On the 81st day of the invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces are still trying to advance in the strategic region of Donbass in eastern Ukraine, partly controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014 and whose Moscow has has been its main objective since the withdrawal of its troops from the vicinity of kyiv at the end of March. But they come up against fierce resistance from the Ukrainian forces. Franceinfo looks back on what to remember from the day.
Situation still critical in the Donbass
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that the “situation in the Donbass remains very difficult” and “Russian troops are trying to achieve at least one victory there”. The Ukrainian army “prepares for major offensives in Severodonetsk, and around the Lysytchansk-Bakhmut axis”affirmed for his part Serguiï Gaïdaï, Ukrainian governor of the region of Lugansk, which forms with that of Donetsk the mining basin of the Donbass, describing an increasingly critical humanitarian situation.
Two civilians were killed in the night by shelling in Severodonetsk, but their bodies were only discovered at midday because of heavy fighting, according to Sergiï Gaïdaï. The Russians have been trying in particular for three weeks, without success, to cross the Severskyi Donets river, at the level of the village of Bilogorivka.
Suspected Russian strikes near Poland
On the ground, four Russian missiles destroyed military installations in western Ukraine, in the Yavoriv district near the Polish border, without causing any casualties, announced the governor of the Lviv region, Maxim Kozytski , on Telegram. Ukrainian forces also destroyed two cruise missiles over the Lviv region, largely untouched since the start of the Russian invasion, the governor added.
Arms deliveries, sinews of war
In Berlin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kouleba and discussed the latest US security assistance, the US State Department announced. At the end of a meeting of the heads of diplomacy of NATO countries in Berlin, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock affirmed that the countries of the Alliance, individually, would not relax their efforts “particularly in matters of military assistance” to Ukraine.
Dmytro Kouleba, in particular, welcomed the “previous” created by Germany’s decision to supply the first heavy weapons to kyiv, in a video posted on its Facebook account. “On the day I arrived in Berlin, there was training for Ukrainian soldiers in the use of German 155 mm caliber self-propelled artillery”he explained, after a four-day visit to Berlin. “Soon these self-propelled Howitzers will strike the enemy. The psychological obstacle [à la fourniture d’armes lourdes à l’Ukraine] has been overcome”he estimated.
Sweden and Finland close to NATO
After decades outside of military alliances, Finland has announced that it will formally apply to join NATO. “It’s a historic day. A new era is dawning”said Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, whose country shares a 1,300 kilometer border with Russia.
Same aspiration in Sweden. The ruling Social Democratic Party decided at the end of the day that it supported membership, provided that the country does not host a permanent NATO base or nuclear weapons. A joint candidacy with Finland, now assured, is “the best for Sweden and its security”said Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson after an extraordinary party meeting in Stockholm. The Swedish leader will go to Parliament on Monday to “ensure broad parliamentary support for a NATO candidacy” – now acquired.