Welcome
World
Europe
War in Ukraine
According to the Ukrainian army, the city in the southeast of the country coveted by Russia is nothing more than a field of ruins.
Published on December 26, 2023 5:11 p.m. Updated on December 26, 2023 5:30 p.m
Reading time: 1 min
A rocket strike on the outskirts of Marinka (Ukraine), February 22, 2023. (WOLFGANG SCHWAN / ANADOLU AGENCY / AFP)
Ukrainian troops are on lookout in Marinka. The commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces, General Valery Zalouzhny, told the press on Tuesday, December 26, that his soldiers had “withdrew” from this small town in southeastern Ukraine, which was at the center of violent fighting with the Russian army for many weeks. Ukrainian army units remain entrenched on the outskirts of the city, he said.
“The fact that we have moved to the outskirts of Marinka and in some places have already crossed the local borders should not cause an outcry,” demanded the head of the Ukrainian army, before declaring that the city “no longer exists.” in the face of destruction.
The day before, Moscow claimed to have taken control of the site. “The town of Marinka (…) was completely liberated today,” said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during a television interview with President Vladimir Putin. “Thanks to the decisive actions of our soldiers, the fortress was blown up,” he said, referring to a city described as “a powerful fortified area connected by underground passages” that protect it from artillery and air strikes. Marinka had been converted into a stronghold by the Ukrainian army since 2014 and began a conflict with pro-Russian separatists led by Moscow, who had taken over the city of Donetsk in particular.
View comments
France Télévisions collects your email address in order to send you the “La Quotidienne Monde” newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the end of this newsletter. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.