Between 2,500 and 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died so far in the war with Russia, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, who returns to ask the West for more weapons.
In an interview with CNN, the Ukrainian leader gave the latest official death toll in the ranks of his army, adding that about 10,000 are wounded and it is "difficult to say how many of them will survive". As for the dead civilians, "it is harder" to establish how many there are, admits the president of Ukraine.
In his latest video speech, Zelensky b again called for more weapons for Kiev and more sanctions against Moscow. "The more and sooner we have all the weapons we have requested, the stronger our position will be and the sooner peace will come - said the Ukrainian president -. The sooner the democratic world will recognize that the oil embargo against Russia and the complete blockade of its banking sector are necessary steps towards peace before the war will end. "
Germany, for its part, has confirmed its intention to increase the budget for international military aid to 2 billion, most of which will go to Ukraine. The delivery of the new US weapons to the Kiev army is expected in the next few hours, despite the fact that Moscow has threatened "unforeseeable consequences" for this. But the US "strategy" to support Ukraine does not change, the US State Department replied through its spokesman Ned Price.
Meanwhile, on the sanctions front, from Easter on the Italian ports will be off limits for Russian ships, as required by the new EU measures against Moscow. Ships currently in Italian ports will have to leave them immediately after "the completion of their commercial activities".
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The day live.
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The head of the Russian Navy meets the survivors of the Moskva
The commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, met today crew members of the cruiser Moskva, which sank two days ago in the waters of the Black Sea. The meeting took place in Sevastopol, Crimea, where it is based command of the Russian Black Sea fleet. Russia said the Moskva sank when an onboard ammunition depot exploded. Ukraine, on the other hand, claimed that the military unit was hit by a missile launched by the Kiev forces. No official news has been provided on the number of possible victims.
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Zelensky: "Two documents for the agreement with Moscow"
"The peace treaty with Russia should include two different documents: one on security guarantees for Ukraine, the other on its relations with the Russian Federation". Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky said this in an interview with some Ukrainian media, stressing that Russia would instead want a single document. But - he added - "we have seen what happened to Bucha, circumstances are changing", reports Ukrainska Pravda. Zelensky said that some countries such as Great Britain, the USA, Italy and Turkey "are showing their willingness to act as guarantors, but no one has yet given a definitive answer".
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Twenty-one reporters killed
Since the start of the war in Ukraine 21 journalists have lost their lives. This was announced by the press freedom commission of the Ukrainian Ukrainian parliament. "We express our sincere condolences to the families of the victims," said the commission, which released the names of all the reporters who were victims of the war.
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Kiev: "Negotiations over if our troops are destroyed"
The destruction of the Ukrainian forces defending the city of Mariupol "will put an end to negotiations with Russia". This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky, quoted by the Kyiv Independent. "The destruction of our army, our boys, will end all negotiations," he said. Previously Zelensky had said that negotiations were underway on the fate of Mariupol, but that the Russians are demanding surrender. The president said Ukraine does not trust Russia's request, fearing a massacre of its own soldiers if they were to hand over their weapons.
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Missiles on Slobidsky and Osnovyansky
Russian forces “attacked the districts of Slobidsky and Osnovyansky, in the Kharkiv region, using a long-range cruise missile 'Caliber': two civilians were killed and another 18 wounded in the bombing. Houses, cars, a market and shops have been destroyed. "This was stated on Telegram by the General Prosecutor of the Region, according to reports from Ukrainska Pravda.
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The US fears that Kiev will run out of ammunition
There is concern at the Pentagon that the more than 40,000 ammunition, sent by the United States to Kiev in the new $ 800 million package of military aid, may not be enough to face the intense fighting against Russia expected in the coming days. Administration sources report this to CNN. For this reason, the US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, and the Joint Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, are making daily phone calls with their counterparts in countries close to Ukraine, lobbying to send weapons and military supplies as soon as possible.
