In Dnipro, a large city in eastern Ukraine between Kharkiv and Zaporizhia, the situation is relatively calm even though explosions were heard on Friday February 25 near a military base outside the city. The authorities have asked the population to come and donate their blood, because the medical services constitute reserves that can be sent throughout the country: a call heard.
► Follow our live on the Russian offensive in Ukraine
With our special correspondents in Dnipro, Anastasia Becchio and Boris Vichith
In freezing cold, dozens of people line up outside the regional blood collection facility: the line stretches along the building and out into the street. Volunteers distribute tea to a man, who has just had his blood drawn: “ It’s the minimum of what I can do to help the army, and the wounded who are likely to be numerous. Everything in my power I will do to defend my country “, says the sexagenarian.
A manager comes out to announce that some blood groups are not required today, groups A and B filled up in three days, since the blood drive started here.
Others are rejected because they have taken medicine or dairy products for less than six hours… They go back home, but show themselves determined to come back tomorrow. This is the case of a young girl who came with her mother: I can’t do much for help the armybut 200 cl of my blood could save two people “, she says.
” My help to the country will not stop says a father of five children who has already built a shelter under his house. After donating his blood, he will register with territorial defense forces to support the army : “ I would take up arms if necessary, we said this Russian speaker, nothing good will happen if the Russians come here “.
Everyone can see that there, in Russia, they have no limits. They are able to sacrifice anyone to achieve their goal. But if for example they blew up a major infrastructure in Ukraine, a dyke, a dam or a nuclear power plant, Europe could also be affected by this radiation. But it is also above all a question of defending our values and what we are. They just want to destroy us: that’s Putin’s goal. Russia’s objective is to assimilate us, it has taken the next step. It is as if he came to Brittany and said to the Bretons, “we are going to save you from the Gascons or the Provençals”. I repeat myself but its objective is clear: full and complete assimilation. Just look at the history of the Russian Empire.
According to a father who came to donate blood in Dnipro, the Russians “capable of sacrificing anyone to achieve their goal”
►Read also: In Ukraine, the Russian strategy is reminiscent of that used in Georgia
