Did you miss the latest events on the war in Ukraine? 20 minutes takes stock for you every evening at 7:30 p.m. Between the strong declarations, the progress on the front and the results of the battles, here are the essentials of the weekend.
The fact of the day
This Wednesday was a particularly deadly day for civilians. At least ten people have been killed by military strikes in both Ukraine and Russia, authorities in both countries said. Seven people were killed in the Ukrainian regions of Kharkiv (north-east) and Odessa (south) during nighttime attacks which hit two energy sites, as Russia continued its strategy of targeting the electricity network.
In the Odessa region, four people died, including a 10-year-old girl, and seven others were injured. A few hours earlier, two women and a child had lost their lives in a Russian strike on the Kharkiv region, which is regularly targeted, according to the Interior Ministry, which specifies that two people were also injured. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 17 drones and three missiles were fired by Russia overnight.
In Russia, three people, including two children, were also killed on Wednesday by a Ukrainian drone which targeted a car traveling in a village in the border region of Kursk, Governor Roman Starovoit said on Telegram. The Russian army also said it had destroyed five Ukrainian drones during the night above the Russian border region of Bryansk, already targeted the day before by artillery fire which left two dead.
Today’s statement
“ Behind all this are the American Democrats who want photos and videos of such an event to signify that their “Ukraine” project remains relevant »
Russian diplomatic spokesperson Maria Zakharova strongly criticized this Wednesday the conference “on peace in Ukraine” that Switzerland is organizing on June 15 and 16 and at which Russia will not be represented. She denounced electoral motivations, an allusion to the battle between Republicans and Democrats in view of the presidential election in November during which Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump should face each other, including the Republican camp has been blocking military aid that kyiv sorely needs for months. Maria Zakharova also accused democratic leaders, by supporting kyiv against Moscow, of “endangering thousands of Ukrainians”.
The conference, to which more than a hundred countries will be invited, is to take place near Lucerne, in central Switzerland. “This is a first step for a process for lasting peace,” declared Swiss President Viola Amherd at a press conference in Bern. “We are not going to sign the peace plan at this conference,” she admitted, hoping that there would be another conference afterwards. Moscow “does not plan to come,” Swiss diplomacy said.
The number of the day
Two. This is the number of Russian oligarchs who were targeted by European Union sanctions due to the war in Ukraine and who won their case this Wednesday with European justice. These oligarchs are Mikhail Fridman and Piotr Aven, both shareholders of the conglomerate Alfa Groupwhich includes Alfa Bank, one of Russia’s main banks, itself targeted by European sanctions.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU Council included the two men among the figures judged responsible for “having provided material or financial support” to Russian power to start this war. As such, they were notably subject to a freezing of their assets in the EU.
But on Wednesday the EU Court, seized of their two appeals, canceled their inclusion on this “black list” of sanctioned personalities and entities. “No reason appearing in the initial acts [prononçant ces sanctions] is not sufficiently substantiated” and “the inclusion on the disputed lists is therefore not justified”, underlined the court established in Luxembourg.
Welcomed by the lawyers of the two oligarchs, the decision was however strongly criticized by Yulia Navalnaïa, widow of Alexeï Navalny, the opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin who died in prison in February
The trend
Ukrainian MPs began on Wednesday to examine in second reading the controversial bill on mobilization, causing a new outcry due to a change of heart on the return of soldiers who have been fighting for a long time. The enlistment of new people has sparked debate in Ukraine for more than a year, while the army lacks manpower and ammunition in the face of Russian forces on the offensive on several fronts.
A bill to facilitate recruitment was passed by the Ukrainian Parliament at first reading in February after the failure of a first version prepared by the government last year, but this second version has since also been heavily amended.
According to several deputies, one of the key clauses in this text was notably removed: the demobilization of soldiers who have been fighting for more than 36 months, a measure which was nevertheless eagerly awaited in a country exhausted by more than two years of Russian invasion. .
Our file on the war in Ukraine
“Following an appeal from the head of the army and the Minister of Defense (…), the clause on release from military service after 36 months was withdrawn,” explained Iryna Friz, member of the commission of Defense of Parliament. Several financial incentives for soldiers were also removed, she said.
The soldiers interviewed by AFP said they were in “shock”. ” It’s a disaster. It’s just brutal. What’s on their minds? », Reacted Oleksandr, 46, who serves in the eastern region of Donetsk. “A person who knows when they will be discharged will have a different attitude towards the service. If we are like slaves, then… it will not lead to anything good,” he predicted.