A few days after massive strikes by Russian forces on several Ukrainian cities, Ukraine welcomed for having improved the situation of its electricity network, Thursday 13 October. LUkrainian operator Ukrenergo has announced that it has “stabilized the energy supply in all regions of Ukraine”, and not need to ration electricity.
For their part, the pro-Russian forces claimed Thursday to be at the gates of Bakhmout, after taking control of two villages near this city in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian army has meanwhile claimed to have repelled Russian attacks in Ivangrad, Bakhmout and other villages further south on this front line. Franceinfo takes stock of the day’s news on the frontline of the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian strikes in the Belgorod region of Russia
Russian authorities have accused Ukrainian forces of bombing a residential building in Belgorod, Russia, an important city located in a region bordering Ukraine. According to the governor of the region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, there were no casualties and the damage was not “reviews” for the building.
According to the same source, another Ukrainian strike in the Belgorod region blew up an ammunition depot. “According to preliminary data, there are no casualties or injuries,” assured the governor.
Russia to help evacuate residents of Kherson region
“Following the appeal of the head of the Kherson region of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Saldo, the government decided to organize assistance for the departure of residents of the region”Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khousnullin said on television on Thursday. “We will provide everyone with free accommodation and everything necessary”he said in a brief speech.
Earlier in the day, the Russian occupation authorities in the Kherson region had asked Moscow to organize the evacuation of civilians from this territory annexed by Russia, and which is targeted by an army counter-offensive. Ukrainian. These residents will be taken to the nearest Russian regions.
kyiv and Moscow say they exchanged prisoners
The Ukraine and Russia have each confirmed that they have carried out a new exchange of 40 prisoners (20 on each side).
“New exchange of prisoners, new moments of joy. We managed to free 20 people”thus welcomed on Telegram the head of the cabinet of the Ukrainian presidency, Andriï Iermak. “Twenty Russian soldiers have returned from Ukrainian territory controlled by kyiv”confirmed for its part the Russian Ministry of Defense, quoted by the Russian agencies.
The EU will increase its military support for Kyiv to “more than 3 billion euros”
Brussels is due to approve new funding next week to “more than 3 billion” euros its military support for Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict, announced Thursday the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
Since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, the Europeans have already allocated 2.5 billion euros from the 5.7 billion endowment of a fund created outside the European budget to finance arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Madrid sends air defense systems to Kyiv
New Western support for Ukraine. Spain will send four Hawk air defense systems to Ukraine to help defend against Russian missiles, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and US Secretary of Defense said on Thursday. Lloyd Austin.
These medium-range surface-to-air systems provided will be added to the armaments provided by Germany, France and the United States, the two officials said. Ukraine’s allies pledged on Wednesday to bolster its air defenses “as soon as possible”after Russia’s massive strikes on several Ukrainian cities earlier this week.
Ukraine may extradite Russians to International Criminal Court
Ukraine could extradite Russian war crimes suspects to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, even though Moscow is not a member of that court.
They could be tried there if their trial could not take place in Ukraine for legal reasons, according to Karim Khan, prosecutor general of the ICC. “Legally yes, it would not represent an obstacle to our jurisdiction”he added during a press conference at Eurojust headquarters.
The ICC opened its own investigation into the war in Ukraine shortly after Russia invaded. However, she said she wanted Ukraine to bring the suspects to justice itself, if possible.