Tag: Donetsk

ICC Issues Arrest Warrant Against Putin Over Alleged War Crimes In Ukraine

Putin Declares Martial Law In Annexed Regions Of Ukraine

By LokMarg

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced the imposition of martial law in four areas of Ukraine that Russia announced it had annexed last month.

The four regions occupied by Russia are Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Putin made these comments during a security council meeting, CNN reported.
“In this regard, let me remind you that in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Luhansk People’s Republic, as well as in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, martial law was in effect before joining Russia,” Putin said during a televised address.

“Now we need to formalize this regime within the framework of Russian legislation,” he said, adding that a decree of martial law in these four regions of the Russian Federation has been introduced formally and will be immediately sent to the Federation Council, CNN reported.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Russian leaders in the annexed regions started relocating people in huge numbers amid global condemnation.

After Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia, concerns have sparked globally that Moscow could resort to nuclear weapons.

Putin formally announced the annexation of four regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia recently and claimed that “this is the will of millions of people,” according to CNN.

Putin said the residents in the four annexed regions will now be Russia’s “citizens forever”.

Russia’s annexation has sparked wide criticism from around the world. The United States announced that it will impose a “swift and severe cost” on Russia.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the “United States unequivocally rejects Russia’s fraudulent attempt to change Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.”

After Putin’s formal announcement of the annexation of the said four regions, western leaders condemned it, termed it “illegal” and vowed that they will “never recognize” these areas. (ANI)

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Russian Missiles, Drones Attack Ukraine Energy Systems

At Least 17 Killed In Russian Attack On Zaporizhzhia

By LokMarg

At least 17 people have been killed and 40 others injured after the rocket struck Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia area on Saturday.

Acting Mayor of Zaporizhzhia Anatoly Kurtev said that in the attack, five houses were destroyed and apartment buildings were damaged, CNN reported.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while addressing the nation on Saturday said that a fierce battle is taking place around the city of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region.

“We are holding positions in Donbas, in particular in the Bakhmut direction, where now it is very, very hard, very tough fighting,” Zelensky said as quoted by CNN.

“Today, I would like to once again mention our soldiers from the Kholodny Yar 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade for their courage and sustained power in this direction.”

Zaporizhzhia is a major city in southern Ukraine, not far from the front line, and the site of a nuclear power plant that the international community is watching warily, according to CNN.

Part of the wider region is occupied by Russian forces.

Notably, the war between Moscow and Kyiv intensifies after Russia announced the annexation of four regions of Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

The war between Russia and Ukraine appears to be entering a new phase after Kyiv dealt a big blow to Moscow’s grip after it recaptured 2,400 square kilometers of territory in the Kherson region in the south of the country “since the beginning of the full-scale war,” a senior Ukrainian official said Friday, reported CNN.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the president’s office said six settlements had been liberated in the Kherson district as well as 61 in the Beryslav district.

Tymoshenko said the evacuation of civilians continued amid massive destruction to critical infrastructure in towns like Arkhanhelske, Vysokopillia, and Osokorivka, all of which saw weeks of heavy fighting and indirect fire. Demining is in progress, he added.

Ukrainian forces have been making steady progress in Kherson since beginning an offensive at the end of last month, and their successes have sparked rare criticism of Moscow’s war effort among pro-Russian figures.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised his forces’ counteroffensive in his evening address on Tuesday.

“The Ukrainian army is making a rather fast and powerful advance in the south of our country in the course of the ongoing defensive operation,” Zelenskyy said in his evening address.

“Our warriors do not stop. And it is only a matter of time before we will expel the occupier from all our land.” (ANI)

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Russia Appoints New General To Command Forces In Ukraine War

By LokMarg

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu on Saturday appointed Army General Sergey Surovikin to command the joint group of forces involved in the Ukraine war.

“Army General Sergey Surovikin has been appointed to command the joint group of forces in the area of the special military operation in Ukraine based on the Russian defense minister’s decision,” reported TASS quoting Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashekov telling reporters.

He earlier served as Commander of Russia’s Eastern Military District and led Russian troops in Syria, reported TASS.

