Violent fighting in Bakhmout, Russia in favor of an extension of the grain agreement for "60 days" only, the ICC which wants to prosecute Russians for war crimes in Ukraine... Le Figaro takes stock of
the
conflict in Ukraine this Monday March 13.
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"Violent fighting" for the center of Bakhmout
Ukrainian and Russian forces said on Monday they were engaged in
"severe fighting"
for the center of Bakhmout, in eastern Ukraine, which Moscow has been trying to seize since the summer at the cost of heavy losses.
This city has become a symbol of Ukraine's fierce resistance to the Kremlin, and kyiv hopes to exhaust the enemy forces there to be in a position to launch a vast counter-offensive.
"Assault detachments (of the Russian paramilitary group) Wagner are attacking from several directions trying to break through the defense of our troops and advance towards the central quarters", said in the morning
the commander of the Ukrainian ground forces Oleksandr Syrsky quoted by the Army Press Center.
Read alsoLeaving Bakhmout: the perilous Ukrainian withdrawal
"The closer we are to the city center, the harder the fighting, the more artillery there is,"
echoed Evgeni Prigojine, boss of Wagner whose men are on the front line of the fighting for Bakhmout.
General Syrsky assured that Ukrainian troops
“inflicted significant losses on the enemy”
in this battle, the longest and bloodiest since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022.
“With the artillery fire, tanks (...) all attempts to seize the city are repelled
, "he argued.
Yevgeny Prigozhin acknowledged that his forces were facing fierce resistance.
“The situation in Bakhmout is difficult, very difficult.
The enemy fights for every yard”
, he said in a social media post.
"Ukrainians are throwing endless reserves (into battle)
," he added.
Ukrainian soldiers in Bakhmout.
STRINGER/REUTERS
Grain agreement: Russia in favor of its extension for only “60 days”
Russia is in favor of renewing the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports for 60 days, not 120 as has been the case so far, a senior Russian official said after talks with the UN.
"The Russian side (...) does not oppose a further extension of the 'Black Sea Initiative' after the expiration of its second term on March 18, but only for 60 days", declared
the Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Verchinin in a written statement sent to the media after the meeting.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: the cereals agreement is not a panacea
Consequences of war are
'devastating'
on orphans
The NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday denounced the
"devastating"
consequences of the Russian invasion on Ukrainian orphans and foster children,
"thousands"
of whom were
"forcibly transferred"
to Russia or territories under Russian occupation.
"Russia must end (these) deportations
," the NGO said in a statement.
“The return of children who have been illegally captured by Russian forces should be an international priority
,” she added.
HRW also urged Ukraine to
'urgently' reform
its system of taking care of these children, while this country which had before the invasion more than 105,000 children placed in institutions - of which about half were disabled - is "the highest total
in Europe, behind Russia ".
Read alsoHRW warns Ukraine against using landmines
ICC wants to prosecute Russians for war crimes in Ukraine
The International Criminal Court (ICC) wants to prosecute Russians for war crimes in Ukraine, the
New York Times
reported on Monday , citing two primary cases: children transferred to Russia and deliberate strikes on civilian infrastructure.
The ICC prosecutor's office, which is based in The Hague, said it would make
"no comment".
According to the American media, the first case concerns the kidnapping of Ukrainian children who were then sent for adoption or to re-education camps.
The second case concerns accusations that Russian forces deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure such as power and water plants with missiles.
The court, created in 2002 to try the worst crimes committed in the world, would also, according to the
New York Times,
intend to request arrest warrants against several people.
The outlet quotes unnamed current and former ICC officials, and gave no details on who would be charged and when.
The ICC has been investigating for more than a year into possible war crimes or crimes against humanity committed during the Russian offensive.
Read alsoUkraine: could Vladimir Putin be tried for a war crime?
Moldova faces a 'hybrid war' from Russia
Moldova is not facing an
“imminent military danger”
but
a “hybrid war”
led by Moscow to
“overthrow the power”
pro-European, estimated Monday the Minister of Defense in an interview with AFP.
Fears have been reignited in recent weeks in the former Soviet republic neighboring Ukraine, whose European ambitions are viewed with suspicion by the Kremlin.
"There is currently no imminent military danger against Moldova, but there are other types of risks that affect security,"
said Anatolie Nosatii, interviewed in his offices in Chisinau.
To read also “Shatters of the world” N°12: Moldova, the next domino of the former Soviet space?
He referred to
"disinformation, tensions in society generated by Russia"
,
"a set of provocations"
intended to sow chaos and
"change the political order".
The day before, the police had announced the arrest of members of a network they suspect of being orchestrated by Moscow.
The alleged troublemakers are accused of having wanted to destabilize the country by intervening during the anti-government demonstrations which regularly shake the Moldovan capital.
Demonstrators gathered on Sunday to protest against the government.
VLADISLAV CULIOMZA / REUTERS
Macron receives Orban for dinner to discuss "unity" against Moscow and the rule of law
Emmanuel Macron receives Viktor Orban in Paris on Monday evening to insist on
"the unity of European countries"
on the war in Ukraine in the face of the dissonant voice regularly heard by the Hungarian Prime Minister, as well as on
"European values"
and the rule of law.
During a working dinner at the Élysée, the French head of state and the controversial Hungarian leader must prepare for the European Council on March 23 and 24 in Brussels.
They will discuss
"issues of industrial policy, energy and migration"
, declared the French presidency.
Viktor Orban has been sailing against the tide of his European partners on the Ukrainian file since the Russian invasion of Ukraine a year ago.
led by Europe against Russia and at the end of February again launched a new call for a ceasefire.
Read alsoEmmanuel Macron receives Viktor Orban for dinner this Monday at the Élysée
Ukraine denies involvement in protests in Georgia
Ukraine on Monday rejected accusations by Georgian authorities who accused Kiev of
"direct interference"
in the protests that rocked Georgia last week.
“We categorically reject such insinuations which have nothing to do with reality
,” reacted the spokesman for Ukrainian diplomacy, Oleg Nikolenko, on Facebook, assuring that the Georgian authorities were looking for their
“enemy in the wrong place”
.
The day before, the Georgian Prime Minister, Irakli Garibachvili, had accused Kiev
of “direct interference”
in these protests.
Read alsoMikhail Saakashvili, the former Georgian president at Le Figaro: "The fate of Georgia is linked to Ukraine's victory over Russia"
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