Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russia could do ‘something particularly vicious’
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Ukraine was on Monday preparing for a fresh onslaught after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Moscow might attempt “something particularly ugly” to mark this week’s anniversary of his country’s independence.
The 31st anniversary of independence after the break up of the Soviet Union on Wednesday will also mark six months since Russia’s invasion, which Vladimir Putin anticipated would bring an easy victory. Ukraine’s military warned that Russia had deployed warships and submarines carrying cruise missiles in the Black Sea and stationed air defence systems in Belarus.
It comes as Russian authorities investigate the death of the daughter of an influential Putin ally in a suspected car bomb blast on the outskirts of Moscow. Kremlin officials have said the death of Darya Dugina, 29, on Saturday evening was planned.
Her father is author Alexander Dugin, an ultra-nationalist ideologue who is believed to be close to the Russian president. Mr Dugin is said to be the architect or “spiritual guide” to the invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian leaders fear an intensification of attacks within the next 48 hours to cast a shadow over their national day. But there were new reports today of Moscow-backed fighters in the eastern Donbas region refusing to be deployed and also faltering recruitment efforts to plug gaps left by Russia’s losses so far.
In a video address Mr Zelensky warned: “We must all be aware that this week Russia could try to do something particularly ugly, something particularly vicious.” He urged his citizens to resist any attempts by Moscow to “spread fear and despondency”.
A night-time curfew in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, will be extended throughout Wednesday while large gatherings have been temporarily banned in Kyiv from today to protect against potential Russian aggression.
Mt Zelensky also warned Russia not to go ahead with a threatened prosecution of Ukrainian soldiers captured during the siege of Mariupol “in violation of all agreements, all international rules”.
“This will be the line beyond which no negotiations are possible.”
Ukrainian officials reported Russian artillery fire hitting the city of Nikopol overnight and five cruise missiles being fired towards Odesa from the Black Sea. Two were said to have been shot down and no casualties caused by the others.
