Pope Francis may soon go to the Ukrainian capital, a symbolic gesture that would have enormous scope. He said this himself speaking with reporters during the flight to Malta. Victims in Odessa. Customer Airport, Russians in retreat. Missiles after the Belgorod raid. Metsola from Zelensky. The US: we will not push Kyiv to make concessions. Another 300 million dollars in military aid to Ukraine. Tensions rise after the attack on a fuel depot in Belgorod, in Russian territory, not claimed by Ukrainian forces, and missiles from Crimea launched on Odesa. The south of Ukraine remains on alert: Mykolaiv and Odesa would be the priority objectives of the new offensive. In Kharkiv, the university was hit, and the oncology area of the Chernihiv hospital was destroyed. At the night the sirens are sounding in different cities, various attacks from the sky, and explosions.
- The analysis – The Ukrainian attack on Belgorod, dark sides of a perfect blitz
- The fact sheet – Gas, how it works, and what it means to pay for gas in rubles
- The story – So 30 computer scientists stopped the Russian tanks
Dossier: the consequences of the war for Italy
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DOSSIER: THE CONFLICT | TRAILS OF WAR | Timeline: events
20.28 The Kremlin spokesman: “Negotiations are not easy but the important thing is that they continue”
The negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are not easy, but the important thing is that they continue. This was stated by Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin in an interview with the television channel Belarus 1. This was reported by Ria Novosti. “The important thing is to find the point of convergence with the Ukrainian negotiators and the important thing is that they continue, even if they are not doing well,” Peskov said.
20.09 Ukraine, Sean Penn: only one billionaire is enough to end the war
A billionaire would be enough to put an end to this war. Sean Penn is convinced of it. The actor-director returns to make his voice heard in support of Ukraine and on Twitter he launches a very specific appeal: who has the money come forward. Of course, it wouldn’t be an effortless undertaking, between arming and training, “but it’s worth thinking about,” he writes. And it goes even further, making some budget calculations to start the operation: two squadrons of F-15 or F-16 suitable for Ukrainian pilots with only three weeks of training “would cost a private buyer about 300 million dollars”, he writes. To these, again according to the actor and director, just add 200 million for a missile defense device, for a total investment of 500 million dollars.
Molinari: “Russia and Ukraine are building up forces for the second half of the conflict”
19.51 Ukraine: the entire Kyiv region freed
Ukrainian forces, announced Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Maliar, have regained control of the entire Kyiv region after Russian forces withdrew from key cities near the capital. The localities of “Irpin, Boutcha, Gostomel, and the entire Kyiv region have been liberated by the invader,” Maliar announced on Facebook.
19.49 Myrgorod airport damaged, fuel depot burning
The runway of Myrgorod airport was damaged by the bombing. The fuel depot is on fire. This was announced by Dmytro Lunin, governor of the region as reported by Ukraynska Pravda.
19.19 Ukraine: Marianna, Mariupol’s new mother appears in a video but is in the hands of the Russians
Mariupol’s new mother Marianna Vishegirskaya was kidnapped by the Russian occupiers and taken to the Donetsk People’s Republic. This was reported by the Ukrainian online newspaper Obozrevatel. Marianna appears in a video, released by social media accounts linked to Russia, subtitled in English, in which she says that there has not been an air attack on the hospital. But only explosions of unspecified nature (but the video has been cut several times).
Thus the Ukrainian military clears the Kyiv-Warsaw highway from mines
19.10 Ukraine, Mayor Bucha: almost 300 bodies buried in mass graves
Nearly 300 people were buried in mass graves in the city of Bucha. This was stated to France Presse by Anatoly Fedoruk, mayor of the town northwest of Kyiv, reconquered by Ukrainian forces.
18.55 Ukraine: bombs on a hospital near Kharkiv, evacuated in 70
According to reports from the regional head of the military administration of Poltava, Oleh Syniehubov, on Telegram, the hospital in Balakliia, in the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, was bombed by Russian forces. About seventy doctors and patients had to be evacuated immediately. Syniehubov writes: “Russian occupiers hit Balakliia district hospital. The building was partially damaged. Patients and medical personnel need immediate evacuation. We are doing everything to save people.”
18.42 Ukraine, the archbishop of Genoa: “Self-defense is a reality”
“Self-defense is a reality. The point, if anything, is: with what weapons do I defend myself? Are they weapons for the self-defense of myself and my people or whatever? I think this is the most serious question we can ask ourselves. I don’t know whether they are legitimate weapons or not, I am not a weapons expert. ” Thus the archbishop of Genoa Marco Tasca speaking on the sidelines of the march for peace that took place in the afternoon in Genoa organized by Pax Christi with numerous associations of the Genoese and Ligurian lay and ecclesial world including Calp, Anpi, the Community San Benedetto al Porto, Libera Liguria, Italian Women’s Center, The Weapon Watch, Agesci Liguria, Arci Genova, Acli Liguria, Genova Open to Peace.
