Ukraine broke diplomatic relations with Russia on Thursday after the entry of Russian troops through the east of the country, while the death toll grows and part of the population of Kiev tries to leave the city heading west for fear of bombing.
The Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, made this rupture announcement a few hours after the military aggression against Ukrainian territory ordered by the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin.
Like the other Soviet socialist republics, Ukraine became independent in 1991 from the Soviet Union, which disappeared in December of that year as a subject of international law, but Russian-Ukrainian relations have deteriorated since the Russian annexation of Crimea and the support of the Kremlin to the armed uprising in Donbas (2014).
The dead increase
This rupture is one of the consequences of the Russian attack, which already supposes the death of several dozen people, after the Kiev authorities spoke of eight deaths, mostly civilians, first thing in the morning.
Specifically, more than forty Ukrainian soldiers died today in the attacks perpetrated by the Russian Army against airfields and military bases in the territory of this country, according to the Ukrainian Presidency.
“I know that now there are more than 40 dead and several dozen wounded,” Alexei Arestovich, a presidential adviser, reported at a press conference, admitting that most of the casualties occurred during this morning’s aerial bombing.
The Ukrainian side had also previously spoken of fifty Russian soldiers killed by its troops in retaking the city of Shchastia in the Lugansk region, which has not been confirmed by Moscow.
hard fighting
President Zelensky also stressed that the Ukrainian Army is engaged in “heavy fighting” throughout the national geography from “Donbas to other regions of the east, north and south.”
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry assured that the country’s Armed Forces are not attacking Ukrainian cities in the course of the “special military operation” launched by Putin.
The Russian military indicated that high-precision weapons are used against military infrastructure, anti-aircraft batteries and Ukrainian air bases.
the population flees
On the roads of Kiev there have been traffic jams of people who want to leave the capital for fear of instability and the possible advance of Russian troops, according to several witnesses told Efe.
“People want to go west, to cities where there are no airports and military installations,” said Olga, a civil servant.
He added that currently it is almost impossible to leave the city due to the accumulation of cars, and the authorities have asked citizens to stay at home so as not to create more traffic jams.
He added that there are also those who have approached the subway for fear of an air attack.
On the other hand, about 2,000 Ukrainian refugees crossed the border with Moldova on Thursday after the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine, reported the Moldovan Interior Minister, Anda Revenko, with entire families.
The risk to minors
At least 7.5 million minors are in “serious danger of (suffering) physical harm, emotional suffering and displacement” after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Save the Children organization warned Thursday.
The child protection NGO recalled that the first bombings of Ukrainian cities have already forced many children to hide in basements and shelters, while thousands are leaving the Ukrainian capital, amid very adverse weather conditions, with temperatures below zero .
It is estimated that more than 400,000 minors live in areas at high risk of being bombarded by artillery and the presence of soldiers, although at least 100,000 of them have already left their homes since last Monday, according to a Save the Children statement.
NATO discusses
The North Atlantic Council, NATO’s highest decision-making body, held a meeting on Thursday under article 4 of the Alliance, which is activated when one of the member countries feels threatened.
“Today we have held consultations under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty. We have decided, consistent with our defensive planning to protect all Allies, to take additional steps to further strengthen deterrence and defense across the Alliance. Our measures are and will continue to be preventive, proportionate, but not escalating,” the North Atlantic Council said in a statement.
In addition, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an urgent NATO summit on Thursday to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine after meeting with members of his National Security and Defense Council. (I)
More news about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine
Source: Eluniverso
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