War in Ukraine: a Belarusian opponent in kyiv; two dead in strikes

Moscow calls on foreign nationals and diplomats to leave kyiv

Russian diplomacy called on Monday, May 25, foreign nationals living in kyiv, including diplomatic staff, to leave the Ukrainian capital before further bombings by the Russian army. “The strikes will be carried out on decision centers” and “Companies of the military-industrial complex” in kyiv, affirmed the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a press release, without giving a precise time frame before these strikes.

Six dead in Ukrainian strikes

Six people, including two children, were killed in Ukrainian strikes in Russia and in an area of ​​the Ukrainian region of Donetsk (east) controlled by Moscow, local authorities said. « A drone to attack a vehicle in the city of Graïvoron »declared in a press release the authorities of the Russian region of Belgorod, bordering Ukraine, deploring that a « civil ait été tué ».

In the Russian region of Bryansk, also bordering Ukraine, a man was killed in a Ukrainian strike in the town of Belaïa Beriozka, the acting regional governor, Iegor Kovaltchouk, wrote on Telegram. In Gorlovka, a town located in an area of ​​the Donetsk region of Ukraine controlled by Russia, “Four civilians, including two children born in 2012 and 2013, were killed following Ukrainian armed aggression.”indicated the head of the local administration established by Moscow, Ivan Prikhodko.

Ukraine regularly targets Russia and the occupied territories in retaliation for the daily Russian bombings to which it has been subject since the start of the large-scale Russian offensive in February 2022.

Russian Zvyagintsev’s appeal for peace not transmitted to Putin

The call to stop “carnage” in Ukraine launched at the Cannes Film Festival by Russian director Andrei Zvyagintsev to Vladimir Putin will not be transmitted “A match for everyone” to the Russian president, the Kremlin spokesperson declared on Monday, May 25. “The only person who can put an end to this butchery is the President of the Russian Federation. Put an end to this carnage, the whole world is waiting for it.”said the filmmaker on Saturday when receiving the Grand Prize for his film “The Minotaur”.

When asked by a journalist during a briefing on Monday whether this call had been relayed to Vladimir Putin, his spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: “For my part, I will not do it. I don’t think anyone will.”. “The only thing that matters to me”he continued, “This is because Zvyagintsev has never condemned the bloody massacre perpetrated by the kyiv regime in Donbass since 2014, when the war began.”. “If he had done it at the time, he would undoubtedly have had his say. But he no longer has this right.”said Dmitri Peskov.

The United Kingdom denounces “reckless Russian interference”

The British defense minister has accused Russia of being behind the jamming of the GPS signal of the Royal Air Force plane, which was transporting it last week, and denounced a « ingérence imprudente ». On Sunday, the British daily The Times indicated that the satellite signal of the government plane had been interrupted Thursday during a flight near the Russian border, while the minister was returning from Estonia where he had gone to meet British troops deployed in that country.

“This is reckless Russian interference, but the Royal Air Force is well prepared to deal with this type of activity.”underlined the Ministry of Defense, which confirmed the information revealed by The Times. This official source did not specify whether the plane had been intentionally targeted.

Belarusian opponent Svetlana Tikhanovska in Kiev

Exiled Belarusian opponent Svetlana Tikhanovskaia arrived in kyiv on Monday May 25 for her first visit to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, as a sign of solidarity with the Ukrainian people. This visit comes after kyiv’s announcement of the strengthening of its northern border with Belarus in the face of the threat of new Russian attacks from Belarusian territory, from where Moscow had launched part of its troops in 2022.

Dzianis Koutchynski, advisor to Svetlana Tikhanovskaia, wrote on social networks that this visit was a “symbol of solidarity (…) in our common struggle for freedom and dignityâ€. He accompanied his message with photos showing the arrival of the opponent at kyiv central station. In power since 1994, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is one of the Kremlin’s closest military and political allies.

Two deaths in border regions

Two people were killed Monday in Ukrainian strikes in the Russian regions of Belgorod and Bryansk, bordering Ukraine, local authorities said. « A drone to attack a vehicle in the city of Graïvoron »indicated in a press release the authorities of the Belgorod region, deploring that a « civil ait été tué ».

In the Bryansk region, a man was killed in a Ukrainian strike in the town of Belaia Beriozka, the acting regional governor, Iegor Kovalchuk, wrote on Telegram. Ukraine regularly targets Russia in retaliation for the daily Russian bombings to which it has been subject since the start of the large-scale Russian offensive in February 2022.