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The richest man in Ukraine: "I will rebuild Mariupol"
The richest man in Ukraine Rinat Akhmetov has undertaken to rebuild the city of Mariupol, which has been under Russian bombing for seven weeks. "Mariupol is a global tragedy and a global example of heroism. For me, Mariupol was and always will be a Ukrainian city," Akhmetov said, according to international media reports. According to Forbes magazine, Akhmetov's net worth in 2013 reached $ 15.4 billion. It is currently $ 3.9 billion. Akhmetov is the owner of the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol, which has become the base of the nationalist Azov battalion and the Ukrainian marines that are resisting the hammering attacks of the Russian troops.
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From tomorrow Italian ports off limits for Russian ships
From tomorrow the Italian ports will be off limits for Russian ships and the ban will also apply to boats that have changed flag after 24 February. The measure is contained in a circular of the General Command of the Port Authorities which transposes the directive of the European Union of 8 April with which further sanctions against Russia were introduced. The ships that are currently in Italian ports, says the circular, will have to leave them immediately after "the completion of their commercial activities".
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Putin-Bin Salman colloquium: "Strengthening bilateral relations"
Russian President Vladimir Putin today had a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during which the parties expressed their commitment to "further development of bilateral relations". This was reported by the Interfax agency citing the press service of the Kremlin. Russia and Saudi Arabia are the two leading countries in OPEC +, an organization of oil exporting countries. The major oil producing Arab states are part of the front of countries that have not adhered to the sanctions against Russia, including China, India, the states of Latin America and Africa and Israel.
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In Italy so far 94,800 refugees
94,800 people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine have arrived in Italy so far, of which 90,652 at the border and 4148 controlled by the Friuli Venezia Giulia railway police department. The Interior Ministry reports it. The increase, compared to yesterday, is 1,024 admissions in the national territory. Of the refugees who have arrived, 48,977 are women, 11,053 are men and 34,770 are minors. The cities of destination declared upon entry into Italy continue to be Milan, Rome, Naples and Bologna.
Missiles on Oleksandria airport, there are victims
The head of the military administration of Kirovohrad in central Ukraine, Andrii Raikovych, reported casualties following the Russian missile attack on Oleksandria airport last night. The correspondent of Ukrinform reports it. "Late in the evening, Russian missiles hit the city of Oleksandria. The airport infrastructure was damaged. Some people were killed and injured," he said.
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Five dead in Mykolaiv, bombing in progress
In yesterday's attack with multiple Russian rocket launchers, five people were killed and 15 injured in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine. This was reported by a correspondent of Ukrinform. Also this morning the city was bombed but there would be no casualties. In the eastern city of Kharkiv, the bombings have become more widespread in some neighborhoods. Yesterday, more than 50 civilians were injured and nine people were killed in the city. In the region of the same name, Derhachi, Balakliia and Zolochiv were bombed: two victims and three wounded. The fighting is also raging in the direction of Izium.
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Today nine humanitarian corridors
Nine humanitarian corridors have been agreed for today in Ukraine: this was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, according to the Guardian. Evacuation plans include the besieged city of Mariupol, which can be left in private cars, as well as five cities in the east of the country.
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Police: "900 civilians found in the Kiev region executed"
Almost all of the 900 civilians found in the region surrounding Kiev were reportedly shot to death. This was reported by the Associated Press citing the local police, reported by the Guardian. "The presence of gunshot wounds indicates that many were simply executed," police officers said. Andriy Nebytov, the chief of the Kiev regional police, explained that the bodies were abandoned in the streets or received summary burials. According to the police 95% died from gunshot wounds.
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Kiev: "10 attacks in Donbass rejected in 24 hours"
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have repelled 10 enemy attacks in the Donetsk and Lugansk territories in the past 24 hours, destroying three tanks, an armored troop vehicle, two cars and three artillery systems. The Kiev Army announced today, according to the Guardian.
(Unioneonline)