Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Friday, August 30, 2024, discover the latest news around this conflict.
Air Force Commander Fired
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, August 30, dismissed by decree the commander of the air force, Mikola Oleshchuk, the day after Ukraine confirmed the loss of an American F-16 and the death of its pilot.
“I have decided to replace the commander of the Air Force. I am eternally grateful to all our pilots,” said Volodymyr Zelensky in his daily address. The Ukrainian president did not justify his decision but said that military personnel should be protected and that it was necessary to strengthen the command of the armies. Lieutenant-General Anatoliy Kryvonojka will temporarily assume the position of commander of the Air Force, the Ukrainian General Staff said.
EU will not send military instructors
The European Union will not accede to Kyiv’s request that member states send military instructors to Ukraine to train its soldiers, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said on Friday, August 30. “Some member states were ready to do it, others were reluctant”he said. “We finally decided that the trainings would take place as close as possible to Ukrainian territory, but not in Ukraine.”
The EU, which has already trained some 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers since the start of the war, plans to train another 15,000 by the end of the year, Borrell said. Deploying a military mission to Ukraine would require the approval of all 27 EU member states. Friday’s decision would not, however, prevent EU countries from sending instructors to Ukraine if they decide to do so individually or as a group.
Russian bombing of Kharkiv, 6 dead, 55 injured
At least six people, including a child, were killed on Friday, August 30, and at least 55 others injured in a Russian shelling in Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, announced the regional governor, Oleh Syniehoubov. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov had said on Telegram that a child was among the victims, killed on a playground.
A 12-story apartment building was also hit by a Russian bomb and caught fire. Three people were killed in the building, the mayor said. About 20 of the 55 injured so far are in serious condition, Oleh Syniehoubov said. The Russian bombers dropped a total of five guided bombs, which are difficult to intercept.
Another Russian attack on Thursday night left two dead and at least 11 injured in Sumy, in northeastern Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities reported. The strike hit a factory, which suffered damage. A fire broke out. A woman died under the rubble and another died in hospital from her injuries.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office said the plant housed a production site for packaging for baby food, juices and various household products. Another industrial site in Poltava, central Ukraine, was targeted by a drone attack, regional governor Filip Pronin said. There were no casualties in the attack. The Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 12 of the 18 attack drones launched by the Russian military over five regions of the country overnight from Thursday to Friday. Four other drones fell on Ukrainian territory.
