92nd day of war in Ukraine. Fighting continues in eastern Ukraine and has reached “maximum intensity”, according to kyiv. Meanwhile, Russia said in the early evening that it would help overcome the food crisis if the sanctions are lifted.
- Fighting in the east of the country
The Russian army continues to advance towards Severodonetsk, the capture of which is essential for them to fully control the Donbass.
In some parts of the east of the country, “the enemy is clearly superior, in equipment, in number of soldiers”recognized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday evening, while affirming that the Ukrainian forces “resist (this) extremely violent offensive”. “We need the help of our partners, and especially weapons”he pleaded.
In Davos, however, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was “convinced” that Russia would not win the war in Ukraine, also saying that President Vladimir Putin would not be allowed to “dictate” peace.
- Seven dead in new bombardments in Kharkiv
In Kharkiv, seven people died in new bombardments, while the second city of Ukraine had started a return to an almost normal life in mid-Mayafter a Ukrainian counter-offensive to repel the Russians, regional governor Oleg Sinegoubov said on Telegram on Thursday.
- Moscow consolidates its hold in the south of the country
On the southern front, Moscow is busy consolidating its hold on the territories conquered for three months.
Russia has announced that it will allow residents of the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions to apply for a Russian passport via “a simplified procedure”. Ukraine immediately denounced a measure demonstrating Moscow’s desire to carry out a pure and simple annexation of these territories.
- Tens of thousands dead
For the moment, there is no overall assessment of the civilian victims of the conflict. For the city of Mariupol alone, the Ukrainian authorities speak of 20,000 dead. On the military level, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense estimates Russian losses at more than 29,200 men, 204 planes and nearly 1,300 tanks since the start of the invasion on February 24.
Western sources mention some 12,000 Russian soldiers killed, a French military source confirmed to AFP an estimated figure of around 15,000. No independent statistics are available.
On Wednesday evening, kyiv thanked France for hosting “Ukrainian war wounded in its hospitals, and in particular in army hospitals”according to a press release from the French Ministry of the Armed Forces.
On the ground, in Lysychansk, in the Luhansk oblast in eastern Ukraine, local police buried at least 150 people in a mass grave, said the governor of the region Serguiï Gaïdaï on Telegram. Deceased who will be properly buried after the war. These are victims of Russian bombardments and people who died of natural causes.
- Russia ready to help ‘overcome food crisis’ if sanctions are lifted
During the afternoon, during an interview with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Vladimir Putin affirmed that Moscow will help “overcome the food crisis” if the sanctions are lifted. “When I am asked if I have seen any glimmers of hope for peace, the answer is no”concluded the Italian Prime Minister.
- WHO condemns war in Ukraine, rejects Russian resolution
The member countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a resolution presented by Ukraine condemning “with the greatest firmness” Russia’s military aggression and attacks on health services. The text, however, does not provide for concrete sanctions against Russia within the organization.
The resolution presented by Russia, which Moscow wants “more neutral” than the Ukrainian text, was rejected by 66 votes against and 12 in favour.
- In Russia 115 soldiers were fired for refusing to leave for Ukraine
A Russian military court in the Kabardino-Balkaria region (south) confirmed the dismissal of 115 soldiers having challenged their dismissal from the army for refusing to take part in the offensive in Ukraine. The court found that the military had “arbitrarily refused to perform an official missionand dismissed their appeal.
Here are the details of the events of this 92nd day of war in our live: