War in Ukraine – Putin: Russian forces act courageously and effectively

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, stated today that the Russian forces carrying out the Moscow military campaign in Ukraine eact courageously and effectively, using the most modern weapons, as reported by the TASS news agency.

Russia sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine on February 24 as part of a “special operation” to describe the demilitarization and “de-Nazification” of its neighbor.

Ukrainian forces show strong resistance and the West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in an attempt to force it to withdraw its forces.

Kyiv prepares for new Russian attack, Moscow rejects allegations of rape

Ukraine has demanded more weapons from the West to help her end her siege Mariupol and repel an expected Russian attack in the east, while becoming more and more reports of rape and brutal behavior by Russian forces against Ukrainian civilians.

According to the APE-MPE, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced this morning that Russian missiles destroyed ammunition depots in the Ukrainian regions of Khmelnytsky and Kiev. The ministry said Russian forces had hit an ammunition depot and aircraft hangar at the Starokostiantiniv air base in the Khmelnytsky region, as well as an ammunition depot near Havrilivka, north of Kiev.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said late last night, Monday night in a televised speech that Russia may resort to the use of chemical weaponsas it has gathered troops in the eastern suburbs of Donbass for a new offensive against Mariupol, where thousands of people are believed to have lost their lives during the siege of the city, which is approaching seven weeks.

“As far as the necessary weapons are concerned, we are still dependent on supplies, on our partners. “Unfortunately we are not getting what we need to end this war faster. Especially to end the siege of Mariupol,” he said.

The first European Union leader to meet personally with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the latter launched what he calls a “special military operation”, Austrian Chancellor Carl Nehammer said after talks yesterday, Monday that an attack on the east “is being prepared on a massive scale.”

After suffering heavy losses and withdrawing its forces from the suburbs of Kiev, Russia turned to Donbas, where he demands that Ukraine cede control of the region to separatist fighters. The occupation of Mariupol would allow Moscow to attempt to encircle the main Ukrainian power in eastern Ukraine.

During the regular morning briefing on the conflict zone, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that, in addition to their attempt to control Mariupol, the Russian forces also want to occupy Popasna, a town more than two hours by car from Luhansk, and preparing to launch an attack in the direction of Kurakovo, Donetsk region.

The Ukrainian armed forces said their troops had repulsed attacks in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, destroying four tanks, five armored vehicles, two helicopters and four unmanned aircraft. Reuters could not confirm these numbers from independent sources.

In total nine humanitarian corridors have been agreed for today, including one for private vehicles from Mariupol, said Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Irina Verestsuk.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Tras said on Monday that Britain was working with its partners to verify details of information that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in their attack on Mariupol.

“The possible use of chemical weapons will be answered and all options are on the table as to what that answer might be,” British Undersecretary of Defense James Hippi told Sky News.

The commander of the separatists, Eduard Basurin, however, stated today to the Interfax news agency that his forces did not use chemical weapons in Mariupol, despite the Ukrainian claims to the contrary.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that Kyiv was checking unverified information that Russia may have used chemical weapons during the siege of Mariupol.

Allegations of rape and executions

The withdrawal of Russian forces from its environs Kiev brought to light φWar crimes charges, including executions and rape of civilians. Moscow denies the allegations and describes them as Ukrainian and Western provocations while he has also accused Ukrainian forces of sexual violence.

UN official Sima Bahous told the Security Council on Monday that while all allegations should be investigated by independent investigators, “the brutality shown against Ukrainian civilians has put us on alert.”

“We hear more and more allegations of rape and sexual violence.” he stated.

Russia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations has denied the allegations, accusing Ukraine and its allies of “clearly intending to portray Russian soldiers as sadists and rapists.”

The Russian Defense Ministry said that the Ukrainian government is being directed by the United States to plant false evidence of Russian violence against civilians despite the fact that, as the ministry claimed, Moscow “is taking unprecedented measures to save civilians.”

The Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine has accused Russia of holding journalists, activists and elected officials in prisons on Russian soil. Reuters could not confirm the allegation.

American pressure

Putin is scheduled to meet with the President of Belarus today. Alexander Lukashenkoto discuss the situation in Ukraine and Western sanctions, broadcast Russian and Belarusian news agencies.

The United States has sought to force Putin to withdraw his forces banning imports of Russian oil and gas and encouraging their allies to follow suit.

However, world powers such as China and India have avoided imposing sanctions on Russia. Driven by big discounts, India has bought more Russian crude oil since the February 24 invasion than it did last year, according to data compiled by Reuters.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow will not stop fighting for any new round of peace talks. The latter was convened on April 1.