War in Ukraine: bombing in Kharkiv, message from Zelensky, requisition of French factories… update on the situation

Un immeuble touché après un bombardement à Kharkiv le 27 mars 2024. MAXPPP – SERGEY KOZLOV

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Wednesday, March 27, 2024, discover the latest news around this conflict.

First Russian aerial bombardment of Kharkiv since 2022

Russia carried out two airstrikes using guided bombs against Kharkiv on Wednesday, a local police official said, a first since 2022 in this northeastern city. ;#39;Ukraine regularly targeted by Russian artillery and missiles.

The bombings, which targeted a residential area, left at least one dead and around ten injured, including four children, said regional governor Oleh Synehoubov. A five-story residential building and a medical establishment were notably damaged, added the mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, who denounced on Telegram "a new act of terror".

Kharkiv and its region are regularly bombarded by the Russian army. The latest salvo of Russian cruise missiles targeting energy infrastructure has left many residents without electricity. Russian attacks have intensified since Ukraine and Russian fighters hostile to President Vladimir Putin began bombing the Russian city of Belgorod, located across the border.

The guided glide bombs that would have been used on Wednesday are dropped tens of kilometers from their target, which prevents Russian planes from getting too close to Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses.

French factories and personnel soon requisitioned to help kyiv fight Russia ?

The Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu announced on March 26, 2024 that France stood ready to requisition factories, equipment and personnel, to provide Ukraine with weapons in the face of Russia.

During a press conference on Tuesday, the Minister of the Armed Forces declared that he "was not’excluding& quot; to requisition "personnel, stocks or production tools".

And even, explained Sébastien Lecornu, he stood ready to "impose industrialists to give priority to military needs". These provisions are governed by the military programming law.

"In the event of a threat, current or foreseeable, weighing on activities essential to the life of the Nation, the protection of the population, the ;territorial integrity or the permanence of the institutions of the Republic or of a nature to justify the implementation of international commitments of the State in matters of defense, the requisition of any person, natural or legal, and of all the goods and services necessary to deal with it may be decided by decree in the Council of Ministers. This decree specifies the territories concerned and, where applicable, the administrative or military authority authorized to carry out these measures", sets out the text promulgated in August.

In other words, the executive can ask the French to help support an effort of war" if he considers it necessary, including for his allies, in return for compensation set at the usual price.

Zelensky's very political message after Ukraine qualified for Euro 2024

This Tuesday March 26, 2024, Ukraine won 2 goals to 1 against Iceland and therefore qualifies for Euro 2024 which will be held next June. The opportunity for Volodymyr Zelensky to congratulate his team.

The Ukrainians won a fourth consecutive participation in the European Championship – from June 14 to July 14 – by beating Iceland in the play-offs (2-1) on Tuesday in Wroclaw (Poland). Zbirna – the nickname of the selection – will be part of Group E with Belgium, Slovakia and Romania, whom it will face in its first match in Munich on June 17.

The war between Russia and Ukraine has entered its third year and shows no signs of ending despite heavy losses on both sides since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Before the match, coach Serhi Rebrov said that it was difficult for his team to concentrate on football. “Missiles fly every day. Our mission is to show that we are all alive, that we are fighting against the Russians and that we need the support of Europe", said Serhi Rebrov. He added that his players were watching the news about the bombings of Odessa and Kiev. and were "even angrier and eager to show potential on the field".

The coach praised the "character of players and nation" during this qualifying campaign as Ukraine hosted their home matches  in Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the resilience of the national team on X: "Thank you to the team. For this important victory and qualification for EURO". "For proving once again that when Ukrainians face difficulties but do not give up and continue to fight, Ukrainians win for sure", he added.

"At a time when the enemy is trying to destroy us, we demonstrate every day that Ukrainians are and will remain. Ukraine is and will remain! Glory to Ukraine!"

A member of the group Pussy Riot sentenced to 6 years in prison

Lucy Shtein, member of the Russian group Pussy Riot and former municipal deputy in Moscow, was sentenced in absentia to six years in prison by a Russian court, the press service of the Russian court announced on Wednesday ;institution.

The activist was found guilty of spreading "false information about the war (in Ukraine)", after publishing a message on the social network X (formerly Twitter) in March 2022, in which she accused Russian soldiers captured by Ukraine of having bombed cities foreigners and killed people", reported the independent Russian media Mediazona.

According to the Moscow court, Lucy Shtein, who served as municipal deputy in Moscow until 2022, will begin serving her sentence as soon as she is extradited to Russia. Lucy Shtein and her partner, Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina, left Russia a few weeks after the invasion of Ukraine, while they were under the influence of ;a house arrest.

They settled in Iceland where they were granted citizenship in 2023, according to local media. Nearly 20,000 people have been arrested in Russia since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, for expressing views hostile to the war, according to the association of rights defense OVD-Info. Those found guilty of spreading "false information" about the Russian army face up to to 10 years in prison.