Natalia Zinets

LVIV (Ukraine) – Russia’s assessment of the invasion of Ukraine so far is the darkest. It describes the “tragedy” of increasing troop losses as well as the economic impact of sanctions. The Ukrainians had to be evacuated from their eastern cities in preparation for a major offensive.

Moscow’s six week-long invasion has witnessed more than 4,000,000 refugees fleeing abroad. This incursion also killed and injured many others, left cities in ruins, and resulted in sweeping sanctions being imposed on Russian politicians and corporations.

The United Nations General Assembly lifted Russia’s suspension from the U.N. Human Rights Council in a symbolic gesture. It expressed “grave concern” at Russia’s ongoing humanitarian and human rights violations. Russia then resigned from the council.

Moscow previously acknowledged that the attack did not proceed as rapidly as it wanted. However, Dmitry Peskov (Kremlin spokesperson) lamented Thursday’s rising death toll.

Sky News reported that there were “significant losses” of troops. “It is a tragedy for us.”

According to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Russia faces its worst economic environment in three decades because of unprecedented Western sanctions. Further, in an effort to end its trade status of “most favored country”, the U.S. Congress decided not to reinstate it.

Russia claimed that it started a “special army operation” to demilitarize and “denazify Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2017. This is not true, Kyiv says and Western allies also reject it as a pretext.

New restrictions imposed by the West after the murder of Bucha residents led to Ukraine requesting allies not to buy Russian oil or gas amid divisions throughout Europe.

Late on Thursday, President Volodymyr Zeleskiy declared that Ukraine needed weapons to allow it victory on the battlefield.

Without citing evidence, he also stated that the situation in Borodyanka (another town north of Kyiv taken from Russian forces) is “significantly worse” than Bucha.

Borodyanka captured rescue workers using heavy equipment and other tools to clear the rubble after a collapsed structure. Fears were raised that hundreds of people would be buried.

Moscow denies targeting civilians, and claims images of Bucha bodies were created to justify additional sanctions and derail peace talks.

After German pressure to defer the action, EU ambassadors reached an agreement on a fifth package of sanctions against Russia. The embargo included a 120-day wind down period for coal and a coal embargo.

Hungary accused Ukraine of subverting EU unity, after Budapest claimed it was willing to pay Russian gas roubles. This Kremlin request had been resisted by most West Europeans.

Ukraine claims that Russia, having withdrawn from Kyiv’s outskirts and is now regrouping in order to regain control of Donetsk/Luhansk’s eastern region. These regions have been held partially by Russian-backed separatists dating back to 2014.

Mariupol was also targeted for its southern port. The mayor claimed that over 100,000 people are still trapped there.

“Evacuate! “Evacuate!” Serhiy Gaidai, Luhansk Governor said that the chances of saving your loved ones from Russian death is decreasing every day.

Dnipro is a central-eastern Ukrainian city that has urged both women and children to flee.

TRADE ACCUSATIONS

Both parties continued their exchange of accusations. Moscow launched a criminal investigation into Russian soldier’s claims that he was beat and threatened with the death while being detained in Ukraine as prisoner.

Unrelatedly, a Reuters-verified social media video that is geolocated in an area west Kyiv shows Ukrainian forces killing a badly injured and captured soldier.

NATO countries agreed on Thursday to intensify their support of Ukraine.

According to the U.S. top general, Ukraine received approximately 25,000 anti-aircraft weapon systems from America and its allies. Washington continues to investigate new ways Washington could support Ukraine.

Oleksii Reznikov, the Ukrainian Defense Minister, made an appeal for more powerful weapons in a YouTube video.

Russia has “drawn conclusions and changed tactics” and is now focusing on long-range strikes from the air.

Reznikov stated that Ukraine requires air defense systems, long-range artillery and tanks, as well as anti-ship missiles.

According to Zelenskiy, starving Moscow is the only way for it to come to an agreement at peace talks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that a Kyiv draft of a peace agreement contained unacceptable elements, and was in violation of previously agreed plans.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian negotiator, told Reuters that Lavrov wasn’t directly involved in the negotiations. His statements were “purely propagandistic” and meant to divert attention from Bucha killings.

Officials in Ukraine have confirmed that hundreds of civilians were killed since the Russian forces retreated last week.

Bucha’s mayor stated that many were killed in extra-judicial Russian troop killings. Reuters couldn’t independently verify these numbers.

Bucha apartment residents provided accounts that showed violence by Russian soldiers.

In a staircase, the bodies of two residents of the compound were found mutilated.