Zelenskyj: “Neither relaxation nor rest”
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, heavy fighting continues between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. There is “neither relaxation nor breathing space,” Zelenskyj said in his daily video address on Friday night. The day before, about 100 Russian attacks in the Donetsk region had been repelled.
The Ukrainian troops would be supported by border guard units from Kharkiv and Sumy. A National Guard brigade fights in Bakhmut. “We will not give in to the enemy in any of the front areas,” Zelensky said. “We react everywhere, we hold our positions everywhere.”
The Russian army had captured and annexed large parts of Donetsk in September, in violation of international law, along with the neighboring regions of Luhansk and Zaporizhia and Kherson to the south. Under pressure from Ukrainian counter-offensives, the Russian army has now evacuated the regional capital of Kherson and the area northwest of the Dnipro River. Authorities in Zaporizhia also reported a Russian missile attack on an industrial complex late Friday night.
The course of the front hardly changes
Despite the heavy fighting in the Donbass coal and steel region, the course of the front has hardly changed at the moment, according to the military situation reports from both sides. In the nearly nine months since the Russian invasion on February 24, Russian troops have gained little there. According to Ukrainian sources, some of the troops released in the withdrawal from Kherson were transferred to eastern Ukraine to intensify the attacks there.
Zelenskyj calls for further sanctions against Russia
In view of the massive Russian attacks, the Ukrainian head of state called for new sanctions from the West. “We need a new European sanctions package,” he said in another video message to the Irish university community. Russian aggression, like Russian lies, never ceases for a day. “That is why the international pressure on Russia must not diminish for a day.”
Zelenskyj accused Moscow of violating numerous points of the closing statement of the G20 summit on the Indonesian island of Bali, which was also supported by Russia. The statement emphasizes the importance of international law and a multilateral system as a guarantee of peace and stability. But Russia continues to destroy international relations while pretending to fight this destabilization with everyone else. Moscow is mobilizing all resources to become the “biggest terrorist state in history,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian electricity grid is being repaired
According to Selensky, technicians across the country are trying to restore power after massive Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy and electricity systems. For this reason, the number of unplanned power outages has already dropped significantly. However, power supply is still difficult in 17 regions and the capital Kiev. The regions of Kiev, Odessa, Vinnytsia and Ternopil, among others, are in a “very difficult situation”.
The Russian missile attacks apparently damaged the Ukrainian power grid more than previously known. “Almost half of our energy system is down,” Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal said at a press conference with EU Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis. Ukraine therefore needs extra support from the European Union in the field of energy and also financially. The grid operator Ukrenerho announced that there would also be nationwide planned power cuts on Saturday.
Ukraine wants to produce weapons together with NATO
The Ukrainian state arms company Ukroboronprom wants to produce heavy weapons and military equipment together with at least six NATO member states. The group announced that agreements had been reached with Poland, France, Denmark, the Czech Republic and some other countries. Joint armaments companies would be established and ammunition production lines built. In addition, according to the Ukrainian group, armored vehicles and multiple missiles will be jointly produced and new high-tech weapons will be developed.
30 percent of Ukrainian territory cleared
According to Kiev sources, about 30 percent of Ukraine’s territory is being mined as a result of Russia’s war of aggression. That corresponds to about twice the area of Austria, according to the state emergency service. Disposal of explosives continues in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. More than 8,000 square kilometers must be demined.
Former ambassador Melnyk now deputy foreign minister of Ukraine
Former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk has been named his country’s deputy foreign minister. The government made this decision on Friday, Melnyk told the German news agency. However, his exact area of responsibility has not yet been determined. Melnyk had made a name for himself with criticisms of the federal government that were unusually harsh for a diplomat. Melnyk’s successor as ambassador in Berlin is Oleksii Makeiev.
That will be important on Saturday
In Poland, one of the two victims of the missile strike will be buried with a state funeral on Saturday. A missile hit the Polish village of Przewodow six kilometers near the border with Ukraine on Tuesday. The West currently assumes it was a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile used to defend against Russian attacks. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