Inside Ohtyrka, the “heroic city” that stopped the column of Russian tanks headed for Kiev
18.35 Ukraine: the military airport in Myrhorod was hit by the Russians
Ukrainian defense spokesman Igor Konashenkov confirmed that Russian forces have launched a missile attack against Myrhorod, in the Ukrainian Poltava region, rendering a military airport “inoperative”. Konashenkov said the raid destroyed a plane and some helicopters. In total, the spokesman said, the Russian airstrikes today would have hit 28 Ukrainian military installations, including the Defense headquarters in the city of Kharkiv.
17.50 Ukraine, Macron: “World of peace seems to be falling apart before our eyes”
During the meeting held in Nantegivenw of the upcoming presidential elections, Emmanuel Macron wished to thank the “families and municipalities” who welcome Ukrainian refugees. “The world of peace and continuous progress that we believed was eternal seems to be falling apart before our eyes,” said the French president, speaking of a moment of “great disorder”.
17.22 Ukraine: gunshots and stun grenades, dispersed protest in Enerhodar
Russian forces dispersed citizens protesting against the occupation in Enerhodar, in the Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia, with gunshots and stun grenades. This was reported by the Ukrainian company for nuclear energy Energoatom, relaunched by the Kyiv Independent. Some videos released on Telegram show the stun grenades exploding and some demonstrators fleeing.
16.59 Ukraine: 20 deaths in civilian clothes found on a street in Bucha
The bodies of at least twenty people in civilian clothes were found scattered hundreds of meters on a residential street in Bucha after Ukrainian forces recaptured the small town northwest of Kiev. This is what the reporter from France Presse found on the spot. The cause of death is not clear at the moment. One of the bodies, the reporter explains, had its hands tied. The images of the corpses had been released in the past few hours by the Ukrainian media, according to which they are civilians killed by the retreating Russian forces
Ukraine, the Russians shoot the crowd in Enerhodar and arrest the protesters against the occupation
16.50 Ukraine, Macron: “A few hours from Paris bombs on democracy”
“A few hours from Paris democracy is being bombed”. French President Emmanuel Macron said this during a rally in Nanterre ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.
16.44 Ukraine: new ga roup of sick children welcomed in Trieste
A new group of Ukrainian children in need of care was welcomed this morning at the Irccs maternal and child Burlo Garofolo in Trieste. This is the third group of pediatric refugees that the hospital has taken care of since the beginning of the war. At the moment, the IRCCS reports, there are about fifty small patients followed by the medical staff.
16.31 Ukraine: the number of deaths in Mykolayiv rises to 36
The death toll from the Russian missile attack last March 29 on the headquarters of the regional administration in Mykolayiv, in southern Ukraine, has risen to 36 dead. The emergency services of the city reported on Facebook. Rescuers, it is explained, extracted 33 corpses from the rubble, while three wounded died after being transported to the hospital.
4.15pm Kyiv: Ukraine spends $ 10 billion a month on the war
Ukraine spends around $ 10 billion a month on hostilities. The Ukrainian media reported this, citing the data examined in the meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and his economic ministers. The meeting discussed the state of the Ukrainian economy in the second month of the war and the prospects for the near future with a focus on sources of financing, including tax revenues and assistance from international partners.
The children of the Chernihiv orphanage were welcomed in Sicily: “Many still under the bombs”
16.10 The mayor of Mariupol: “Almost 40 thousand people brought to Russia”
“Nearly 40,000 people have already arrived in Donestk or Russia. Unfortunately, we know that parents are separated from their children.” This was stated by the mayor of Mariupol Vadym Boychenko, as reported by UNIAN. “Seventeen children left the hospital I don’t know in which direction, their parents were evacuated to Zaporizhzhya.” According to the mayor, the counting of deportees is complicated by the fact that Ukrainian documents are seized from people.
15.55 Kidnapped Deputy Mayor of Nova Sloboda, in the Sumy region
Russian troops kidnapped a deputy mayor in the Sumy region of northern Ukraine. This was reported by the BBC citing the head of the region Dmytro Zhyvytskyi. This is Oleksiy Shibayev, deputy mayor of the Nova Sloboda district who was kidnapped while accompanying an aid delivery to a checkpoint in the Putyvl area, about 80 km northwest of Sumy, near the border with Russia.
