Zelensky accuses Russian troops of atrocities in other cities

Dusseldorf EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is on her way to Kyiv. The former German Defense Minister is the first Western top politician to visit Ukraine since the war atrocities in the Kiev suburb of Bucha became known. In Kyiv she wants to meet the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

He accused Russian troops of atrocities against civilians in other Ukrainian cities. So it was in the small town of Borodjanka near Kyiv, where clean-up work was going on, “much more terrible” than in Bucha, said Selenski in a video message that was published on Friday night. There are “even more victims” of Russian units.

Zelensky also asked what would happen when the world found out what Russian units had done in the heavily contested port city of Mariupol. There is on “almost every street” what the world saw after the withdrawal of the Russian troops in Bucha and other places around Kyiv.

to the military situation

And the fighting continued that night as well. According to Ukrainian sources, a rocket attack by Russian forces hit infrastructure facilities in the Odessa region in the south of the country. The rocket attack was launched from the sea, the online newspaper Ukrajinska Pravda reported, citing the Odessa City Council. The information could not be independently verified.

According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, Russia is fundamentally changing its tactics and is now concentrating primarily on air strikes. “The situation remains extremely difficult, especially in the south and east. Russia is concentrating its forces for a strong attack,” Reznikov said in a video address in English.

He thanked for the arms deliveries so far, but also said that Ukraine now needs air defense systems, long-range artillery, tanks and anti-ship missiles. “We are waiting to get the weapons used by the NATO countries as soon as possible,” said Resnikov.

>> The current developments in the Ukraine war you can follow in our news blog

According to Ukrainian sources, there are no longer any Russian troops in the north-eastern Ukrainian region of Sumy. The territory of the Sumy region is free of Russian units, said the head of the Sumy region administration, Dmytro Schywytskyi, on Friday night on Facebook. If people hear explosions, it is because rescue workers and explosives experts are neutralizing ammunition left behind by Russian units.

Zhyvytskyi warned people that the region was not yet safe. There are still many mined areas that have not been searched for dangers. People should not drive on the side of the road, not use forest paths and not approach destroyed military equipment.

According to Schyvytskyi earlier, Russian troops had begun withdrawing from the region on Sunday. Along with the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Kyiv regions, the region was one of those areas in which Russian troops had attacked since the beginning of the war. Russia recently announced that it would concentrate combat operations on eastern Ukraine.

4500 people brought to safety from contested areas

According to Ukrainian information, more than 4,500 people were brought to safety from contested areas on Thursday. Around 1,200 came from the port city of Mariupol, which was besieged by Russian troops, and another 2,000 from several cities in the Zaporizhia region, said Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Wereshchuk.

Around 1,400 people were also evacuated from the Luhansk region in the east of the country from the cities of Lisichansk, Sievjerodonetsk, Rubischne and Kreminna.

Further sanctions against Russia decided

In reaction to the massacre of civilians in Bucha, the EU member states decided on further sanctions against Russia on Thursday. These include an import ban on coal from Russia as well as new restrictions on trade and an extensive ban on Russian ships entering EU ports.

Zelensky welcomed the sanctions but said they were not enough to stop Russia and end the war. “More sanctions are needed. Tougher sanctions are needed.” At the same time, Selenski called for weapons for his country “with which we can win on the battlefield”. That will be the strongest sanction against Russia, he said in his video message.

The US has blacklisted two Russian state-owned companies. According to the US Treasury Department, these are the United Shipbuilding Corporation, the largest shipbuilding company in Russia, and the diamond miner Alrosa. Both companies are now being denied access to the US financial system because of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

>> Read about this: US cut normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus

The federal government contributes two billion euros to refugee costs

The federal government wants to provide the states with a flat rate of two billion euros to support refugees in Germany. The federal government also bears the expenses for basic security, as was announced after tough negotiations. This has advantages for the war refugees: They receive higher benefits and better health care. In addition, they receive earlier support for integration into the labor market and, with the job centers, have a central point of contact for their concerns.

>> Read about this: The federal government makes a lot of concessions to countries when it comes to refugee costs

Australia flies Bushmaster armored vehicles to Ukraine

Australia flies Bushmaster armored vehicles requested by Ukraine to Ukraine. The 20 versatile troop carriers that Australia had deployed in Afghanistan, among other places, are designed to protect their ten occupants from landmines and other explosive devices. In a speech to the Australian Parliament last week, Zelensky specifically asked for a supply of Bushmasters.

Other recent reports on the war:

Japan wants to reduce coal imports from Russia

Japan, in line with the West, wants to impose further sanctions on Russia. They want to “gradually reduce” imports of Russian coal and ultimately aim to avoid coal imports from Russia altogether, said Koichi Hagiuda, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had previously spoken of war crimes for the first time, citing reports of Russian atrocities.

That will be important on Friday

Ursula von der Leyen’s solidarity visit to Kyiv is likely to get the most attention. She will be accompanied, among others, by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) travels to London.

During his inaugural visit to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Russia’s war against Ukraine is likely to be the focus. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier meets President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Finland.

More: Rolf Mützenich on the consequences of the Ukraine war: “A new economic order is emerging”