War in Ukraine: 13 killed in Russian attack on Chernihiv

The number of civilians who lost their lives on Wednesday morning (16/3) from Russian fire waiting in line outside a store to buy bread, at Chernihiv of northern Ukraine, now stood at 13 out of 10 which was the first estimate. He announced the news of the increase in the number of victims Local Police Chief Volodymyr Ninjelsky posted on Facebook.

“Today, Russian troops launched an insidious artillery shell attack on a residential area of ​​Chernihiv. “The shells hit a high-rise building and fragments fell outside the store where the citizens were waiting,” he said.

For its part, the Ukrainian police headquarters said that an investigation is underway and material is being collected from the site of this “war crime”, adding that police transported the wounded to a nearby hospital.

Chancellor Olaf Soltz and Finnish Prime Minister Sana Marin have pledged to support Ukraine in negotiations with Russia.

THE Chancellor Olaf Solz pledged on Wednesday night (16/3) to offer again to Ukraine “Any support” in negotiations with Moscow aimed at ending the war in the country, while reiterating his appeal to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin: “Stop this war immediately! Stop the path of weapons! “

“The federal government is doing everything it can to ensure that the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia have a chance of (success),” Soltz said earlier in the day before meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Sana Marin. his government talks to the Ukrainian and Russian sides, always making clear to Moscow the positions of Germany, the European Union and NATO. “This serves to support Ukraine’s choices in these negotiations, but it is Ukraine that will have to decide which result it wants to accept or not“, He stressed. “It’s not our business or anyone else’s business. It is a matter of Ukrainian sovereignty and we must always keep that in mind, if we want to be useful. “And we are useful on the Ukrainian side.”

Olaf Solz also referred to the development of military operations in Ukraine: “The war is progressing and Russia promotes its military invasion on a daily basis. With all the horrible losses in human lives. In addition to men, women and children, an incredible number of soldiers lost their lives, including Russians. “It’s really a terrible war that needs to end immediately.” “It’s here that (Vladimir) Putin miscalculated. No one in Ukraine was waiting for the invaders. “Even the Russian-speaking part of the Ukrainian population is against Putin’s invasion.”stressed the Chancellor and stressed that the sanctions imposed by the West are already having an effect and thanks to them and the Ukrainian resistance, these peace negotiations are now taking place.

Mr Soltz also expressed the Berlin’s full support for a possible Helsinki bid to join NATO. “There is already NATO-Finland cooperation,” Solz said. “Finland’s wishes within our alliances are always welcome”.

For her part, Ms. Marin said that in her country there will be a political debate in the spring on “How the country’s security environment has changed” and whether or not Finland should apply for NATO membershipnoting that its country’s tradition wants the highest possible consensus on foreign and security policy issues.

With regard to the war in Ukraine, the Sanaa Marin also expressed her country’s support for Kyiv and, referring to the Russian invasion, spoke of “an attack on the whole of Europe, not just Ukraine.”, reiterating that Germany and other countries must stop as soon as possible “financing Russian President Vladimir Putin by buying energy”. “This must stop and I am sure that Germany and other EU member states are trying to find other ways,” he said. For his part, Olaf Solz assured that Germany is trying to find ways to reduce its energy dependence on Russian oil and gas.