War in Ukraine: Russian presidential election, Zaporizhzhia headquarters, Macron interview… update on the situation

Russian drone attack in northeastern Ukraine on March 13, 2024. MAXPPP – Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Avalon

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Thursday March 14, 2024, discover the latest news around this conflict.

Russia launches massive drone attack on Ukraine, fighting on Russian soil

The Russian army carried out large-scale attacks across Ukraine on Thursday against civilian infrastructure, including communications infrastructure, with the effect of cutting radio and television signals in five cities in the northeast, in a bid to , according to Kiev, to prevent the population from obtaining information.

Elsewhere, fighting was taking place in the Kursk region in western Russia, where Russian forces repelled an attack. Moscow's overnight launch of 36 drones against Ukrainian infrastructure could signal a new aerial tactic, while the Russian army has targeted energy infrastructure and military production sites since the start of its offensive, February 24, 2022.

"In addition to physically destroying infrastructure, the enemy is trying to jam the signal of Ukrainian radio and television", the authority said responsible for the protection of information. In a statement published via Telegram messaging, she declared that the attacks on infrastructure in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions were part of the "war of the ;#39;information" delivered by Russia, with the aim of limiting access to "real information& ;quot; to "share its propaganda".

Work was underway to restore radio and television services in Izium and Lozova, Kharkiv region, and Sumy. Sumy region governor Volodymyr Artioukh told state television that mobile phone services had been "mostly restored" in the day.

The Ukrainian army said it had shot down 22 of the 36 drones launched by Russia. Five of them were shot down over the regions of Mykolaiv (southern Ukraine) and Dnipropetrovsk (south-eastern Ukraine), local officials said. Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has carried out long-range strikes far behind the front lines.

During the first winter, it attacked Ukraine's energy system, causing widespread power outages. If Moscow focuses on telecommunications infrastructure, it could mean implementing a new strategy.

Russian National Guard and armed forces were working to repel an attack by Ukrainian-backed armed groups near the village of Tiotkino in the western Kursk region on Thursday, according to the TASS news agency. Two people were killed and several others injured Thursday in Ukrainian attacks in the southern region of Belgorod, the region's governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said, adding that several villages had been targeted.

Armed incursion attempts into Russia are increasing in number as the country's elections approach, which will be held from March 15 to 17. Russia said on Tuesday it had repelled two attempted incursions into two regions bordering Ukraine. Kiev clarified that these attacks were organized by groups of Russian anti-Kremlin fighters who are not under the control of Ukraine.

Zaporizhia nuclear power plant bombed by Ukraine, says Russian management

The management of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, located in Ukraine but controlled by Russia, said on Thursday that the Ukrainian army had bombed critical infrastructure at the site.

An explosive device was dropped in the area where the fuel tanks are located, the nuclear power plant's management said, adding that experts from the International Agency for Nuclear Safety ;atomic energy (IAEA) present on site had been informed of this bombing.

 Last week, the 35-nation IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution condemning Russia's occupation of the world's largest nuclear power plant. Europe, saying "seriously concerned" by the lack of personnel and maintenance at the site two years after its capture.

Located in southern Ukraine, the Zaporizhia power plant was damaged by fire at the start of the war and its perimeter continues to be the scene of fire ;clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces, for which both camps blame each other.

Putin asks voters to determine Russia's future

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called on voters, including in Ukraine's annexed regions, to come together to determine Russia's future by voting in the # 39;presidential election scheduled for this week.

"It is essential to emphasize our cohesion and determination and move forward together. Every vote is important and meaningful", Vladimir Putin said in a video address. "I therefore ask you to exercise your right to vote within the next three days."

The Russian presidential election, in which Vladimir Putin is expected to win a fifth term, is being held from March 15 to 17. Opinion polls show that the outgoing president enjoys the support of a majority of Russians. Vladimir Putin says all voters want to see a strong, prosperous and free Russia "in order to improve the standard and quality of life. And that's how things will happen." The very act of voting "demonstrates patriotic feeling", said the Kremlin leader, adding that this feeling was particularly present in the Russian-controlled eastern and southern regions of Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin said patriotic choices were obvious to residents of the Donbass regions of eastern Ukraine and the area he calls Novorossia, "New Russia", who voted in favor of joining Russia in referendums held in 2022.< /p>

"They voted in a referendum, and under the most difficult conditions, in favor of joining Russia and they will make a new choice in the days to come", said Vladimir Putin. "Those who participate in the special operation will also vote. They are an example for all Russians."

Armament, Putin, security agreement… what to remember from the interview with Emmanuel Macron< /h2>

This Thursday, March 14, 2024, Emmanuel Macron was the guest of the news of TF1 and France 2. The Head of State spoke on the issues of support for Ukraine, and also explained his controversial comments on the possible sending of troops to the side of Kiev.

During this interview, Emmanuel Macron recalled the main objective: that Russia does not win the war. "We are not against Russia. We must be clear: we must not let Russia win”, he said. In the event of victory for Vladimir Putin's country, the president confided that "lthe lives of the French would change& ;quot;.

The head of state then explained that if the conflict were to degenerate, the only person responsible would be the Kremlin. However, he made a point of emphasizing the increase in violence on the part of the Russian president: "The Kremlin regime has profoundly hardened in recent years month". Emmanuel Macron does not exclude any possibility, but assured during this television interview that no offensive will be carried out.

The questions of armament and support (military in particular) were obviously raised. "Since the beginning, we have multiplied by more than three our production of categories of shells and missiles that are relevant for the Ukrainians. Simply, in fact, we have limits and this is true of all European countries. This is why we decided that we were going to create them in Ukraine, because it is closer to the ground. We do not have a manufacturing industry. defense adapted to a high-intensity territorial war which is not in any of our forecasts", declared Emmanuel Macron, regarding the low production of shells , among others, from France.

Regarding the security agreement, and the French president said: "choose to abstain or to vote against support for Ukraine, that is not choosing peace, it is choosing defeat".< /p>

At the end of the interview, Emmanuel Macron was questioned about the situation in Gaza. The President of the Republic confirmed that three French nationals are still being held hostage, that the families of the latter are informed of developments. Emmanuel Macron also affirmed that discussions were underway. He calls for "to respect humanitarian law and international law".