The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has agreed the mandatory evacuation of children from combat zones: Currently, only Bakhmut falls under the criteria for applying the standard. This was reported by Ukrainska Pravda. Minors must be accompanied by a parent, surrogate or other legal representative. The refusal of parents or guardians to evacuate the child is not allowed.” “The duty of the state is to protect the life and health of the child,” Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk said.
The Ukrainian prisoner killed in cold blood by Moscow forces has been identified. “The victim is Tymofiy Mykolayovych Shadura, a soldier of the 30th brigade” who took part in fighting near Bakhmut and was reported missing since February 3, according to the telegram from the Ukrainian military. According to some media, the man was 40 years old.
It was a pro-Ukrainian group that sabotaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year. The New York Times reports, citing some American sources that there is no evidence that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his government team were involved in the operation.
The Ukrainian soldier killed by Russian forces
Kiev has opened an investigation into the soldier’s execution to find those responsible for the cold-blooded murder. According to the Portal website, Ukraine has defined the Russian military’s gesture captured in the video as a “brutal and brazen shot at an unarmed person”.
ANSA agency
Ukrainska Pravda publishes it. Kiev: “Every war crime will be punished”.
“Bakhmut’s Liberation Continues”. The announcement came from Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, adding that the city in Ukraine’s Donbass represents a key line of defense for Ukrainian troops and its capture will allow the Russians “to continue advancing deep into Ukraine’s defences.” According to an interactive map posted online by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces control 40% of the city. The map of the US Study Center, which shows the ground movements of Moscow soldiers updated up to yesterday, shows that the zone controlled by the Russians – from the eastern side – extends almost to the center of the city. In the usual evening message to the country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he had instructed the army to find “all forces” to defend Bakhmut. “I have asked the General Staff to find the appropriate forces to support Bakhmut’s defence, no part of Ukraine must be abandoned,” he said.
ANSA agency
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered the army to find “all forces” to defend Bakhmut.
Anti-aircraft alert has been declared throughout Ukraine, according to the international press. The news comes as the Kyiv Army General Staff said Ukrainian forces repelled 37 Russian attacks in the area around the eastern city of Bakhmut last night. In total, Russian troops launched 50 airstrikes and five rocket attacks overnight, while Ukrainian forces launched 15 airstrikes against Russian troops, including one attack on an anti-aircraft system. Kiev’s military also said it shot down a SU-25 plane, nine Shaheed drones and eight other Russian drones.
The armed forces also took a toll from yesterday’s attacks, which they say killed 1,060 Russian soldiers, a toll that brings the total number of Moscow forces eliminated in the country to 154,830 since the invasion began. The army doesn’t say how many Russian men lost their lives in the besieged city of Bakhmut yesterday, but in recent days, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said Russian casualties totaled up to 500 soldiers a day in the battle for the strategic Conquest of the city east of the country. The General Staff report also notes that since the war began, Russia has lost 303 fighters, 289 helicopters and 2,095 drones. Kiev forces also say they destroyed 3,432 Russian tanks, 2,456 artillery systems, 488 multiple missile systems, 253 air defense systems, 873 cruise missiles and 18 ships.
ANSA agency
Zelenskyy to the military: “Find forces to defend the city” (ANSA)