31st day of war in Ukraine with, among other things, explosions in Lviv and the reappearance in public of the Russian Defense Minister. Update on the situation this Saturday, March 26.
Several explosions were heard this Saturday at Lviv, in western Ukraine. Explosions followed by thick smoke. There would be several injured, according to the regional governor.
The strikes hit a “industrial facility where fuel is stored, no residential buildings were affected“, said shortly following the mayor of the city, Andriy Sadovy, on Telegram.
He had previously confirmed an initial assessment of five wounded provided by the regional governor, Maxime Kozytski, and called on residents to stay in shelters until the end of anti-aircraft alerts.
A Kiev, the local authorities have given up on imposing a new general curfew, contrary to what they had indicated in the morning. That said, traffic in the Ukrainian capital remains prohibited at night between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.
A Kalynivkanear kyiv, one of the largest fuel reserves was targeted on Friday.
In a video address to the Doha forum, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the energy-producing countries: “The future of Europe depends on your efforts! I ask you to increase energy production! Make Russia understand that no state should use energy as a weapon and for blackmail“.
Reappearance of the Russian Minister of Defense
The Russian command on Friday hinted at a change in strategy, wanting to focus its efforts on the Donbass. Asked regarding the subject during his trip to Poland, the American president was skeptical: “I’m not sure they (the Russians) did it“, said Joe Biden, answering a question from a reporter.
Russian forces continue their attacks, including with missiles launched in the middle of the Black Sea, reported by the army as targeting Ukrainian military installations. One such video was released by the Russian Defense Ministry.
His minister, Sergei Shoigu, has also appeared in public for the first time since March 12, during a videoconference with President Vladimir Putin. His absence had sparked rumors regarding his state of health.
“Despite the difficulties we encounter today, he says in this video released by his ministry, we respect the state defense order. We continue to provide weapons and equipment using credit funds. The priorities are high-precision long-range weapons, aeronautical equipment, as well as maintaining the combat readiness of strategic nuclear forces.”.
Mykolaiv and Mariupol in ruins
If Moscow claims to target only military infrastructure since the start of the invasion, the devastation caused in Ukrainian cities proves the contrary.
Like a Mykolaïvor Marioupol, where many residential buildings are in ruins. The inhabitants hope for the opening of humanitarian corridors to leave the city, surrounded by the Russians.
