Strikes during a symbolic visit. For the first time since the start of the Russian invasion, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres visited Ukraine on Thursday, April 28. Shortly after his arrival, the capital came under bombardment. The day was also marked by Joe Biden’s request for a colossal budget extension to help kyiv.
Franceinfo takes stock of what to remember from this day.
Bombings in kyiv during the visit of the UN Secretary General
The Ukrainian capital was the target of strikes Thursday evening, in full visit of the secretary general of the UN, Antonio Guterres. This is the first time since mid-April that bombings hit kyiv.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba quickly denounced a “heinous act of barbarism”indicating that the capital had been hit by cruise missiles. “Russia once again demonstrates its attitude towards Ukraine, Europe and the world”he added.
Antonio Guterres had earlier called on Moscow to “agree to cooperate” with the investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into possible war crimes perpetrated in Ukraine. For his first visit to Ukraine since the start of the invasion, the UN Secretary General also visited Boutcha. “When we see this horrible site, I see how important it is to have a full investigation and establish accountability”did he declare.
kyiv lists “more than 8,000 cases” relating to possible war crimes
Ten Russian soldiers were indicted. They are accused of having committed war crimes in Boutcha and will be wanted. The soldiers, during their occupation of Boutcha in March, “taken hostage civilians who were not taking part in the hostilities and were unarmed. The occupiers gave them neither food nor drink”according to the office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Iryna Venediktova.
Ukrainian investigators have also identified “more than 8,000 cases” of possible war crimes, further affirmed the magistrate. These crimes include “the killing of civilians, the bombing of civilian infrastructure, the torture” and the “sex crimes” reported in the “occupied territory of Ukraine”, according to the magistrate. Prosecutors are also investigating “the use of prohibited weapons”she added.
Russian offensive in the East
Russian forces are stepping up their offensive, particularly in the Kharkiv and Donetsk region, in the east of the country, the Ukrainian forces’ general staff said.
Ukraine has “the right” to strike Russian military targets, for his part said an adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, suggesting that his army could carry out strikes on Russian territory.
Biden calls for budget extension to help Kyiv
Joe Biden has increased the pressure on Moscow by asking Congress for a considerable budget extension of 33 billion dollars to deliver ever more military aid to kyiv, and by proposing to liquidate the assets of Russian oligarchs to compensate for the damage suffered by the ‘Ukraine.
United States “don’t attack” Russia but “help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression”having already delivered 10 anti-tank weapons for each Russian tank, said the American president during a speech at the White House.
New prisoner exchange
Forty-five Ukrainians have been freed in a new prisoner exchange with Russia, kyiv said, as usual without revealing the number of Russians who have been handed over to Moscow.
Nearly 5.4 million refugees
Nearly 5.4 million Ukrainian refugees have fled their country since Russia invaded Ukraine, according to the latest UN count.
The European Commission has paid a total of 3.5 billion euros to the 27 Member States for the reception of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. Thus, Poland received some 560 million euros to help with their care, followed by Italy (452 million euros), Romania (450 million), Spain (434 million). France received 123 million euros.