War in Ukraine: Invasion enters a prolonged phase, says Defense Minister

THE Ukrainian defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov stated yesterday Tuesday (17/5) that the war waged by Russia against his country in February enters a “prolonged phase”, with Moscow to seek according to him to possess the whole Donbass –The eastern part of the country– and impose occupation on the south.

“Russia is preparing for a long-term military operation”said before the Ministers of Defense of the EU member states and the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg. “The war is entering a prolonged phase”he added, according to the text of his speech, which he uploaded to his account on the social networking site Facebook.

According to Reznikov, Russian forces are fortifying their positions in the occupied territories of Zaporizhia and Kherson to “Go to the defense if necessary”.

“Currently, the Kremlin’s efforts are focused on encircling and destroying Ukrainian armed forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.”in the eastern part of the country, which are partly in the hands of pro-Russian separatists, he continued.

Also Moscow’s goal is to “Create a land corridor connecting Russia with Crimea”the peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, and the imposition of occupation “In the whole of southern Ukraine”.

He called on Kiev’s western allies to coordinate more on arms deliveries “To liberate our territories as soon as possible”.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said last night that Russian forces were launching attacks. “On the whole contact line” in the Donetsk region and partly in neighboring Luhansk.

Seven civilians dead in Donetsk

Meanwhile, the Donetsk regional governor, Pavlo Kirilenkosaid in a message to the Telegram that Russian attacks have killed seven civilians in the area. According to him, six other civilians were injured.

Reuters reports that it was not possible to confirm Kirilenko’s report from independent imgs.

Earlier today, the French Agency broadcast that eight people were killed and 12 were injured in a Russian strike in Dessnaa Ukrainian village about 60 km north of Kiev and is known to host a large training camp.

“Eight were killed and 12 were injured,” Alexander Iftchenko, a spokesman for the local branch of the emergency services, told AFP.

School bombings

Kyiv also complains that Russian forces continue to attack schools. In the city of Chernihiv, for example, Inna Levsenko is the principal of a high school, which is now in ruins. Levshenko claims that the enemy is trying to terrorize the citizens.

We wrote “CHILDREN” in big letters. We hung the signs on the windows. But the Russians… I do not know what to say. When they dropped the bomb they knew it was a school. When using rocket launchers, an error is possible. But a school bomb is aimed at intimidating citizens. They want to terrorize the world. That is what they are seeking “ he stated.

Kyiv claims that More than 1,000 schools and colleges have been hit by Russian fire, many of which were used as food distribution centers and shelters. Kyiv is talking about war crimes.

“These strikes suggest a pattern. This is an important element of a war crimes investigation, especially if senior or top officers are in the spotlight. Because you have to prove that there is central planning. “The stronger the pattern, the stronger the evidence that there is a specific policy of attacks on these facilities,” said David Bosco, a war crimes expert and professor at Indiana University.

On May 7, 60 people were killed in a school attack in Luhansk. The United Nations is urging Russia to stop bombing schools, and is urging schools not to be used for military purposes. Several European countries have stated that they will assist in the construction of new schools.