A strike hit a restaurant in the city of Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine, killing several people. In Russia, Vladimir thanked his soldiers for preventing a “civil war”, during the failed rebellion of the Wagner group.
After the episode of the abortive rebellion of the Wagner group, the war resumes its course in Ukraine. Kyiv claims that its “soldiers advanced in all areas”. Meanwhile, at least three people died in a strike that hit a restaurant in central Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine. Here’s what to remember today.
A strike on a Ukrainian restaurant kills three
At least three people were killed and 42 injured in a Russian rocket strike that hit a popular restaurant in central Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, authorities said. “The bodies of three deceased persons, including a minor born in 2008, have been recovered from the rubble. Among the injured is a child born in 2022”assured the Ministry of the Interior on Telegram.
According to the Ukrainian police, Russia fired two S-300 surface-to-air rockets on this city of 150,000 inhabitants before the war, the only large agglomeration still under Ukrainian control in the east. An AFP reporter at the scene of the strike saw ambulances, police, soldiers and the city’s mayor near this restaurant, Ria Pizza, in front of which a crowd of residents gathered.
Prigozhin arrives in Belarus
Belarus has announced the arrival of the boss of the paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigojine, as part of an agreement that ended his rebellion in Russia. According to Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Wagner’s boss has arrived or is about to arrive. “Prigozhin is already traveling by plane. Yes, indeed, he is in Belarus today”he said in an ambiguous statement reported by the official Belta news agency.
US announces $500 million in additional military aid to Ukraine
The US Department of Defense announced a further $500 million in military aid to Ukraine. The new delivery should notably include around fifty Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles, ammunition for Patriot air defense systems and Himars artillery systems, as well as mine clearance equipment, details the Pentagon.
The United States also intends to take new “measures” this week against the activities of the Wagner mercenary group in Africa, according to the State Department spokesman. “You will see the United States take additional measures” against the Wagner Group to hold it accountable for its activities “of destruction” in Africa, he told reporters.
Putin thanks soldiers who prevented ‘civil war’
The Russian president thanked the soldiers who prevented a “civil war” during the rebellion of the paramilitary group last weekend. “Along with your brothers in arms, you opposed these disturbances, the result of which would inevitably have been chaos”, said the head of state in front of soldiers in Moscow. A minute of silence was then observed for pilots killed in “carrying out their duty with honor”.
More than 70 detained civilians were executed
Since the start of the Russian invasion, the UN has recorded 77 summary executions of civilians arbitrarily detained by Russia in the territories it occupies, according to a report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. According to this document, the Russian forces “engaged in widespread torture and ill-treatment”.
“It is a war crime and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law”underlined the head of the Ukraine office of the UN High Commissioner. The latter also identified 864 cases of arbitrary detention by the Russian armed forces, law enforcement and prison authorities.