Since the Russian invasion on February 24, the war in Ukraine has continued to feed newspapers around the world. The country spends this December 25 its first Christmas since the beginning of the conflict. kyiv authorities on Saturday denounced an act of “terror” and “revenge” after a Russian strike on the Kherson market that left at least 10 dead and 55 injured, ten months to the day after the start of the invasion troops from Moscow. “As families in Europe, North America and beyond prepare festive dinners, spare a thought for Ukraine which is fighting evil right now,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kouleba implored on Twitter.
For his Defense counterpart Oleskiï Reznikov, the strike on Kherson is “revenge on its inhabitants who resisted the Russian occupation”. Kherson was liberated on November 11 by the Ukrainian army after eight months of occupation. “Mornings, Saturdays, Christmas Eve, downtown. These are not military installations. This is not a war by set rules. This is terror, this is killing for to intimidate and (take) pleasure”, lambasted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on social networks.
According to the latest report on Saturday evening from the governor of the Kherson region, Yaroslav Yanushevich, “for the moment, we have 55 injured (…) and 10 dead. Among the injured, 18 are in serious condition”.
The French Minister of the Armed Forces in Ukraine on Wednesday
This Sunday, we learned that the French Minister for the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu will travel to Ukraine next Wednesday to show France’s continued support. “He will notably pay homage to the dead at the Heroes’ monument in kyiv and will meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksiy Reznikov,” the ministry said. France, which had organized an international conference on December 13 in support of Ukraine, insists that it remains ready to provide all its humanitarian and military support to kyiv.
French President Emmanuel Macron said this week that France had recently delivered rocket launchers and Crotale missile batteries to Ukraine. He also added that Paris would continue its arms deliveries in early 2023, in an interview with TF1 and LCI broadcast last Tuesday. Among the deliveries envisaged are those of new Caesar guns. Emmanuel Macron has not advanced on any figures, indicating that “it will depend (it) on the discussions” in progress with Denmark.
Since the beginning of the conflict in February, France has notably provided 18 Caesar guns of 155 mm with a range of 40 km, mounted on trucks, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles as well as forward armored vehicles (VAB ). Paris now plans to supply kyiv with six to 12 additional Caesar guns, taken from an order for Denmark.