Notably, Russia recently annexed four regions of Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

The war between Russia and Ukraine appears to be entering a new phase after Kyiv dealt a big blow to Moscow’s grip after it recaptured 2,400 square kilometers of territory in the Kherson region in the south of the country “since the beginning of the full-scale war,” a senior Ukrainian official said Friday, reported CNN.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the president’s office said six settlements had been liberated in the Kherson district as well as 61 in the Beryslav district.

Tymoshenko said the evacuation of civilians continued amid massive destruction to critical infrastructure in towns like Arkhanhelske, Vysokopillia, and Osokorivka, all of which saw weeks of heavy fighting and indirect fire. Demining is in progress, he added.

Ukrainian forces have been making steady progress in Kherson since beginning an offensive at the end of last month, and their successes have sparked rare criticism of Moscow’s war effort among pro-Russian figures.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised his forces’ counteroffensive in his evening address on Tuesday. “The Ukrainian army is making a rather fast and powerful advance in the south of our country in the course of the ongoing defensive operation,” Zelenskyy said in his evening address.

“Our warriors do not stop. And it is only a matter of time before we will expel the occupier from all our land.” (ANI)

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Zelenkskyy To Modi

Ukraine Will Not Conduct Negotiations With Putin: Zelenkskyy To Modi

By LokMarg

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s calls for peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday said that Kyiv will not conduct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PM Modi earlier held a phone call with Zelenskyy and said that the endangerment of nuclear facilities amid the Russia-Ukraine war could lead to catastrophic consequences for the environment.
During the phone call, the Prime Minister expressed his firm conviction that there can be no military solution to the conflict and conveyed India’s readiness to contribute to any peace efforts. He again called for the cessation of hostilities and the need to pursue the path of diplomacy.

Reacting to the referendum in four Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine – Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, Zelenskyy noted that all the aggressor’s decisions aimed at attempting illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories are null and void and do not change reality.

Zelenskyy emphasized that under such conditions, Ukraine will not conduct any negotiations with the current President of the Russian Federation, and noted that our state has always been committed to a peaceful settlement through dialogue, said Zelenskyy readout.

“However, Russia did not stand for dialogue and put forward ultimate instead deliberately undermining this process. During my speech at the session of the UN General Assembly, I outlined our clear formula for peace. We are ready to work together with our partners to achieve it,” added the President of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy thanked PM Modi for India’s support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and also emphasized the importance of the Indian leader’s recent statement that now is not the time for war.

During the conversation, the Ukrainian President emphasized the importance of strengthening the Ukrainian-Indian partnership against the backdrop of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also noted the significant humanitarian aid provided by the government and the private sector of the Republic of India to Ukraine, added the readout.

Both leaders separately discussed the issue of global food security. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is ready to continue acting as a guarantor of the world’s food security. In this regard, the support of the entire international community, in particular India, for further implementing the grain initiative is important.

The interlocutors paid due attention to the issue of nuclear safety.

“Nuclear blackmail by Russia, particularly regarding the Zaporizhzhia NPP, is a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the whole world,” Zelenskyy said.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reiterated its deep concern about landmine explosions close to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). IAEA is also continuing its consultations and other efforts to agree on and implement a nuclear safety and security zone around the ZNPP as soon as possible.

The Prime Minister’s Office said Prime Minister Modi reiterated the importance of respecting the UN Charter, International Law, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.

“Prime Minister emphasized the importance India attaches to the safety and security of nuclear installations, including in Ukraine. He underlined that endangerment of nuclear facilities could have far-reaching and catastrophic consequences for public health and the environment,” the statement said.

Separately, Zelenskyy and Modi discussed cooperation within international organizations, primarily the UN.

During the conversation, the parties noted mutual interest in deepening regular full-scale Ukrainian-Indian contacts, as well as the implementation of tasks on the agenda of bilateral relations of comprehensive partnership.

Further, Zelenskyy invited PM Modi to visit Ukraine. (ANI)

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk

Elon Slammed By Ukrainian Over Tweets On Russia

By LokMarg

Tesla CEO Elon Musk drew backlash from Ukrainian officials, including Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his Tweets advising on how to bring about “peace” amid the ongoing war between Moscow and Kyiv.

Musk, through his official Twitter handle, tried out a Twitter poll to end Russian actions in Ukraine. Tesla’s CEO floated a number of ideas to solve the conflict, asking his followers to vote “yes” or “no” on his proposals, which included formally allowing Russia to annex Crimea.