15.47 Recaptured Brovary, east of Kiev
Ukrainian authorities have announced the reconquest of Brovary, a key settlement east of Kyiv. This was announced by the mayor of the city. The retreating Russian troops, however, would have undermined the area, the mayor warned.
15.25 Kyiv: fierce fighting in the south-east ahead
14.55 Moscow opens criminal investigation into “terrorist attack” in Belgorod
The Russian Investigation Commission has opened a criminal case after “the terrorist attack by the Ukrainian armed forces” on the oil depot in Belgorod, near the border with Ukraine. This was announced by the Commission itself on its Telegram channel quoted by Interfax.
14.34 Turkey: ready to supply Mariupol evacuation ships
Turkey is ready to provide ships for the evacuation of civilians and wounded from Mariupol, which has been besieged since the beginning of March. This was stated by the Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, as reported by the Turkish agency Anadolu.
“We can provide ships, mainly for the evacuation of civilians and wounded, Turks and other citizens of Mariupol. In this context, our coordination with the authorities of the Russian Federation and Ukraine continues”, said the minister who also stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire and the safe operation of evacuation corridors.
14.21 Kremlin: dialogue with the EU when it will sober up from American Bourbon
The dialogue between Russia and Europe will resume, but not in a short-term perspective. The spokesman for the Russian presidency, Dmitry Peskov said: “When Europeans will soak up the American Bourbon hangover and finally think about our need to take care of the future of our continent ourselves – Europe, even Eurasia – then the time will come. It is not a short-term perspective, but when the time comes to rethink our relationships, the time for dialogue will come, “Peskov said in an interview on the television program Moscow.Kremlin.Putin about Rossiya-1.
14.03 Kyiv: soon evacuation from Mariupol as agreed
A plan for the evacuation of civilians who are still stranded in Mariupol, the port on the Azov Sea under siege for weeks, was agreed upon by delegations from Kiev and Moscow when they met in Istanbul in attendance on 29 March. According to a delegate and advisor to President Zelensky Oleksiy Arestovych on Ukrainian TV, “our delegation has reached an agreement in Istanbul to carry out the evacuations. I think today or maybe tomorrow we will hear good news, regarding the evacuation of the inhabitants. of Mariupol “.
13.28 Putin and Kazakh president: Kyiv’s neutrality is an important goal
Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone call with the Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in which they agreed on the importance of reaching an agreement on the neutrality of Ukraine, its non-belonging to alliances, and its non-nuclearization. The Kremlin reports, adding that the two leaders confirmed the commitment to strengthen relations between the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan
12.41 Russians shoot demonstrators in Enerhodar
Russian forces fired on a peaceful demonstration in Enerhodar, Zaporizhia Oblast, southern Ukraine, where explosions were heard. This was reported by the Ukrainian state nuclear energy company Energoatom, quoted by the Kyiv Independent, according to which the Russians have arrested an unknown number of people who opposed the occupation. In a video released on social media, people are seen escaping from a gathering while gunshots are heard and clouds of smoke rise.
12.35 The Ukrainian flag returns to the Chernobyl power plant
Today the flag of Ukraine was raised again at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant to the sound of the national anthem. This was announced by the same central on Facebook. Operational personnel attended the flag-raising ceremony and continued to ensure the nuclear safety of the Chernobyl plant during the occupation by Russian troops. On March 31, Russian troops marched on two columns leaving the plant towards the Ukrainian border with Belarus.
Ukrainian photojournalist Maxim Levin was found dead. Ukrainska Pravda reports it . Levin, 40, who had worked for several international newspapers including AP and Reuters, had been missing since March 13 from the front line near Kyiv, in the Vyshhorod district where he was resuming fighting.
12.13 Kyiv: GDP down by 16% in the first quarter
The GDP of Ukraine in the first quarter of 2022 decreased by 16% compared to the same period last year. This was underlined by the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy by raising the alarm about the possibility that the country’s domestic product could drop by 40% compared to 2021 due to the war. “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally changed our economy. Our forecast for a decline in GDP in the first quarter of 2022 is 16% and the annual decline could reach 40%,” said Denis Kudin.
11.48 Di Maio: sanctions and diplomacy to overcome the crisis
“Italy is working non-stop to put an end to this conflict through sanctions and without ever giving up the channel of diplomacy. The continuation of negotiations between the parties and a humanitarian truce are priorities. We note the progress made in Turkey after the meeting between the two delegations. The Italian government is willing to contribute to the peace process and to guarantee the neutrality of Ukraine “. Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said this after meeting with his Azerbaijani colleague, Jeyhun Bayramov, in Baku.
