Three months after the start of its invasion of Ukraine, Russia said on Tuesday May 24 that it was determined to achieve “all his goals” in the country. kyiv, for its part, continued to request more material from its supporters in an attempt to resist the attacker.
>> War in Ukraine: where is the Russian offensive after three months of fighting? Find the answers of Luc Lacroix, correspondent of France Télévisions in Russia
Here’s what to remember from the day.
Moscow shows its determination
After driving Russian forces away from the country’s two largest cities, kyiv and Kharkiv (north-east), the Ukrainians recognize “difficulties” in Donbass (east), formed by the provinces of Lugansk and Donetsk, where Russia has refocused its offensive.
“We continue the special military operation until all objectives are achieved”underlined the Russian Minister of Defense, while the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia for his part assured that “the objectives set by the President [Vladimir Poutine] will be filled”.
Severodonetsk and Lyssychansk in Russia’s sights
Moscow concentrates its firepower on the Ukrainian redoubt in the Lugansk region, trying to surround the towns of Severodonetsk and Lyssytchansk. Fighting is underway for control of the town of Lyman, an important railway junction whose capture would constitute significant progress in these encirclement attempts.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense also spoke of intense fighting in the vicinity of the localities of Popasna and Bakhmout, the fall of which would give the Russians control of an important crossroads for the Ukrainian war effort.
In this sector, “the enemy has improved its tactical position”admitted Tuesday morning the staff of the Ukrainian army, which assures that “greatest hostile activity” is observed “near Lysychansk and Severodonetsk”. Four people were also killed in the morning by a strike on a chemical plant in Severodonetsk where shelters had been installed, according to local authorities.
kyiv grows impatient over weapons
In this context, kyiv urges the West to deliver more armaments. “The Russian offensive in the Donbass is a ruthless battle, the largest on European soil since the Second World War. I urge our partners to speed up the delivery of arms and ammunition”launched on Tuesday the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kouleba.
Polish President Andrzej Duda, whose country supplied Ukraine with its Soviet T-72 tanks, criticized Berlin for dithering on the delivery of German Leopard armor, promised to Poland in return. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock admitted there was discussion, the weekly Der Spiegel claiming that these were due to Warsaw’s request to receive latest generation tanks.
Hungary declares state of emergency
A European Union embargo on Russian oil was also still at the center of the discussions, which require the unanimity of the member countries of the Union. Germany and France have deemed it possible to achieve this in the coming days, but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country depends on Russian oil, has judged this prospect “very unlikely” immediately.
The Hungarian leader, citing the repercussions of the war, declared a state of emergency on Tuesday from midnight in his country. The French presidency assured that “different options are on the table to get out of this blockage” on the embargo.
Several hundred children killed or injured in three months
In three months of armed conflict, 234 children have been killed and 433 injured, the office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova denounced on Tuesday.
In total, thousands of civilians and soldiers perished, without there being a quantified toll. For the city of Mariupol alone, the Ukrainian authorities speak of 20,000 dead. On the Russian side, Western sources put the number of soldiers killed at 12,000, the Kremlin having only admitted “significant losses”. Ukraine has not provided a statement of the number of its soldiers put out of action.
More than eight million Ukrainians have been internally displaced, according to the UN. Added to this are 6.5 million who have fled abroad, more than half of them – 3.4 million – to Poland.