This Thursday, March 31, marks 36 days since Russian troops began military action on Ukrainian territory. The invaded country continues to seek to evacuate civilians seeking to leave the country, while uncertainty remains over the alleged ceasefire – announced by Russia – that the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has dismissed in the past. of days and the lack of concrete actions.
Tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped in the port of Mariupol under persistent Russian bombardment, with little food, water and medicine, and previous attempts to open a humanitarian corridor failed despite international pressure.
Russians “do not withdraw” in Ukraine and NATO expects more “offensives”; March 31, 7:20 a.m.
NATO does not see a withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine and expects “further offensive actions”, the head of the Atlantic Alliance Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.
“According to our intelligence data, Russian units are not withdrawing but repositioning. Russia is trying to regroup (its forces), to re-supply and to strengthen its offensive in the Donbas region,” in eastern Ukraine, Stoltenberg told the media.
“At the same time, Russia is keeping pressure on kyiv and other cities. So we can expect additional offensive actions, which will bring even more suffering,” he added.
NATO assessment contradicts promise of Russian negotiatorsmade following talks in Turkey this week, to “radically” reduce Moscow’s military activity in northern Ukraine, including near the capital kyiv.
“We have heard recent statements that Russia will reduce military operations around kyiv and in northern Ukraine. But Russia has repeatedly lied regarding its intentions. So we can only judge Russia by its actions, not its words,” Stoltenberg said.
“It is obvious that we have seen little will on the part of Russia to find a political solution,” he added.
Putin’s popularity rises since offensive in Ukraine, according to independent poll; March 31, 7 a.m.
Approximately 83% of Russians approve of Vladimir Putin’s action, which gained 12 points in popularity compared to Februaryaccording to the poll published Thursday by the independent Russian Levada institute, its first poll since the start of the offensive in Ukraine.
Only 15% of Russians say they do not approve of the action of the president (-12% in one month) and 2% have no opinion.
Prime Minister Mikhail Missouri gained 11 points (71%, once morest 60% in February) and the government 15 points (70% once morest 55% in February).
Previous polls had been made public in recent weeks and already showed Putin’s approval rating of 80% or more, but they were conducted by pro-government institutions.
Vladimir Putin justified the Russian military offensive once morest Ukraine by accusing him of having organized a genocide of the Russian-speaking population and serving as a springboard for NATOexistential threat to Russia.
This message is broadcast daily by the state media, while critical voices have been forced into silence or into exile, under penalty of severe criminal sanctions in case of words that denigrate the action of the Russian army.
Russia also banned some of the social networks – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok – accused of having an anti-government editorial line.
Intimidations multiply once morest opponents in Russia; March 31, 6:40 a.m.
Intimidations have multiplied in recent days in Russia once morest opponents and critics of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, through graffiti with the letter “Z” or inscriptions that they mark the address of the person with the word “collaborator”.
On Wednesday night, an ally of jailed opponent Alexei Navalny, Ilia Pakhomov, posted a photo of his vandalized Russian home with two letters “Z” drawn in white paint. This letter is a sign of support for Russian troops fighting in Ukraineas it is painted on various military vehicles.
The graffiti is also accompanied by a banner with a photo of the activist on which “Collaborator” was written and “Don’t sell out your country”.
Since the offensive once morest Ukraine on February 24, the authorities have increased their pressure once morest the last independent and opposition media living in Russia. At the same time, the “Z”s in support of the Kremlin and its offensive in Ukraine are exhibited in buildings in Moscow, where national flags proliferate during pro-power demonstrationsor in car windows.
