Mercenaries move to eastern Ukraine to help Russian army, UK says
The United Kingdom Department of Defense said Monday that “Russian troops, including mercenaries from the Russian state-owned private military company Wagner, are being transferred” to eastern Ukraine. “Russian forces continue to consolidate and reorganize as they refocus their attack on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine,” the tweet added.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom: Russia “will never break” Ukraine
Russia’s military losses since April 4: report
Pope Francis prays for an end to the Ukraine-Russia war
Pope Francis called the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces a “sacrilegious” war during a prayer service on Sunday, calling for an end to it. “May we be tireless in praying and offering help to those who are suffering,” said the Maltese Vatican. Pope Francis later told a group of journalists that he had no immediate plans to visit Kyiv, but that such a visit was “on the table”. The pope also acknowledged journalists who died or were injured while covering the news in Ukraine. “I want to express my condolences to your colleagues who fell, whatever side they are on, I do not care,” he said. “Your work is a work for the common good. They died in the service of the common good: information. We will not forget them. They were brave. I pray for them and the Lord to reward their work “. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The military situation in Ukraine continues to evolve: photos
Negotiations will continue despite the massacre of Bucha: Zelenskyy
France calls for additional sanctions against Russia after the massacre
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron called for additional sanctions in Russia following the massacre in the Ukrainian city of Bukha, according to a report. In an interview with France Inter radio, Macron said there were “very clear indications” that Russian forces had committed outrageous acts, including possible war crimes in the city, Reuters reported. Russia has denied any wrongdoing in its attack on Bucha.
Photos of the war in Ukraine look like a “horror movie”, Ukrainian officials say
Bodies wrapped in black tarpaulins are in a mass grave on the outskirts of Kiev as Ukrainian troops assess the devastation following the withdrawal of Russian troops from the area. In another village, the bodies of a mayor, her husband and son, and a man believed to be a Ukrainian soldier are also found in a muddy pit behind a plot of houses where Russian forces slept. A lifeless body of a man with his hands tied behind his back was also found in what Ukrainians described as a “horror movie scene”. Read more here: Photos from the Ukraine war: Horrible findings after the Russian withdrawal from the outskirts of Kiev
Russian forces launch overnight attack on Mykolaiv’s Odessa: report
Polish PM calls on EU to sever ties with Russia following Bucha massacre
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has called on the European Union to impose “sanctions that really work” to derail the Russian economy following “genocidal acts” in the Bucha massacre. “The Bucha massacre is more than just a wake-up call for Europe and the world,” Morawiecki said in a statement. “It is a terrible cry for justice, freedom and the right to life; for fundamental and universal values,” he added. “The EU must seize all Russian assets in its western banks as well as those of the Russian oligarchs. It must sever all trade relations with Russia without delay.” “European money must stop flowing to the Kremlin. Putin’s criminal and increasingly totalitarian regime must be forced to do one thing: PENALTIES THAT REALLY WORK.”
Ukrainian singer Siuzanna Iglidan & John Legend performed “Free” at the Grammys
Siuzanna Iglidan, a Ukrainian musician and opera singer, appeared at the Grammys with award-winning American artist John Legend. The duo, who sang “Free”, were joined by Ukrainian singer-actress Mika Newton and poet Lyuba Yakimchuk. The performance was followed by a video speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which he encouraged people to sing and play music to “fill the silence” caused by his country’s war with Russia. “Our musicians wear armor instead of tuxedos,” Zelensky said. “We are fighting Russia, which is bringing a horrible silence with its bombs. The dead silence. Fill the silence with your music. ” “Tell the truth about the war on your social networks, on television. Support us in any way you can, but not in silence. And then peace will come to all our cities,” he added. Prior to her appearance, Iglidan said it was an “honor” to represent her country. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Zelenskyy addresses Grammys: “What’s the opposite of music?”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the 64th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday in a recorded speech highlighting the plight of his country. “War. What is more opposed to music? The silence of devastated cities and people killed,” Zelensky said. “Our children are drawing rockets, not flying stars. More than 400 children have been injured and 153 children have died, and you will never see them paint. Our parents are happy to wake up in the morning to bomb shelters, but alive. “They do not know if we will be together again. The war does not let us choose who will survive and who will remain in eternal silence.” “Our musicians wear armor instead of tuxedos,” he continued. “They sing to the injured in hospitals. Even to those who can not hear them. But the music will leak anyway. We defend our freedom. Live. You love. I’m listening. On our land, we are fighting Russia which brings horrible silence with its bombs. Fill the silence with your music. Fill it today. Tell our story. Tell the truth about the war on social media and on your television. But not silence. “
Zelenskyy condemns the horrific catastrophe
As Russian forces withdrew from the area around the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, horrific scenes left their mark. The corpses wrapped in black tarpaulin were found in a mass grave on the outskirts of Kiev. In another village, the bodies of a mayor, her husband and son, and a man believed to be a Ukrainian soldier are also found in a muddy pit behind a plot of houses where Russian forces slept. Zelenskyy referred to these scenes in his speech in the early hours of Monday. “Presidents usually do not record such speeches. But today I have to say exactly that,” he said. “After what was revealed in Buha and in our other cities, the occupiers were expelled. Hundreds of people were killed. They were tortured, civilians were executed. A corpse in the streets. A minefield. Even the bodies of the dead were mined!” “The pervasive consequences of looting,” he added. “Accumulated evil has come to our land. Murderers. Torturers. Rapists. Looters. Who call themselves army. And who only deserve death after what they did.” “I want every mother of every Russian soldier to see the bodies of those killed in Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel. What did they do; Why were they killed? What did the man who did his bike do on the road? Why were ordinary citizens tortured to death in an ordinary peaceful city? Why were women strangled after their earrings were taken off? How could women be raped and killed in front of children? How could their corpses be desecrated even after death? Why did they smash the bodies of people with tanks? What did the Ukrainian city of Bukha in your Russia do? How did all this become possible? “ “Russian mothers! Even if you grew up looting, how did they become butchers? You could not ignore what is inside your children. You could not ignore that they are deprived of everything human. No soul. No heart. They killed deliberately and with pleasure.” said the president. Click here for live coverage on Sunday.