Musk, who is also chief executive of SpaceX, said: “Russia is doing partial mobilization.” They go to full war mobilization if Crimea is at risk. Death on both sides will be devastating. Russia has >3 times the population of Ukraine, so victory for Ukraine is unlikely in total war. If you care about the people of Ukraine, seek peace. “

Irked over the billionaire’s comments, Ukrainian former Ambassador to Germany Andrij Melnyk lashed out at Musk.

“Fuck off is my very diplomatic reply to you,” Melnyk said in a Tweet. “The only outcome that now no Ukrainian will EVER buy your f…ing tesla crap. So good luck to you,” he said in another tweet.

While Zelenskyy tweeted offering two responses: one who supports Ukraine, one who supports Russia: “Which @elonmusk do you like more?,”

Russian President Vladimir Putin last week formally announced the annexation of four regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—and claimed that “this is the will of millions of people.”

On February 24, Russia began a special military operation in Ukraine after the Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics requested help in defending themselves. What followed the military operation was a slew of sanctions imposed by the western countries targeting the Russian economy. (ANI)

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Participation In Ukraine Grain Deal

Putin Hails Citizens In Annexed Ukraine Territories For Siding With Russia

By LokMarg

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the millions of ordinary citizens, whose culture has been “destroyed”, carried the “love for their historical homeland in their hearts” and in the heat of the battle, “heroically” came to the referendum and made their choice to be with Russia.

Putin made the remarks at the “People’s Choice: Together Forever” concert rally from Red Square which was organized on Friday, the same day when Putin formally announced the annexation of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Lugansk.

The Russian President took part in the rally in support of the accession of the DPR, LPR, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions to Russia. He called the day a “special, momentous and, without exaggeration, historic day, a day of truth and justice.”

Speaking in retrospect, Putin said that he cannot help but go back to the time when the Soviet Union was formed and when Russia was creating “modern Ukraine.”

“It was Russia that created modern Ukraine, giving it significant swathes of land, historical lands of Russia, along with the people, who no one asked about where and how they want to live, how they see the future of their children, and in which country. The same thing happened when the Soviet Union broke apart. The elites decided everything among themselves, and no one asked millions of ordinary citizens anything,” he said as per the Kremlin press release.

He asserted that only now, only “modern Russia” has given the residents of the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Donetsk People’s Republic, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson the “right to choose.”

Putin that even though shelling was going on in Lugansk they remained in the line to the polling station to defend their choice. “The elections were going on in Lugansk, and people were standing in line in the street waiting to get into the polling station. The artillery shelling began. A shell landed nearby, not far away, but no one left the line to the polling station. Amazing!”

For decades, he pointed out, “they have been trying to eradicate historical consciousness from these people, to destroy their traditions, to forbid them from speaking their native language, and to ban culture – nothing of that came to pass.”

“These people carried the love for their historical homeland in their hearts and passed it along to their children. That is why we are saying that Russia is not just opening the doors of its native home to our brothers and sisters; it is opening its heart to them. Welcome home!”

Putin gave the credit of Friday’s “triumph” to heroic “soldiers and officers, Donbass militia and volunteers.”

“You and I are here today on Red Square, but they are not here at the parade. They are in the heat of the battle, heroically defending the choice that the people made several days ago. I know what I am talking about. Heroically is the word.”

As a sign of support and gratitude, and in recognition of their “service, their heroism and self-sacrifice”, Putin proposed sending from Red Square, a signal of his “support, respect and admiration for their sacrifice and heroism” and gave them a triple “Hurrah.”

Take a deep breath and go at my command on the count of three, Putin said, “One, two, three, go: Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!”

Calling the people of the regions “brothers and sisters” Putin assured that Russia “will do everything it can” to ensure security and to improve safety in these territories for these people.

“We will do everything to revive the economy, to rebuild infrastructure, to build new schools and other educational institutions, hospitals and outpatient clinics. We are now stronger because we are together. The truth is on our side, and the truth means strength, which means victory. Victory will be ours!”

After Putin’s formal announcement of annexation of the said four regions, western leaders condemned it, termed it “illegal” and vowed that they will “never recognize” these areas. (ANI)

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There Are Four New Regions Of Russia: Putin

By LokMarg

In a big move, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday formally announced the annexation of four regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia and claimed that “this is the will of millions of people,” media reports said.

