The day is dawning in Europe and in Ukraine the 555th day of armed conflict begins after the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.
This Thursday, August 31, 2023, Hanna Maliar, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, stated that Kiev troops managed to record successes in the south and east of the country.
In Russia, a priest was sentenced to three years in prison for criticizing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
We take stock of the events that have shaped the last few hours.
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In Russia, a priest was convicted of criticizing the invasion of Ukraine
Ioann Kourmoiarov, a Russian priest who criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine online, has been sentenced to three years in prison in Saint Petersburg, the court that convicted him announced on Thursday, amid ongoing repression in Russia.
In a statement published on Telegram, the court indicated that the man was “found guilty of committing a crime” and released “a prison sentence of three years in a penal colony.”
The priest was also removed ” the right to freedom of expression on the internet for two years,” adds the court.
According to Amnesty International, this Saint Petersburg-based priest and monk of the Russian Orthodox Church took to YouTube to denounce what he sees as Russian aggression and called on Christians to condemn it.
Ukrainian progress in the south and east
As the British daily The Guardian reported, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Thursday, August 31, that Ukrainian troops had achieved new “successes” in the south and east of the country.
The Associated Press (AP) reports that Ukrainian forces were slowly advancing against Russian trenches blocking Ukraine’s advance toward the Sea of Azov in an attempt to divide Russian forces.
For its part, in an article published on Thursday, August 31, 2023, the American newspaper Wall Street Journal claims that the Ukrainian counteroffensive has broken through the main Russian defense line in the southeast of the country. ” After three months of gradual progress in the Western-backed operation, Kiev is accelerating its advance along the main line of attack.” says the newspaper.
British arms manufacturer BAE is establishing a presence in Ukraine
British defense contractor BAE Systems said in a statement on Thursday (August 31) that it had signed a contract with the Ukrainian government to establish an office in Ukraine “Increase social support for the Ukrainian armed forces.” The company also claims that this company will allow this “to examine the possibility of supplying small arms to Ukraine.”
“The first agreement strengthens BAE Systems’ support for Ukraine. “It paves the way for the company’s cooperation with the Ukrainian Armed Forces to understand and support future requirements for the structure and capability of the armed forces and to contribute to the revitalization of Ukraine’s industrial base.” BAE Systems points this out in its press release. “The second agreement builds on this support and creates a framework for BAE Systems to work directly with Ukraine to explore potential partners and how they might facilitate the production of light 105mm cannons in the country.” »
75 Ukrainian children were victims of torture
Ukrainian prosecutors said 75 children were tortured, mostly in the village of Yahidne, Ukrainian news agency Interfax reports.
“The conditions in which the children were found with adults in the school basement and their treatment amounted to torture.” explains Yulia Usenko, Head of the Department for the Protection of Children’s Interests and Combating Violence, on this issue and adds “So far, investigative authorities and prosecutors have documented these crimes in more than 3,200 criminal proceedings. These include murders, mutilations, child abductions, forced relocations, deportations, sexual abuse of children, attacks on children’s institutions…”