Ukraine: Zelenskyj expects Russian brutality on Independence Day

Dhe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has called on his compatriots to unite in view of the almost half-year fight against the Russian invasion. “We have to fight for Ukraine’s victory, there is still a lot to do, we have to stand up and endure a lot, unfortunately also a lot of pain,” Zelenskyy said in a video message distributed on Saturday evening. Next week, on August 24th, the country will celebrate its Independence Day.

The day also commemorates half a year of Russian war of aggression, which Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin ordered on February 24.

Zelenskyy warned that Russia could use Independence Day for extra brutality. “Such is our enemy. Every other week of these six months, Russia has been doing something this disgusting and cruel all the time,” Zelenskyy said. Among other things, he referred to the “Russian terror” in the Kharkiv region and in the Donbass, where there are rocket and artillery attacks every day.

The head of state also said that he expects partners to visit Kyiv next week. “The war changed everything for Ukraine, for Europe and for the world.” Russia’s aim is to humiliate the country and spread fear and conflict. No one should bow to the pressure and show weakness. “That’s why we stick together, help each other, rebuild what was destroyed and fight for our people.”

Attacks put Crimea in focus

After numerous reports of downed drones and explosions in military facilities on the Russian-annexed Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, Zelenskyy said that a recapture was in the offing there. “This year it’s in the air and you can feel that the occupation is only temporary, Ukraine is returning.”

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 against international protests. On August 23, Zelenskyy will host the second international Crimean Platform, a conference intended to reinforce the peninsula’s affiliation with Ukraine under international law. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is also to be connected via video.

At the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, in the port city of Sevastopol, the air defense was active again on Saturday evening, according to the authorities. In the morning, according to the information, a Ukrainian drone had already been shot down by the fleet’s command staff, the burning parts of which hit the roof of the building.

The Crimean government also reported air defense operations in the west of the peninsula and called on the population to remain calm. The flying objects are small and can hardly cause serious damage, the effect is more psychological, it said.

Russia: Ukraine shells nuclear plant

According to the occupiers, the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, which was occupied by Russian troops, was again attacked by Ukrainian forces with artillery. Critical objects were not hit, according to a statement published on Saturday by the Russian military administration in the city of Enerhodar, where Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is located.

The NATO ammunition was fired from the opposite bank of the Dnipro River and hit the site of the nuclear power plant – in the immediate vicinity of an administration building, it said. Four bullets were registered. “Critical objects of the plant are not damaged.”

The information could not be independently verified. Russia and Ukraine repeatedly accuse each other of shelling the nuclear power plant and planning provocations. Occupation representative Vladimir Rogov accused Ukraine of “nuclear terrorism”. It will be checked whether there are injuries. The number of employees has already been reduced in view of the danger. The Ukrainian military announced in the evening that it was still feared that the Russian occupiers could disconnect the nuclear power plant from the country’s power grid in order to integrate it into their system.

With six reactors and a net output of 5700 megawatts, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant was occupied by Russian troops in early March. It is of strategic importance for the country’s electricity supply. The leadership in Moscow and the occupation authorities in Zaporizhia reject international demands to return the nuclear power plant to Ukrainian control. There is a warning about the danger of a nuclear catastrophe. In 1986, the worst nuclear accident on European soil occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) are traveling to Canada together this Sunday. Talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will also cover political, economic and military support for Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia, and how to deal with China. The main goal of the visit is to deepen cooperation between the two countries in the fields of climate and energy. Canada is Germany’s partner in the G-7 group of economically strong democracies and in NATO.