Bodies found in the rubble of a building destroyed in March
The bodies of 44 civilians were found Tuesday in the rubble of a five-storey building destroyed in March in Izium, eastern Ukraine, announced the governor of the Kharkiv region, Oleg Sinegooubov. He did not specify under what conditions the bodies were removed or by whom, as the town had been occupied by Russian troops since 1er last April. The regional prosecutor’s office for its part announced that it had opened an investigation for “violation of the laws and customs of war and premeditated murder”, specifying that 14 bodies had been identified.
Russia accused of crippling satellites
The European Union (EU) and the United States have formally accused the Russian authorities of having carried out a cyberattack against a network of satellites just before the start of the conflict, on February 24. “The cyber attack took place an hour before Russia’s unprovoked and unwarranted invasion of Ukraine, facilitating military aggression,” the EU said in a statement on behalf of its 27 member states. She claimed until then that the cyberattacks came from “inside Russia”, without incriminating her directly. The attack then caused major disruptions in European communications.
US releases additional aid
The US Congress was expected to take a first step on Tuesday toward releasing nearly $40 billion for Ukraine, following Joe Biden in his unwavering support for kyiv. Of this sum, 6 billion should enable Ukraine to equip itself with armored vehicles and strengthen its anti-aircraft defense in the east and south of the country. Nearly 9 billion dollars are also planned to ensure “the continuity of Ukrainian democratic institutions”, as well as support for a large humanitarian component. A rarity in Washington: these measures enjoy broad cross-partisan support.
Refugees threatened by human trafficking
People fleeing Ukraine are increasingly vulnerable to human traffickers, reads a report released on Tuesday by Dutch anti-trafficking organization La Strada. According to the NGO’s 42-page document, which calls in particular for the registration of refugees – especially that of unaccompanied minors -, signs of such activities have been detected since the beginning of the war, “and it is likely that these risks will increase in the coming period”. La Strada also calls for the prevention of adoptions, which could lead to the sexual exploitation of some children.
With Agence France-Presse