kyiv “still needs a little extra time”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky assured in an interview broadcast Thursday, May 11 by the BBC that his army still needed time to prepare a much-awaited counter-offensive intended to repel Russian forces.
This Ukrainian operation has been in preparation for months, while the front has been largely frozen since last year, with the bulk of the fighting taking place for control of the devastated city of Bakhmout in the east.
Ukraine would have taken back two kilometers around Bakhmout
Kiev forces have advanced two kilometers around the city of Bakhmout, the epicenter of the fighting in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian deputy defense minister announced on Friday.
“The enemy has suffered significant human losses. Our defense forces have advanced two kilometers near Bakhmout,” Ganna Malyar said in a statement posted on social media. “We haven’t lost any positions in Bakhmout this week,” she added.
The Russian army denies any “breakthrough” of its defenses by Ukrainian forces
The Russian army denied Thursday evening in a press release any “breakthrough” of its defenses by the Ukrainian forces, as worried pro-Russian military bloggers and the boss of the paramilitary group Wagner.
Several pro-Russian bloggers following the situation on the ground were alarmed on Thursday evening by Ukrainian troop movements and the abandonment by Russian soldiers of positions, in particular near Bakhmout, the epicenter of the fighting in eastern Ukraine.
“Statements broadcast by individual Telegram channels about ‘defence breakthroughs’ allegedly taking place in various parts of the line of contact do not correspond to reality,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. He assured in his report of the past day that he had repelled some Ukrainian attacks and reconnaissance operations on the front, without their number differing from what was reported in the previous days and weeks.
According to the Russian ministry, the only ongoing battle in the late evening is near Malynivka in the Donetsk region, which involves air force and artillery. The ministry, however, did not mention reports of a Russian retreat near Bakhmout, saying only that “assault detachments continue to liberate the western part” of the city, where the last pockets are located. Ukrainians. “The overall situation in the special military operation area is under control,” he said. These assertions were immediately unverifiable from an independent source.
Wagner chief accuses Russian military of fleeing fighting in Bakhmout
The boss of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, Evguéni Prigojine, whose men are on the front line in the battle for Bakhmout, has reported for his part for three days a retreat of Russian soldiers on the flanks of this city in the face of Ukrainian attacks. On Thursday, Yevgeni Prigojine said that the Ukrainian army had sent units trained and equipped with Western weapons to the scene, which kyiv was keeping in reserve for a much-awaited counter-offensive.
“Territories that were taken with the blood and lives of our comrades in arms for many months (…) are today, virtually without a fight, abandoned by those who should hold our flanks,” he said. stated in an audio message. A new spade for the regular Russian army. Controlled over 90% by the Russians, Bakhmout is the scene of the longest and deadliest battle since the beginning of the war.
Sweden wants EU, which it chairs, to label Wagner a terrorist group
Sweden, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, said Thursday it was ready to include the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, accused of abuses in Ukraine and Africa, on the list of the European Union (EU) of terrorist organizations.
“Sweden stands ready to work to build consensus within the EU to include Wagner on the EU list of terrorist organizations as soon as the legal conditions are met,” Foreign Minister Tobias said. Billström to the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN). “The Wagner group has committed atrocious abuses in particular in Sudan, Mali, Syria and Ukraine,” the head of Swedish diplomacy told DN.
On Tuesday, the French National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution inviting the French government “to mobilize diplomatically” so that the paramilitary group is included on this list in order to more effectively sanction the members of Wagner and their supporters, in particular on the financial plan.
Eurovision: Volodymyr Zelensky prevented from speaking during the final
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not be able to speak via video message during the Eurovision final organized on Saturday May 13, the organizer of the singing competition said on Thursday.
“Volodymyr Zelensky’s request to address the Eurovision Song Contest audience, although made with laudable intentions, regretfully cannot be granted as it would break the rules of the event,” European Broadcasting said. Union (EBU) which organizes the competition. “One of the pillars of the competition is the non-political nature of the event. This principle prohibits political or similar statements during the competition,” explained the EBU.
The competition is being held this year in Liverpool (north of England), the United Kingdom having offered to host Eurovision in place of Ukraine, winner last year, and which as such would have had to organize the event but who had to give it up because of the Russian invasion.
The final, which will see 26 countries compete, provides a strong tribute to Ukraine, with the presence of eleven Ukrainian artists on stage, including Kalush Orchestra, last year’s winner, said the EBU. Video clips broadcast during the evening will show different places in the country. Russia was excluded from the competition, as in the 2022 edition.
