At least four civilians were killed and 27 were injured on Friday June 2 in shelling in the Russian region of Belgorod, bordering Ukraine. At the same time, the Ukrainian capital, kyiv, suffered a sixth wave of strikes in six days. Franceinfo looks back on what to remember from this day on the front of the war in Ukraine.
Four dead in Russia’s Belgorod region
For several days, the Russian region of Belgorod has been targeted by strikes of unprecedented intensity on Russian territory since the start of the conflict with Ukraine. On Friday, the regional governor said shells fired by Ukrainian forces crashed on a road near the town of Chebekino, about ten kilometers from Ukraine. “Shrapnel hit passing cars. In one of them, two women (…) died on the spot of their injuries”Vyacheslav Gladkov said, adding that two men were also seriously injured.
In the evening, two other civilians were also killed in the village of Sobolevka, during a bombardment with the Grad multiple rocket launcher. It also injured six people, including two children, according to Viatcheslav Gladkov.
kyiv targeted again
A sixth attack in six days. The Ukrainian capital was targeted by a new wave of explosive drones and missiles at dawn on Friday, its mayor Vitali Klitschko reported. He said there were no casualties to report at this time. “Tonight the enemy used 15 cruise missiles and 18 Iranian ‘Shahed’ attack drones for strikes – all of these air targets were destroyed by our defenders”said the Ukrainian army.
A few hours later, the Russian army claimed to have bombed and “hit” during the night of Ukrainian air defense systems, covering “key military infrastructure”.
The invasion of Ukraine, a “strategic failure” for Moscow
On the diplomatic front, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Finland on Friday, a country bordering Russia that recently joined NATO. On this occasion, the American Secretary of State rejected any ceasefire unfavorable to kyiv, emphasizing that continuing to arm and strengthen Ukraine was the only way to achieve a “true peace”.
The war in Ukraine is a “strategic failure” for Russia, added the head of American diplomacy. “The War of Aggression (by Vladimir Putin) was a strategic failure, greatly diminishing Russia’s military, economic and diplomatic might and influence for years to come.”did he declare.
Kyiv’s NATO membership “impossible” before the end of the conflict
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged on Friday that Ukraine’s membership of NATO would be “impossible” before the end of the ongoing war with Russia. “Joining NATO is the best guarantee of security for Ukraine (…) but we understand that we will not drag a single NATO country into a war”the Ukrainian leader said at a joint press conference with the Estonian president.
“Therefore, we understand that we will not become a member of NATO as long as this war lasts, not because we do not want to, but because it is impossible”, he added. This is a rare admission by Volodymyr Zelensky, who has multiplied calls since the start of the Russian invasion for Ukraine to join the Atlantic Alliance and the European Union as quickly as possible.
“Many difficulties” prevent talks, according to Beijing
Of “many difficulties” prevent Russia and Ukraine from starting peace talks, the Chinese envoy to Ukraine said on Friday, returning to Beijing after a tour of Europe.
“All parties support a political settlement” of the conflict, assured Li Hui, whose tour notably took him to kyiv and Moscow. “The different parties are currently facing many difficulties to sit down (at the same table) and engage in discussions”he told reporters, adding that “the two parties have not completely closed the door to peace talks”.
Li Hui also denounced the role of Western military aid to Ukraine in this war. “If we really want to stop war, save lives and achieve peace, we should not send weapons to the battlefield”did he declare.
