The French president spoke by telephone with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zlensky.
The Ukrainian army should, by mid-May, launch a large-scale counter-offensive. But pending what could mark a new turning point in the conflict, initiated by the Russian offensive in Ukraine, in February 2022, the Russian army announced the replacement of its logistics chief, while the leader of the paramilitary group Wagner continued on Sunday, April 30, to demand more ammunition.
Wagner Group leader fears Ukrainian counter-offensive will be ‘a tragedy’
“We only have 10-15% of the ammunition we need”, pointed out Wagner’s boss, Yevgeny Prigojine, in an interview with a pro-Kremlin war correspondent. The leader of the paramilitary militia, which is in the front line in the fighting around the city of Bakhmout, blamed the Russian military senior ranks for these shortages.
In this context, the Ukrainian counter-offensive expected in mid-May “could become a tragedy for our country”he warned.
Russia replaces its military logistics chief
The Russian army announced on Sunday the appointment of a new chief of its military logistics, General Alexei Kuzmenkov. The latter replaces another high-ranking officer, General Mikhail Mizintsev, who was appointed only in September. Until now, Alexei Kuzmenkov was deputy director of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia), a post he had held since 2019, according to the Russian army statement.
Former head of the National Defense Control Center, Mikhail Mizintsev, dubbed by Western media “Butcher of Mariupol”is targeted by Western sanctions for its role in the siege of this Ukrainian city, devastated by the bombings.
Four dead in Ukrainian missile attack on Russian village
At least four people were killed in a Russian village near the border with Ukraine, the regional governor said. Several Ukrainian missiles hit Suzemka, about ten kilometers from the Russian-Ukrainian border, Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of Bryansk oblast, said on Telegram. “Four civilians were killed”he wrote, while the initial report communicated by the authorities reported two deaths.
“A residential building was completely destroyed, and two other houses were partially destroyed,” he added.
A phone call between Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky
A call for “[échanger] on the situation on the ground”said the Elysée in a press release, Sunday, April 30. “The President of the Republic reiterated France’s commitment to provide all necessary assistance to Ukraine in order to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity”continues the presidency, adding that Emmanuel Macron had, during this telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, “reports on European coordination in terms of military assistance in order to be able to meet Ukraine’s needs over time.”
This interview comes as kyiv claimed that his preparations for a counter-offensive were nearing completion.