Fighting is grinding on in Ukraine after the country marked the anniversary of Russia’s invasion – with authorities reporting dozens of new Russian strikes and attacks on cities in the east and south.
After a somber and defiant day of commemorations on Friday and a marathon press conference, Ukraine’s seemingly indefatigable president followed up with new video posts in which he said “Russia must lose in Ukraine” and its forces can be defeated this year.
In a separate tweet, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy also pushed for more sanctions pressure on Russia after the UK, US and European Union all announced new measures aimed at further choking off funding and support for Moscow.
“The pressure on Russian aggressor must increase,” he tweeted in English.
The 10th 🇪🇺 sanctions package targets russian military industry, propaganda & financial system. The pressure on russian aggressor must increase: we expect decisive steps against Rosatom & russian nuclear industry, more pressure on military & banking.
Advertisement— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 25, 2023
Mr Zelenskiy said Ukraine wants to see “decisive steps” against Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and the Russian nuclear industry as well as “more pressure on military and banking”.
Russian president Vladimir Putin said this week Rosatom and his defence ministry need to work on making sure Russia is ready to resume nuclear weapons tests if needed.
He claimed the US is working on nuclear weapons and that some in America are pondering plans to carry out nuclear tests barred under the global test ban that took effect after the Cold War’s end.
“If the US conducts tests, we will also do it,” Mr Putin said.
Russia has already become the most sanctioned nation in the world over the past year, targeted by more than 30 countries representing more than half of the world’s economy. But the squeeze on its economy, trade and firms has yet to deliver a knockout blow.
Russia’s ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, called the latest US sanctions “thoughtless”.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 25 February 2023
Find out more about Defence Intelligence: https://t.co/dnK9iMITD3
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/vozmOE36aJ— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) February 25, 2023
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“We have learned to live under economic and political pressure,” Mr Antonov said. “The experience of previous sanctions has shown that they harm the world market to a greater extent, worsen the situation of ordinary citizens in states that initiate or support reckless sanctions.”
The February 24 anniversary of last year’s invasion brought no respite in Russian attacks.
Still, in one of his video posts on Saturday, Mr Zelenskiy asked: “Is it possible for us to win?”
“Yes,” he said. “We are capable of this in unity, resolutely and unyieldingly, to put an end to Russian aggression this year.”
Ukraine’s military on Saturday reported 27 Russian air strikes and 75 attacks from multiple rocket launchers in the most recent 24-hour spell.
It said Russian offensive efforts continue to be concentrated in Ukraine’s industrial east and north-east.
Five wounded civilians were reported in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk province, where territory is roughly split between Russian and Ukrainian control.
In the southern Kherson region, governor Oleksandr Prokudin also reported 83 Russian shelling attacks, with the regional capital, also called Kherson, hit nine times, and homes, a children’s nursery and a medical facility hit.
The head of Ukraine’s presidential office reported three civilian hurt in the region.
