Once a day, NU.nl gives you an overview of the situation in Ukraine. This time: The Ukrainian parliament approved the extension of the state of emergency on Sunday. In the east of the country there is still heavy fighting and mainly the cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk are under fire.
The state of martial law and general mobilization of Ukraine will remain in force for at least another 90 days. The Ukrainian parliament on Sunday approved the decision, which President Volodomyr Zelensky announced last week. The state of emergency will now remain in effect until at least August 23. A day later, Ukraine traditionally celebrates its Independence Day.
Martial law gives the military more extensive rights and limits civil liberties, such as the right to demonstrate. Many experts see the length of martial law as an indicator of how long Kyiv expects the fighting to continue.
The first state of siege was declared on February 24, the day of the Russian invasion, and lasted for thirty days. Since then, it has been extended twice by thirty days. Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych has justified the extension of the state of emergency for another 90 days, saying that the Ukrainian people would otherwise be given false hopes. “Honest communication with society is necessary in times of war,” said the advisor.
Ukrainian soldiers earlier this week after training just outside Kyiv. The martial law gives the army more extensive rights.
Ukrainian soldiers earlier this week after training just outside Kyiv. The martial law gives the army more extensive rights. Photo: AFP
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Heavy fighting in Donets Basin
The battle in the Donets Basin is intensifying. There has been heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine in recent days, and the area was also under fire on Sunday. Heavy fighting is taking place especially around the cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk in the Luhansk region. According to the General Staff in Kyiv, Ukrainian troops are being shelled along the entire front line with Russian artillery.
Russian troops would try to storm towns north, east and south of Severodonetsk and south of Lysychansk, among other things. The Russian army is also trying to block supplies to Ukrainian troops around the two cities. For example, a bridge connecting Severodonetsk and Lysychansk has been destroyed.
Since the Russian capture of the steel factory in the port city of Mariupol, Ukraine has seen an increase in the Russian offensive in the eastern Donets basin region. Fierce fighting has been going on around Severodonetsk for days, leaving several dead and injured. Zelensky previously spoke of an “extremely difficult” situation in the Donets basin.
The military has attacked nearly 40 aerial targets in the past 24 hours, including five weapons depots in the Donets Basin, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. In addition, almost 600 targets were allegedly fired upon with rockets and artillery.
Polish president addresses Ukraine in person
Only Ukraine has the right to determine its own future, Polish President Andrzej Duda has said in parliament in Kyiv. He is the first foreign leader to address Ukrainian parliamentarians in person since the start of the war.
Speaking of people saying Ukraine must agree to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demands, the Polish president told parliamentarians that “nothing can be decided about you without you.” Duda said he believes the international community should demand that Russia withdraw completely from Ukraine. Giving up “even 1 centimeter” of Ukrainian territory is described by him as a “huge blow” to the Western world.
Duda also reiterated his support for Ukraine in the pursuit of EU membership. The Polish president told parliament he “will not rest” until the neighboring country joins the European Union.
The parliament has already been addressed by foreign leaders, including Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, but so far only via video connections.
Duda and Zelensky walked heavily guarded down a street in Kyiv on Sunday.
Duda and Zelensky walked heavily guarded down a street in Kyiv on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
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Russia-appointed mayor injured in explosion
A mayor appointed by Russia was injured in an explosion on Sunday. It concerns Andrei Shevcick, who has been appointed mayor of Enerhodar. That city is located next to Zaporizhzhia, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
Shevcick is in intensive care, news agency writes Reuters according to the Russian state news agency. Ukraine also says it is aware of the explosion. Dmytro Orlov, who is seen by Ukraine as the mayor of Enerhodar, writes on the messaging app Telegram that the explosion injured Shevcick and his bodyguards. Reuters stresses that the attack on Shevcick could not be independently confirmed. It is not yet clear what exactly happened.
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