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Russia launched a series of missiles on Friday kyivcoinciding with the visit of a delegation of African leaders in search of a way out of the conflict.
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African leaders, including the president of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosaplan to meet this Friday with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyand on Saturday with the Russian Vladimir Putinin Saint Petersburg.
Shortly after their arrival, the air raid sirens and several explosions were heard in kyiv.
The Ukrainian air force said it had shot down 12 Russian missilesincluding six Kinzhal supersonics. All projectiles were intercepted in the airspace around kyivindicated his military administration.
These bombing are a message from Moscow African mediators, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba.
“Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace”, he tweeted.
The mayor of kyiv, Vitali Klitschkoindicated that this attack did not cause damage in the city.
The African delegation also visited Bucha, on the outskirts of the capital and the scene last year of a massacre of civilians Attributed to the Russian Army.
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“Road to peace”
The delegation looks forward to meeting with Zelensky with the objective of “try to find a way to peace in this conflict”tweeted the spokesman for the South African presidency, Vincent Magwenya.
This mediation takes place in the midst of a counteroffensive by the forces of kyivwith an upsurge in fighting on the ground and intense bombing Russians against large Ukrainian cities.
It’s about the latest initiative up to now a series of diplomatic efforts that have tried, in vain, to defuse the conflict.
But, according to experts, this mission has little chance to reach a good port.
African leaders “They cannot have a mediating role. They have little political weight, and have no influence”, Ukrainian political analyst told AFP Anatoly Oktysiuk.
South Africacriticized for its position close to Moscowhas refused to condemn the Russian invasion and says it wants to remain neutral and urge dialogue.
African countries have denounced less unanimously that the western powers the war that launched Russia in Ukraine in February 2022.
putin tries to appeal to African leaders, arguing that Russia is fighting Western imperialism, and accusing the allies of Ukraine to block with its sanctions the exports of russian cereals and fertilizers, crucial for Africa.
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throwback of russia
On the ground, the Russian army acknowledged on Friday that intense fighting is taking place in the south of Ukrainefor the control of the localities of Rivnopil and urojaineand implicitly admitted for the first time a setback on the ground.
“The most active combats take place in the towns of Rivnopil and urojaine”said the Russian army.
These towns are next to others that Ukraine claimed to have recaptured last week, in the area of Vremivka.
Russia I affirm that “five attacks of the Ukrainian armed forces were repelled”.
The fact that there are battles for control of these towns implies that the Russian lines retreated a few kilometers to the south and east, on the border of the regions of Zaporizhia and of Donetskwhich are partially occupied by Russia.
The Ukrainian army reported progress on Thursday, despite the “powerful resistance” of the Russian troops.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
