War in Ukraine: 6 dead and 55 injured in a Russian bombing, the commander of the air force dismissed… an update on the situation

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Friday, August 30, 2024, discover the latest news about this conflict.

Air Force Commander Dismissed

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, August 30, dismissed by decree the commander of the Air Force, Mikola Oleshchuk, a 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 during 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 role 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 for member states to send military instructors to Ukraine to train its soldiers, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said on Friday (30 August). “Some member states were ready to do it, others were reluctant,”, he said. “We finally decided that the training 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, Josep Borrell said. The deployment of a military mission in Ukraine would require the approval of each of the EU's 27 member states. Friday's decision would not, however, prevent EU countries from sending instructors to Ukraine if they decide to do so individually or in groups.

Russian bombing of Kharkiv, 6 dead, 55 injured

At least six people, including a child, were killed on Friday 30 August and at least 55 others injured in a Russian bombing in Kharkiv, in north-eastern Ukraine, announced the regional governor, Oleh Syniehoubov. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov 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. Russian bombers dropped a total of five guided bombs, which are difficult to intercept.

Another Russian attack on Thursday night killed two people and injured at least 11 in Sumy, in northeastern Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities reported. The strike hit a factory, which sustained damage. A fire broke out. One 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, fruit juices and various household products. In Poltava, in central Ukraine, another industrial site 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 more drones fell on Ukrainian territory.