Russian forces continued, on Tuesday July 5, to advance in Donbass, territory from eastern Ukraine that they want to finish conquering with the city of Sloviansk in their sights. After the fall of Lyssytchansk, the centerpiece of the plan to conquer Donbass, the Russian army is progressing west and heading towards this city of some 100,000 inhabitants before the war on Tuesday.
On Tuesday morning, Russian troops were about fifty kilometers from Sloviansk. Franceinfo takes stock of the evolution of the situation, on the 132nd day of the war in Ukraine.
A “massive” bombardment on Sloviansk
At least two people died and seven others were injured in a shelling “massive” on Sloviansk on Tuesday, authorities said. The governor of the Donetsk region to which Sloviansk is attached, Pavlo Kyrylenko, announced this assessment on Telegram. The strikes targeted the city’s central market.
AFP journalists present in Sloviansk at the time of the bombardment saw rockets hitting the market and three others hitting adjacent streets. The market was on fire, with firefighters trying to bring the blaze under control.
The Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly called on the civilians remaining in Sloviansk to leave the region. At least six people were killed and 19 others injured on Sunday in rocket attacks on the city.
A second French fighter killed in Ukraine
“We have learned the sad news of this death.” The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces, Tuesday, July 5 in a press release, the death in Ukraine of a second French fighter engaged with Ukrainian troops, confirming information from RTL published on Monday.
“We offer our condolences to his family, with whom the relevant departments of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs are in contact”said the Quai d’Orsay on Tuesday.
The reconstruction of Ukraine in question
At the end of a two-day international conference in Lugano (Switzerland), Ukraine and its allies agreed on general principles to guide the reconstruction of the country, in exchange for the eradication of corruption and the pursuit of reforms. kyiv estimates the cost of this reconstruction at 750 billion dollars.
The declaration adopted on Tuesday in Lugano indicates that the signatories “are fully committed to supporting Ukraine along its journey”. The document points out that “the recovery process should contribute to accelerating, deepening, broadening and realizing Ukraine’s reform efforts and resilience in line with Ukraine’s European path”.
The joint statement insists: “the rule of law must be systematically strengthened and corruption eradicated”. The text adopted on Tuesday also insists that the recovery process be “inclusive and guarantees gender equality, and he called for the reconstruction of Ukraine in a way” sustainable.
At NATO, the ratification process launched for the accession of Sweden and Finland
In Brussels, the thirty member countries of NATO launched on Tuesday the process of ratification for the accessions of Sweden and Finland, which will allow the Atlantic Alliance to organize a united line of defense, from the Arctic to the Mediterranean, in the face of Russia’s intrigues.
“At 32, we will be even stronger (…) at a time when we are facing the most serious security crisis in decades”underlined the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg. “Many allies have prepared for the ratification to be as quick as possible, but it will take several months”he then warned.