Situation on the ground, international reactions, sanctions: update on the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
hypersonic missiles
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday that it had used “Kinjal” hypersonic missiles the day before to destroy an underground weapons warehouse in western Ukraine.
Russia had never previously reported the use of this ballistic missile in the two conflicts where it is belligerent, Ukraine and Syria. This type of missiles, very maneuverable, defies all anti-aircraft defense systems, according to Moscow.
Zelensky demands serious talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky judged that it was time for Moscow to agree to “meet” to “discuss” peace seriously in order to avoid consequences for Russia “over several generations”.
“Peace and security negotiations for Ukraine are Russia’s only chance to minimize the damage caused by its own mistakes,” Zelensky said in a video posted to Facebook, filmed in a street at night. deserted.
Devastated military site
Dozens of people were killed in a strike on Friday against a military barracks in southern Ukraine, in Mykolaiv, witnesses told AFP on Saturday.
“No less than 200 soldiers were sleeping in the barracks,” according to a 22-year-old soldier interviewed on site. “At least 50 bodies have been extracted, but it is not known how many remain under the rubble,” continued the young soldier. Another soldier on the spot estimated that the strikes could have killed 100 people.
The site in northern Mykolaiv was completely devastated after being hit by six rockets.
Moscow claims to be in Mariupol
The Russian army claims to have succeeded in entering besieged Mariupol and fighting in the city center alongside troops from the separatist “republic” of Donetsk.
Taking Mariupol would be an important turning point in the war and would allow Russia to ensure territorial continuity between its forces coming from annexed Crimea (South) and the troops from Donbass (East).
Appeal from the foot of kyiv to China
The Ukrainian presidency has called on China to join the West in “condemning Russian barbarism”, while Beijing has so far never officially criticized Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
“China can be an important part of the global security system if it makes the right decision to support the coalition of civilized countries and condemn Russian barbarism,” tweeted Mykhaïlo Podoliak, an adviser to the presidency and one of the participants in the negotiations. with Russia.
Warning from Russia
Russia has warned against the drift of mines placed by Ukrainian forces in the Black Sea after the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, ensuring that it does not rule out that they could reach the Bosphorus Strait or even the Mediterranean.
More than 3.3 million refugees
More than 3.3 million refugees have now fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion, the United Nations said, while nearly 6.5 million people are believed to be internally displaced.
Around 90% of those who fled are women and children. Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 can indeed be called up and must remain in their country.
Telegram and WhatsApp escape blocking
WhatsApp and Telegram messengers have been spared, for the moment, from blockages by the Russian authorities which have hit their competitors, but remain suspended, according to experts.