11.44 The mayor of Tavriya kidnapped by the Russians
The Russians captured the mayor of Tavriya, Nikolai Rizak, in the Kherson region. This was reported by the Tavriya city council, quoted by the Ukrainian media. “The mayor of Tavriya was taken prisoner by the Russians. Since last night there is no information on his whereabouts. He was arrested by the Russian military,” the note read. “We hope that everything goes well for him and that he can continue to perform his duties as mayor as soon as possible, because he is responsible for the life of the community of 18,000 people,” adds the city council.
11.37 The number of dead in the missile attack on Mykolaiv rises to 33
The number of victims of the missile attack on the regional public administration building in Mykolaiv rises to 33 people. This was stated by the state emergency service on Facebook, as reported by Ukrinform. “Rescuers continue to dismantle the structures and remove the lifeless bodies from the rubble in the regional state administration building. Currently, 33 people are known to have died and 34 injured,” the statement read.
10.54 Moscow: Poltava and Dnipro airstrips destroyed
The Russian Armed Forces destroyed the airstrips in Poltava and Dnipro in Ukraine with precision attacks. This was announced by the spokesman of the Russian defense ministry Igor Konashenkov, as reported by Tass. “Military airstrips in Poltava and Dnieper have been disabled by high-precision air-to-ground missile attacks,” he noted. According to Konashenkov, Russian air defense also shot down two Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopters near the city of Sumy, as well as 24 Ukrainian drones.
10.37 US will help allies transfer tanks to Kiev
The Biden administration will work with allies to relocate Soviet-made tanks to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses in the Donbass. The New York Times writes it, quoting an American official and stressing that it is the first time that the US has helped transfer tanks since the beginning of the war. The source reported that tank transfers will start soon but did not want to specify their number or from which countries they will come. The tanks, specifically requested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, will allow Kiev to carry out long-range artillery fire on Russian targets in Donbass.
10.30 The Pope: my trip to Kiev “is on the table”
“Yes, it’s on the table”: this is how Pope Francis replied to journalists on the flight to Malta who asked him if he considered the invitation to go to Kiev.
10.13 Reservist general arrested, he tried to flee to Hungary
A reservist general of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) was arrested while trying to flee to Hungary: this is reported in the Ukrinform newspaper. According to the State Investigation Bureau quoted by Ukrinform, the senior officer used false documents to cross the border at Tisza in Transcarpathia; in particular, he showed a certificate of unfitness for military service and was demoted in rank. Martial law has been in force in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24th.
09.34 7 humanitarian corridors scheduled today, there is also Mariupol
Seven humanitarian corridors, including a new attempt to evacuate Mariupol, are planned for today in Ukraine. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk. The Mariupol corridor provides for both private and bus transport, Vereshchuk said.
09.32 Video of the BBC near Kiev: bodies of civilians on the street for a month
After Ukrainian forces regain control of the E-40 highway near the capital Kiev , the BBCshot a video testifying to the massacre of civilians that took place almost a month ago on civilians fleeing to Kiev. There are 13 lifeless bodies in just 200 meters; of these only two have been identified: they are the couple who appeared in the shock images, taken by a drone last month, in which a man was seen shot while he was with his hands raised out of his car, and a woman in the vehicle. Now, almost a month later, they are still there, in the now rusty and bullet-riddled car, the bodies unrecognizable after the Russian military attempts to incinerate them to hide evidence of a war crime. The couple, Maksim Iowenko and his wife Ksjena, were in a convoy of 10 civilian vehicles trying to reach Kiev. The drone video showed a Russian tank blocking the convoy, and as the other cars made their way back, theirs were hit, and the couple killed in cold blood. Their child and an elderly woman were instead allowed to flee. The video also testifies to the presence of other burnt cars and bodies of victims, in all 13; according to the reporter, the soldiers tried to burn them.
08.40 Kiev: the number of children killed in war rises to 158
The estimated number of children killed and wounded in the war in Ukraine rises to 412. This was announced by the Attorney General’s office in Ukraine , specifying that since the beginning of the conflict, 158 children have been killed and 254 injured.
08.31 Today three trains from the Ukrainian Donbass to Lviv
Three evacuation trains will depart today from the Lugansk and Donetsk regions . The head of the Lugansk regional state administration Serhiy Haidai announced on Telegram, as reported by Ukrinform. Trains will depart from Novozolotarivka in Lugansk and from Kramatorsk in Donetsk, bound for Lviv.
08.22 Intelligence Gb: the Russians withdraw from Gostomel airport
Russian forces have withdrawn from Gostomel airport near the Ukrainian capital Kiev , which has been the scene of battle since the beginning of the conflict, according to British military intelligence. The BBC reports . “The Ukrainian forces continue to advance while the Russian ones are in retreat, in the vicinity of Kiev,” says the British Ministry of Defense.
