On Friday, April 1, Russian occupation forces attacked with missiles and artillery settlements in the Luhansk Region. The international community pledged more arms supplies and funding to Ukrainian defence as Russia focuses on encircling groups of Ukrainian troops in the Donbas area. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has named two former security service generals blaming them for treason, Ukrainian public media platform Ukrinform and British public broadcaster BBC report.
In eastern Ukraine, Russia is focusing its efforts on fighting with the Ukrainian Joint Forces group in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. It uses multiple rocket systems and heavy artillery, which causes heavy damages to residential districts in the cities, towns and smaller settlements in the warzone.
The Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai stated on Friday morning: «The Russians used multiple launch rocket systems to fire on a residential sector of Hirske city. Several houses were destroyed, a woman was injured.»
In separate events, in the city of Severodonetsk, Luhansk region, two people were killed and two others were wounded as a result of Russian shelling. «Due to heavy shelling in Severodonetsk, Rubizhne, Lysychansk, Kreminna, Ivanivka, 20 objects were damaged. Among them are 9 apartment buildings and 9 private houses, outbuildings, infrastructure facilities,» Haidai stated.
Over the course of Thursday, March 31, Russian forces moved forward in the south-east, but Ukrainian forces regained control over 11 settlements in Kherson Region.
Arms supplies to Ukraine
The second International Defense Donor Conference for Ukraine was held by the UK on Thursday, March 31. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace stated about the effort which involved 35 countries: «There’ll be more lethal aid going into Ukraine as a result of today. A number of countries have come forward either with new ideas or indeed more pledges of money.»
Specifically, the aid would include the provision of air and coastal defense systems, longer-range artillery and counter-battery capabilities, armored vehicles, as well as wider training and logistical support.
President points to treason
In a rare criticism of Ukrainian security bodies, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed that two generals would be stripped of their rank.
«Today, another decision was made on anti-heroes – now, I don’t have time to deal with all traitors, but gradually all of them will be punished. That is why Andriy Olehovych Naumov, former head of the main department of internal security at the Security Service of Ukraine, and Serhiy Oleksandrovych Kryvoruchko, former head of the SBU directorate in the Kherson region, are no longer generals,» Zelensky said.
Zelenskyy also noted that «these high-ranking servicemen, who could not decide on where their homeland is, who violate the military oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people regarding the protection of our state, its freedom, independence, will certainly be deprived of their high military rank.»
See the latest video address by Zelenskyy with English subtitles.
Day 37 of war in Ukraine: UK organises arms supplies to Ukraine, Zelenskyy blames generals for treason
