Russia intensifies offensive in Ukraine and Zelensky urges Europeans to act

Russia intensified the offensive in Ukraine on Tuesday, launching a major operation against Kiev, a severe bombardment against Kharkov, and a siege against the port of Mariupol, prompting the Ukrainian president to once again ask the Europeans for help.

Satellite images captured overnight a column of more than 60 kilometers of Russian vehicles and artillery advancing in the direction of Kiev.

In tune with the advance towards the capital, the Ukrainian army moved its device to the west and north of the city, an AFP journalist confirmed.

“Gunshots and shelling woke us up all night” said Natacha, who opened a canteen for soldiers and volunteers in the town of Chaika, west of Kiev, where it snowed overnight.

The Russian military has instructed Kiev civilians living near Ukrainian intelligence facilities to evacuate the area as it prepares attacks against those targets.

Also on Tuesday, Russia bombed the center of Kharkiv, a city of 1.4 million people not far from the border.

At least 18 dead and 26 wounded is the balance of the bombings, according to reports from the relief services.

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky called the bombings a “war crime” and pointed out that the defense of the capital, Kiev, is the “priority”.

The Russians appeared to be making gains in the south of the country, in the Azov Sea region.

The Mariúpol port was without electricity due to the bombardments and the governor of the region indicated that the town of Volnovaja, with 20,000 inhabitants, was almost “destroyed”.

This zone is key since it allows the Russians to unite the Crimean peninsula – annexed by Moscow in 2014 – with the territories of the Ukrainian separatists.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Donetsk separatist militias joined “military units of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, which took control of the Ukrainian areas along the Sea of ​​Azov.”

The commander of the separatist forces of the pro-Russian territory of Donetsk, Eduard Basurin, indicated that Mariúpol “will be completely fenced off” this Tuesday.

uncertain human balance

The balance of the conflict is uncertain. The UN reported 102 dead among civilians and 304 wounded, but acknowledges that the balance may be higher.

The Russian forces have not published any balance of what they describe as “special military operation”, but they recognized that they suffered casualties.

The UN estimates that more than 660,000 people have fled Ukraine. The situation “looks set to become Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century”, affirmed the spokeswoman for the refugee agency (Acnur).

Given the advance of the Russians, Zelensky urged the international community on Tuesday to veto Russia from “all ports” and “airports in the world”, a call picked up by the Danish shipping giant Maersk that announced the suspension of the voyages to Russian ports.

Zelensky spoke Tuesday before the European Parliament by videoconference and reiterated his request to join the European Union (EU) immediately and urged Europeans to prove that they are with their country.

“Europe will be stronger with Ukraine in its midst. Without you, Ukraine will be alone. We have proven our strength. Therefore, prove that you are with us, prove that you will not abandon us”, he said in a dramatic call that was applauded by the plenary.

While Ukraine’s quick entry into the EU seems out of the question, European leaders expressed support for Ukraine and Germany promised more sanctions.

The President of the European Council, the Belgian Charles Michel, accused Russia of committing “geopolitical terrorism” and the head of the German government, Olaf Scholz, called for an immediate end to the “bloodbath”.

economic destruction

Zelensky asked for the “economic destruction” from Russia, at a time when the sanctions adopted by the United States, Europe and allied countries are of historic magnitude.

Punitive measures include airspace closures, exclusion from a major international financial transfer system, currency blockade, and individual sanctions against the political, government, and business elite.

“We are willing to intensify it and maintain it (the pressure, ndlr) as long as necessary”, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, visiting Poland, said on Tuesday.

The pressure is on all fronts. The International Olympic Committee recommended the exclusion of Russia from all competitions. Among other measures, Russia was left out of the World Cup in soccer and the rugby federation, and this Tuesday it lost the venue for the World Cup in volleyball.

The first negotiations between the two sides, held on Monday in Belarus, ended without any ceasefire and the delegations returned to their capitals for consultations, without setting a date for another meeting.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin was informed of the talks but that it is too early to “evaluate” the outcome of the dialogue.

In this framework, the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, said that his troops will continue the offensive until they achieve their objectives.

The minister recalled that his country wants a “demilitarization” and the “denazification” of Ukraine, as well as protect yourself from the “military threat created by Western countries.

At the UN headquarters in Geneva, numerous delegations, including Ukraine and Western countries, boycotted the online intervention of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a Disarmament conference and at the Human Rights Council session, leaving the room almost empty .

Later, Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that Russia may be excluded from the UN Human Rights Council.

The UN launched a call to raise US$1.7 billion in emergency aid for Ukraine, as it estimates that 12 million people inside that country invaded by Russia will need help and projects that some four million displaced people could require help in the next few years. neighboring countries in the coming months.