08.18 Missiles hit Poltava and Kremenchuk
Two cities in central-eastern Ukraine, in the Poltava region, were hit by missiles last night and this morning. The governor of the region, Dmitry Lunin, made it known on social networks. The missiles hit “infrastructures and homes” in the capital Poltava, 280,000 inhabitants, and in Kremenchuk, 210,000. There is no information on any civilians involved.
07.54 Zelensky: we will not accept any result other than victory
“A victory of truth means a victory for Ukraine and the Ukrainians”, “the question is when it will end. It is a profound question. It is a painful question. The Ukrainian people will accept no result but victory.” This is what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, in an interview with Fox News. Then he refused to answer the question of whether he ordered yesterday’s attack on the Russian fuel depot in Belgorod on Russian soil, saying that he does not speak of any orders he gives as commander in chief. “Did he launch an attack on a Russian military depot on Russian soil using helicopters?” Was the question of the interviewer, Bret Baier. And Zelensky replied: “I’m sorry, I don’t discuss any of my orders as commander in chief”, “there are things I only share with the armed forces of Ukraine”. Previously, the secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine denied Moscow allegations that two Ukrainian assault helicopters had hit the facility in Belgorod.
07.48 Russian forces withdraw from the airport near Kiev
The Russian armed forces withdrew from Antonov airport, in Hostomel, near Kiev . This was reported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and satellite images broadcast on social media confirm it.
07.30 Zelensky: “Beware of mines, the Russians have also mined the corpses”
Zelensky, in a video message, accused the Russian forces of leaving behind a “total disaster” as they withdraw from the north of the country and from the cities outside Kiev , warning residents of the danger of mines. “They are undermining the whole territory, they are undermining houses, equipment, even the bodies of the people who have been killed,” Zelensky said inviting residents to wait to resume their normal life until demining is assured and the danger of new bombings.
07.20 The Red Cross tries again with the humanitarian corridor for Mariupol
After yesterday’s stop, the International Committee of the Red Cross has relaunched the mission to evacuate the civilians remaining in Mariupol with a convoy of 54 Ukrainian buses and vehicles. An estimated 160,000 people are trapped in the city. In a message released overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that more than three thousand people have already been evacuated. “We also agreed to take the wounded and dead out of the city,” he added, noting that Turkey played a mediating role. The International Red Cross explained that the operation was approved by both Kiev and Moscow. The destination to which the civilians will be transferred remains to be clarified.
07.08 Tortured civilian bodies found near Sumy
Tortured civilian bodies were found in Trostyanets, Sumy region in northwestern Ukraine. This is what we read in a tweet from the Ukraine crisis media center.
06.04 Column of displaced buses arrived in Zaporizhzhia
A column of buses loaded with displaced people arrived in Zaporizhzhia , a city controlled by the Kiev army. Also on board were the residents of Mariupol who had managed to reach the Russian-occupied city of Berdiansk, where they had been picked up by the convoy. The AFP reports it. Among them there are those who walked 15 kilometers to leave the city before finding other means for a journey that lasted twelve hours, when three were needed before the war.
04.33 Beijing: China does not deliberately evade sanctions
” China is not deliberately evading sanctions against Russia but has regular trade with Moscow which contributes to the global economy.” This was stated by the director of the European Affairs Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Lutong, in a press point following the EU-China summit. “There was an exchange as to whether the sanctions contributed to the descalation, the cessation of hostilities or promoted peace negotiations,” he added.
03.35 NYT: US to supply Soviet-made tanks to Ukrainians in Donbass
Biden administration will work with allies to supply Soviet-made tanks to Ukrainian defenses in the eastern Donbass region. The New York Times reports it quoting an American official. The decision to act as an intermediary to support the relocation of Soviet-made tanks, which Ukrainian troops know how to use, comes in response to a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. It is the first time since the war broke out that the United States has taken an initiative to support the supply of tanks. The official also announced that the transfers would start soon but refused to say how many tanks would be sent or which countries they would arrive from. They will allow Ukraine to conduct long-range artillery strikes against Russian targets in the Donbass, he explained.
03.13 From Kiev to Odessa, new air attack alarm goes off
The sirens sound again for air strikes in Ukraine. The alarm went off around 3.40 local time (2.40 in Italy) in numerous locations, including the capital Kiev and important cities such as Odessa, Lviv , Dnipropetrosk. Sirens also in operation in Kharkiv, Sumy, Rivne, Ternopil, Zhytomyr, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhia, Chernivtsi, Volyn and Vinnytsia.