“There are four new regions of Russia,” Putin said in a lengthy speech declaring the annexation of Ukrainian territories in the St George’s Hall at a Kremlin ceremony. The speech was filled with highly critical rhetoric about Ukraine and its Western allies, reported Al Jazeera.
Putin said the residents in the four annexed regions will now be Russia’s “citizens forever”.

While denying seeking revival of the Soviet Union by the said annexation, Putin accused Western states – which have imposed sweeping sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

Moreover, in a strong statement, Putin also added that Russia would now defend its new territory “with all the means at its disposal.”

Defending its decision to go ahead with the referendum and announce the annexation of the region, the Russian President argued it was the “integral right” of people in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia to join Russia, reported Al Jazeera.

Speaking further, Putin claimed that the people in eastern Ukraine made up of Donetsk and Luhansk – had been “victims of inhumane terrorist attacks conducted by the Kyiv regime”.

He also called the result of the referendum “the will of millions of people.”

In a major move by Russia, President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree recognizing the so-called “independence” of the Ukrainian regions Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

Moreover, the UN Security Council is set to vote Friday on a resolution that would seek to condemn Russia for its referenda in four regions under Russian control but claimed by Ukraine, media reports said.

The US-sponsored resolution would call on all countries not to recognize the change in the status of the four regions, CNN reported. The resolution, which is also backed by Albania, would reaffirm the UN commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said any annexation of a state’s territory by another state resulting from a “threat or use of force” is a violation of the UN charter and international law.

“In this moment of peril, I must underscore my duty as Secretary-General to uphold the @UNCharter. The charter is clear. Any annexation of a state’s territory by another state resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the Principles of the Charter & international law,” Guterres tweeted.

On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of the annexation of Ukrainian territories and called it illegal under international law, media reports said. Describing Russia’s move as an act of ‘land grab’, the top US diplomat said that the US will never recognize the annexation by Moscow.

“The Kremlin’s sham referenda are a futile effort to mask what amounts to a further attempt at a land grab in Ukraine,” Blinken said in a statement. (ANI)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin

Putin Signs Independence Decree Of Zaporizhia, Kherson

By LokMarg

In a major move by Russia, President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree recognizing the so-called “independence” of the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, media reports said.

The decree will be followed by Russia formally proclaiming the annexation of Ukrainian territory by hosting a ceremony in Moscow, reported Al Jazeera. “I order the recognition of the state sovereignty and independence” of Zaporizhia and Kherson in southern Ukraine, reported Al Jazeera citing Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The two regions are set to be incorporated into Russia along with the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk at a ceremony in the Kremlin on Friday. This comes after, as the West calls it, a sham referendum.”

In the referendum in the Russian-occupied regions, Russia said that it has received a majority in its favour. Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in the month of February and soon after recognised the ‘independence’ of Donetsk and Luhansk in the same month.

Moreover, the UN Security Council is set to vote Friday on a resolution that would seek to condemn Russia for its referenda in four regions under Russian control but claimed by Ukraine, media reports said.

The US-sponsored resolution would call on all countries not to recognise the change in the status of the four regions, CNN reported. The resolution, which is also backed by Albania, would reaffirm the UN commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said any annexation of a state’s territory by another state resulting from a “threat or use of force” is a violation of the UN charter and international law.

“In this moment of peril, I must underscore my duty as Secretary-General to uphold the @UNCharter. The charter is clear. Any annexation of a state’s territory by another state resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the Principles of the Charter & international law,” Guterres tweeted.

On Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of the annexation of Ukrainian territories and called it illegal under international laws, media reports said. Describing Russia’s move as an act of ‘land grab’, the top US diplomat said that the US will never recognise the annexation by Moscow.

“The Kremlin’s sham referenda are a futile effort to mask what amounts to a further attempt at a land grab in Ukraine,” Blinken said in a statement.

Earlier, Kremlin said that Russia will hold a signing ceremony on Friday to incorporate the annexed four occupied regions of Ukraine.

“Tomorrow in the Georgian Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace at 15:00 [1200 GMT] a signing ceremony will take place on the incorporation of the new territories into Russia,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. (ANI)

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