Several people were killed in a rocket attack on the port city of Odessa in south-west Ukraine, according to Governor Maksym Marchenko. Others were injured, he said on the short message service Telegram. The broadcaster Suspilne reports, citing the military, that a religious building was hit. It was later said that a 15-year-old had been killed.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian population is facing increasing shortages of gasoline and other fuel products in the face of the ongoing Russian invasion. Recently, reports of long queues of cars in front of gas stations have increased. Behind the increasing bottleneck are also Russian attacks on an oil refinery and various fuel depots.
Meanwhile, the number of people fleeing Ukraine has continued to rise. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are more than 5.5 million as of today – and according to UNHCR, it could be more than eight million this year.
Conflicting reports from Mariupol
In the theaters of war, the focus continues to be on Mariupol, among others. Today, civilians from the devastated Ukrainian port should again be brought to safety. The initially announced evacuation was apparently delayed. In contrast to the previous day, no more people have been rescued from the Azov steel works surrounded by Russian soldiers.
More heavy fighting
According to their own statements, the Russian troops have meanwhile taken control of the city with the exception of the plant. In doing so, they have effectively closed the land bridge between the Russian heartland and the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Ukraine in 2014, along the coast of the Sea of Azov.
In the remaining parts of the Donbas, Russian forces continued their attacks with undiminished intensity. The Ukrainian army reported intense fighting, especially from the cities of Izyum, Rubishne and Lyman. There, Russian troops tried to “take control to prepare their attack on Severodonetsk,” according to the Ukrainian general staff. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army sank two Russian patrol boats in the Black Sea.
Sharp protest against Lavrov from Israel
An end to the fighting does not seem to be in sight any time soon. Russia is not aiming to end its military operation in Ukraine before the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany on May 9, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Italian TV channel Rete 4. Lavrov also made a Nazi comparison in the interview sharp protests from Israel.
Austria wants to support the oil embargo
At the EU level, however, the next package of sanctions is causing debates. According to the EU Commission, the next punitive measures against Russia should be in place by Wednesday. The focus this time is a possible oil embargo. “Austria is prepared to consistently support an oil embargo if the Commission and the Member States decide to do so,” said Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens).
Debate: What resources does the West have?
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been at war in Ukraine for several weeks, and there is no end in sight. Solidarity with Ukraine welds Europe and the USA together. What means does the West have to end the war? What are the consequences of alleged crimes against civilians? What could a political solution look like?
Discuss with debatte.ORF.at!