As they await the outcome of Ukraine’s first war crimes trial against a Russian soldier, the situation is getting harder for Ukrainians in the Donbass region, where Moscow has repeatedly bombed the city of Severodonetsk.
The governor of the Lugansk region, Sergei Gaidai, said that Russia is recruiting troops in the Donbass, in eastern Ukraine.
“All Russian forces are concentrated in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions,” Gaidai said. Said.
The governor said Moscow is deploying troops withdrawn from the Kharkov region (northeast), soldiers participating in the siege of Mariupol (southeast), militias from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, Chechen troops, and units deployed in Siberia and the Russian Far East. .
The same goes for armament. “Everything is concentrated here,” said Gaidai, even referring to the S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, similar to the American Patriots.
Gaidai said that Severodonetsk, a crucial point in the Donbass war, was the target of “24-hour” attacks from Moscow.
“They use scorched earth tactics along with deliberately destroying the city with aerial bombardments, multiple rocket launchers, mortar shells or tanks firing at buildings,” he said.
The Ukrainian military announced on Sunday that seven civilians were killed and eight injured as a result of the bombing of 45 communities in the Donetsk region.
The fate of Severodonetsk is similar to that of Mariupol, which is a doomsday scenario after several weeks of siege. Neighborhoods of the city fell into piles of rubble, with buildings destroyed by missiles and other weapons.
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Kyiv expects the first trial in which a Russian soldier will be prosecuted for war crimes this Monday.
Private Vadim Shishimarin, 21, is accused of killing a 62-year-old civilian while riding a bicycle and talking on the phone.
At a hearing last week, Shishimarin sought “forgiveness” from the victim’s widow and said she was acting on “orders received”. The prosecutor asked for life imprisonment.
The prosecution said it has opened more than 12,000 investigations of war crimes since the Russian invasion of the country began on February 24.
US President Joe Biden said in Tokyo on Monday that Russia “must pay a long-term price for its barbarism in Ukraine”, referring to the sanctions imposed on Moscow by many countries.
“This isn’t just about Ukraine,” Biden said. “If sanctions are not sustained in many ways, how do we send a signal to China about the cost of an attempt to take Taiwan by force?” he asked.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos via videoconference to request further financial and military assistance.
A large number of Ukrainian officials are expected to attend the Swiss station, including Swiss Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Russia has been removed from the DEF and the “Russian house” traditionally open to the forum will be replaced by a “Russian war crimes house” with events supporting Ukraine.
Against the backdrop of tension, Russia says it is open to returning to the negotiating table and blames Ukraine for the interruption of peace talks.
“On our part, we are ready to continue the dialogue,” Kremlin adviser Vladimir Medinski, who is in talks with Kyiv, said on Sunday. Said.
“Freezing the dialogue was Ukraine’s initiative,” he said.
source: Noticias
