“No significant change” in the dispositions of the Russian forces
The UK Ministry of Defense in its latest intelligence report, says there have been “no significant changes” in the disposition of Russian forces in Ukraine over the past 24 hours. And to add: “Continued logistical shortages have been compounded by a continuing lack of momentum and morale within the Russian military and aggressive fighting by the Ukrainians.” In contrast, Russia gained the most ground in the south, near Mariupol.
Cost of damage in Ukraine estimated at 57.5 billion euros
The cost of infrastructure damage in Ukraine since the start of the war has been estimated at 57.5 billion euros by a study by the kyiv School of Economics.
Polish TV organizes a global telethon in support of Ukraine
Music and sports stars took to the stage on Sunday during a telethon in support of Ukraine, broadcast by the Polish public channel TVP in more than 20 countries.
“We will rebuild Ukraine when the war is won,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video.
The program called “Save Ukraine #StopWar” aimed to raise funds for the victims. The event was attended by Brits Fatboy Slim and Craig David, Eurovision winners Salvador Sobral and Netta, as well as groups from Ukraine.
Ukraine calls for ‘demilitarization’ of fire-ridden Chernobyl zone
New fires have broken out in the area of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, occupied by Russian forces, according to Ukrainian authorities. They demanded the “demilitarization” of the sector under the aegis of the UN.
“Today it is impossible to fully control and extinguish the fires due to the capture of the exclusion zone by the Russian occupation forces,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk wrote on her Telegram account on Sunday. evening.
A minute of silence for Ukraine at the Oscars
A moment of silence was called for in tribute to Ukraine at the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood on Sunday night.
During this brief moment of contemplation, screens broadcast messages calling for help to be sent by listing the essential needs of Ukrainians such as “food”, “medical care” or “blankets”.
The fighting continues
On the ground, the fighting continues but the noose seems to be loosening in certain besieged towns, such as Mykolaiv, a lock town on the road to Odessa, the largest port in Ukraine, looted for days by Russian artillery.
However, new fires have broken out in the area of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, occupied by Russian forces, according to the Ukrainian authorities who have called for the “demilitarization” of the sector under the aegis of the UN.
According to Ukrainian regional authorities, the Russian army took control of the town of Slavutitch, where the personnel of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant reside, briefly arresting the mayor and sparking pro-Ukrainian demonstrations.
In Mykolaiv, the inhabitants have found a little hope, after terrible weeks during which the Russian army tried in vain to take the city.
The front has even retreated significantly, with a Ukrainian counter-offensive on Kherson, some 80 km to the south-east, the only major city which the Russian army has claimed to have taken completely since the start of its invasion of Ukraine. February 24.
“Catastrophic” situation in Mariupol
In the besieged and bombarded city for weeks, “the population is fighting to survive. The humanitarian situation is catastrophic, ”said the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs overnight from Sunday to Monday.
“The Russian armed forces are turning the city into dust,” he added, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denouncing for his part a total blockade of this city that the Russian army has been trying to take for weeks.
Some 2,000 children were also taken to Russia, he said. “And that means kidnapped. Because we don’t know exactly where they are. Some are with their parents, some are not. It’s a disaster,” he said.
More than 2,000 civilians were killed in Mariupol, according to a recent report communicated by the town hall. According to the Ukrainian president, some 100,000 people are still stranded in this strategic port on the Sea of Azov.
New round of negotiations
Talks between kyiv and Moscow are opening at the start of the week in Istanbul, with Ukraine saying it is ready to discuss “in depth” its neutrality.
One of the important points of the negotiations concerns “security guarantees and neutrality, the nuclear-free status of our state”, Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky said on Sunday.
“This point of the negotiations is understandable to me and it is under discussion, it is studied in depth,” he said. But it will have to be submitted to a referendum and guarantees are needed, he warned, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin and his entourage of “dragging things out”.