RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Zelensky fires Sumy head after Russian strike

Vladimir Zelensky’s office announced on Tuesday that it has fired the head of Ukraine’s Sumy Regional Military Administration, Vladimir Artyukh. The move follows accusations that Artyukh organized a military awards ceremony that was targeted in a Russian missile strike.

On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that it carried out a precision strike the previous day on a gathering of Ukrainian command staff in the border city of Sumy. Two Iskander-M missiles were used in the attack on Sunday, it said, adding that over 60 senior Ukrainian servicemen were killed in the strike.

The local Ukrainian authorities have claimed that the attack targeted a military awards ceremony for the 117th Territorial Defense Brigade. Officials reported that the strike resulted in 35 civilian deaths and 129 others injured. 

Several Ukrainian officials, including the mayor of Konotop, Artyom Semenikhin, have since called for the prosecution of Artyukh, accusing him of being directly responsible for the casualties by “organizing an awards ceremony”despite warnings not to do so.

Artyukh has effectively confirmed that the ceremony took place on the day of the attack but denied responsibility for the event, telling public broadcaster Suspilne that he “was invited” but did not organize it. 

Nevertheless, Zelensky signed a decree on Tuesday removing Artyukh from his post. Taras Melnychuk, the cabinet’s representative in parliament, confirmed the move in a post on Telegram on Tuesday and announced that the government has decided on a replacement.

Moscow has stressed that it does not attack civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the Russian military only strikes “military-related targets.” Russian officials have accused Kiev, however, of deliberately hosting military events in civilian areas. 

Following the Sumy attack, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the facility targeted in Sunday’s strike was hosting both Ukrainian and NATO officers, and claimed they were posing as mercenaries. 

Lavrov went on to say that Kiev routinely flouts international law by placing military facilities and weapons in or near civilian infrastructure, and that there have been “a million” examples of this. 

Sumy is a regional capital and frontline city of over 250,000 people, located 25km from the border with Russia. It has become a focal point of Ukraine’s retreat from Russia’s Kursk Region following its failed incursion.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Britain sends Ukraine second part of $3 billion war loan

Britain sent Ukraine 752 million pounds ($990 million) to buy air defences and artillery on Monday, part of a broader $50 billion international loan programme backed by frozen Russian assets, Britain's government said.

"The world is changing before our eyes, reshaped by global instability, including Russian aggression in Ukraine," finance minister Rachel Reeves said.

The Group of Seven advanced economies agreed an outline lending package in October 2024 - before the election of Donald Trump as president changed the United States' approachto the conflict - and Reeves and her Ukrainian counterpart Serhiy Marchenko finalised details of Britain's contribution in March.

Pressured by the United States' increased reluctance to provide security in Europe, Britain's government announced in February that it would raise defence spending from about 2.3% of national income to 2.5% by 2027 and 3% some time after 2029.

Monday's payment to Ukraine is the second of three instalments totalling 2.26 billion pounds. The first was on March 6 and the final part will be paid next year.

Defence minister John Healey said Britain would give Ukraine 4.5 billion pounds of support this year and that the funds would be used to purchase air defences, artillery and spare parts for vehicles and other equipment.

Other British aid includes help by its defence ministry to procure radar systems, anti-tank mines and hundreds of thousands of drones.

On Sunday two Russian ballistic missiles hit the centre of the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy. Kyiv said the attack killed 34 people and wounded 117.

Russia's defence ministry said it had targeted a gathering of Ukrainian commanding officers in the city.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was appalled by the attack.

Support in Britain for Ukraine's military operations remains high across the public and most major political parties.

RT/Reuters