Day dawns in Europe and an 853rd day of armed conflict begins in Ukraine after the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.
This Tuesday, negotiations also open between the European Union, Ukraine, and Moldova, to allow these two countries to one day be full members of the EU.
In Ukraine, the death toll from the Russian strike in Pokrovsk was revised upwards, and President Volodymyr Zelensky chose to dismiss a senior official in the Ukrainian army.
We take stock of the events that have marked recent hours.
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Death toll from Russian strike on Pokrovsk rises to five
The authorities revised the toll upwards, Monday evening, of the Russian strike carried out on the town of Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region, in the east of Ukraine, this Monday, June 24.
In an updated report, local authorities report at least five dead and 41 injured, reports the Ukrainian media. Kyiv Independent.
Zelensky dismisses senior army official
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired a senior army official on Monday June 24, accused by another commander of incompetence and abuse of power.
“I have decided to replace the commander of the joint forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Yuri Sodol, with Brigadier General Andriy Gnatov,” said Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram.
The president did not specify the reasons for this dismissal, but it comes after criticism from a commander of the notorious Azov brigade, known for its links with ultranationalist circles.
This commander, Bogdan Krotevych, indicated Monday morning that he had filed a complaint with the Ukrainian security services (SBU) to demand the opening of an investigation into Mr. Sodol.
According to Ukrainian media, Mr. Krotevych accuses Mr. Sodol of incompetence leading to the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers and setbacks on the front.
The European Union and Ukraine officially begin accession negotiations
The European Union on one side, Ukraine and Moldova on the other, officially launch negotiations on Tuesday in Luxembourg intended to allow these two countries to one day be full members of the EU.
Russia has sought by all means to obstruct this process, which promises to be long and difficult, leading these two former Soviet republics to anchor themselves to Europe.
“We look forward to next week, June 25, when Ukraine and the EU will hold their first intergovernmental conference, which will mark the effective start of the negotiation process,” declared Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, welcoming the achievement of a “European dream”. Accession negotiations between the EU and a third country take place within the framework of an intergovernmental conference (IGC).
The Twenty-Seven will first formally open discussions with Ukraine on Tuesday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. (Paris time), then with Moldova, according to a diplomatic source.
Zelensky says Ukraine hit more than 30 Russian oil infrastructure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that Ukraine had hit more than 30 Russian oil processing and storage facilities.
The Ukrainian military has increased attacks on Russian oil infrastructure this year, seeking to disrupt oil supplies to the Russian military and reduce Moscow’s revenues to finance its war against Ukraine.
“More than 30 refineries, terminals and oil depots of the terrorist state have been hit,” said the Ukrainian president. He did not give further details or indicate a period. A video of his speech was shared on his X account.
800 Ukrainian children repatriated out of 20,000 kidnapped
According to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine managed to bring back around 800 children kidnapped by Russia, out of nearly 20,000.
In an interview with Ukrainian television Channel 24, published on June 23, she said that the number of children kidnapped is not known exactly.
“We do not know the exact number of children who were kidnapped. We have managed to establish that there are around 20,000 children, of whom 800 have already been repatriated,” said Iryna Vereshchuk.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, and Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on March 17, 2023, for kidnapping of Ukrainian children.
