In a disturbing escalation, Russia has once again targeted Ukraine’s already weakened energy infrastructure, resulting in the loss of at least two lives. The attacks involved both missiles and drones, causing significant damage to critical energy facilities.
On Sunday, officials reported a grim toll from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In the western Lviv region, a man lost his life in a cruise missile attack on critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, another individual was tragically killed when a projectile struck a petrol station.
According to Lviv’s governor, Maksym Kozytsky, there is a grim possibility that people are still trapped under the debris. Firefighters have managed to extinguish a blaze that erupted in an administrative building damaged during the strikes.
Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, inflicting significant damage across several regions.
As a result, power outages continue to affect approximately 120,000 people in the region, where a staggering 700,000 had already lost electricity after the plant was struck on March 22.
On Sunday, the national energy operator Ukrenergo reported that Russia had targeted high-voltage facilities in the southern region. As a result, emergency shutdowns were enforced in the Black Sea city of Odesa and nearby areas, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power.
In a heartfelt Easter Sunday address to the people of Ukraine on social media, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared, “Neither night nor day escapes the clutches of Russian terror as it relentlessly seeks to shatter our lives. Yet, we stand firm, enduring, our indomitable spirit refusing to yield. We know that even in the face of death, life can triumph.”
During the recent intense conflict, the Ukrainian air force demonstrated remarkable resilience by intercepting nine out of eleven Shahed-type drones launched by Russia overnight. Additionally, they successfully neutralized nine out of fourteen cruise missiles aimed at their territory. These relentless efforts have been crucial in safeguarding Ukraine’s security.
Russia, on the other hand, employed high-precision long-range air-based weapons to carry out a significant strike against Ukraine’s gas and energy infrastructure.
“As a result of this strike, the operation of defence industry enterprises involved in the manufacture and repair of weapons, equipment and ammunition has been disrupted,” it said in a statement. “All the goals of the strike have been achieved. The assigned objects were hit.”
In the Russian border village of Dunayka, a tragic incident unfolded on Sunday. A woman lost her life due to Ukrainian shelling, as reported by the local governor. For the past two years, Russia’s Belgorod region has borne the brunt of relentless attacks. Ukrainian bombardments, characterized by their indiscriminate nature, have escalated significantly in recent months.
“The village of Dunayka, in the Graivoron urban district, came under Ukrainian fire. To much grief, a civilian was killed,” Vyacheslav Gladkov said on social media. “She died of her wounds on the spot before the ambulance crew arrived. I express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.”
Amidst the ongoing conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued orders marking the commencement of the nation’s annual spring recruitment season. These orders officially conscript 150,000 individuals into military service.
Notably, Russia’s parliament extended the upper age limit for conscripts from 27 to 30 in July 2023, seemingly as part of an initiative to bolster military forces during the Ukrainian conflict. In September, Putin furthered this effort by summoning 130,000 people for the autumn campaign. Last spring, Russia had planned to conscript 147,000 individuals.
On Sunday, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that France will provide Ukraine with a new military aid package. This package includes hundreds of old armored vehicles and new surface-to-air missiles.
“The Ukrainian army needs to defend a very long frontline, which requires armoured vehicles; this is absolutely crucial for troop mobility and is part of the Ukrainian requests,” Lecornu told La Tribune Dimanche.
As per Sébastien Lecornu’s statement, France is actively considering supplying hundreds of VAB (Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé) frontline troop carriers to Ukraine during 2024 and early 2025.
These VABs have been a crucial part of the French army since the late 1970s. However, the French military is now phasing them out in favor of new multi-role troop carriers.
Sébastien Lecornu also revealed that France is preparing to supply a fresh batch of Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles for the Samp/T system already provided to Kyiv. These advanced missiles have an impressive range of 75 miles (120 km) and can effectively intercept warplanes, drones, and cruise missiles .
France is accelerating the development of remotely operated ammunition, which will be delivered to Ukraine as early as this summer.
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has not ruled out the possibility of sending ground troops to Ukraine, although he emphasized that there is no unanimous consensus among allies regarding this matter. However, all allies are committed to intensifying efforts to supply more munitions to Kyiv .
In his Easter Sunday address, Pope Francis made a heartfelt plea for peace and compassion. He urged for a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing the need to alleviate the suffering of those caught in the conflict.
“In calling for respect for the principles of international law, I express my hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine, all for the sake of all,” he said.
Additionally, the pontiff called for a ceasefire in Gaza, expressing his concern for the people affected by war. His thoughts were particularly with the children who, amidst the turmoil, have “forgotten how to smile.”
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