Blinken says Russia is trying to subjugate Ukrainians by ‘freezing’ them

KYIV | The United States accused Russia on Friday of “freezing” the Ukrainian population this winter because it cannot win on the battlefield, as Vladimir Putin announced the continued displacement of residents of the southern region of Kherson in the face of pressure from the Kyiv military. .

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Ukraine has denounced Russia’s policy of “expulsion” even of its territory east of Russian control, and called the international community a witness.

At the G7 meeting, events multiplied the same day after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to use “his influence” on the Kremlin in this sense, trying to force Moscow to stop its offensive. Münster (Germany) reiterates its unfailing support for Kyiv.

Officials say heating is sure

Foreign ministers from seven industrialized nations specifically agreed to set up a “coordination mechanism” to help Ukraine “repair and protect” its electricity and water supply systems, which have been hit heavily by the Russians in recent weeks.

Distribution of water pumps, heaters, household containers, toilets, beds, blankets or tents is also a question.

As Russia tries to make up for its military defeats in Ukraine, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken predicted during the G7 that it would target critical infrastructure to subdue the country by “freezing” its inhabitants during the coldest months.

However, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Chmygal wanted to reassure: “We are preparing for all scenarios. “We are storing power generation equipment in case of emergency,” he explained on Friday.

“Today almost half of all buildings in Ukraine have heat. These are schools, kindergartens, hospitals, apartment buildings (…) In Kyiv, 78% of buildings are currently heated,” said Mr. Chmygal said.

“There are ample reserves of underground gas deposits. 14.5 billion m3 of gas accumulated. Given the expected overseas deliveries, these volumes will be enough to complete the season,” according to the head of government.

“We have already received 700 generators from (foreign) donors. 900 will be delivered by them soon,” said Mr. Chmigal.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will step up its actions in Ukraine to allow farmers to continue production despite the conflict.

Fighting in the East

At the same time, “extremely violent” fighting continued, “this week concentrated in Donbass (East), Bakhmaut and Soledar”, President Volodymyr Zelensky underlined in the evening.

But “we hold our positions,” he assured, stressing, according to him, significant losses in the Russian ranks.

“During the day, the Russian invaders launched three missiles and conducted five airstrikes and two multiple rocket launchers”, reported at the same time over the regions of Lviv (west), Kharkiv (northeast), Dnipropetrovsk (center) and Zaporizhia (south). Personnel of the Ukrainian forces.

Faced with this situation, the West continues to provide full military aid to Ukraine: the United States finances the modernization of T-72 tanks and HAWK surface-to-air missiles to the tune of nearly $400 million.

“We recognize the need for anti-aircraft defense at this critical time when Russia and Russian forces are raining Iranian missiles and drones on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure,” Kyiv adviser Jake Sullivan said Friday. US President Joe Biden.

“More than 5,000” are displaced per day

The Russian president, in Red Square for the Day of National Unity, for his part did not abandon his usual rhetoric.

“By constantly supplying Ukraine with weapons, by sending mercenaries there”, the West “favors their geopolitical goals that have nothing to do with the interests of the Ukrainian people”; And it is aimed at “weakening, disintegrating, destroying Russia”, slammed Mr Putin.

Regarding the ongoing population evacuation from southern Ukraine, he said “those currently living in Kherson” should “stay away from the most dangerous combat zones”.

“The Russian occupation administration has started a forced mass displacement of residents of the region”, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded, adding that “similar displacements are being carried out in other provinces as well.

Last week, the Russians announced that 70,000 residents of Kherson and its region had been transferred to the left bank of the Dnieper, where Moscow had better control of the situation.

But the population movements are continuing at a rate of “more than 5,000” per day, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Friday.