Europe 1 and AFP 07:01, March 20, 2022

On the 25th day of the Russian invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on China, Moscow's strategic ally, to "condemn Russian barbarism" after new strikes that left dozens dead.

The humanitarian situation is also worsening in major Ukrainian cities, such as Chernihiv.

THE ESSENTIAL

Ukraine on Saturday called on China, Moscow's strategic ally, to "condemn Russian barbarism" after new strikes - including with a new hypersonic missile touted by Vladimir Putin - which left dozens dead.

For his part, President Zelensky urged China, Moscow's strategic ally, to take a stand in this conflict.

1,400 airstrikes

The sirens sounded on Saturday evening in kyiv, according to social networks, and the Russian air raids followed one another at a rapid pace during the day on Mykolaiv, a city in southern Ukraine where dozens of soldiers were killed. the day before in a strike against an army barracks, local governor Vitaliy Kim said on social networks.

He did not provide details on the extent of the damage or the number of possible victims.

According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Russian troops, whose progress on the ground has been much more difficult than expected in the face of fierce Ukrainian resistance, have carried out 291 missile strikes and 1,403 air raids since the start of the invasion. February 24.

The main information: 

  • 1,400 airstrikes carried out by the Russians

  • President Zelensky urged China to take a stand

Zelensky urges China to take a stand

Faced with the continuation of deadly bombardments, and negotiations that drag on, President Zelensky urged China, a strategic ally of Moscow, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and one of the great absentees, with India , from the chorus of condemnations and sanctions that fell on Moscow, to take a stand.

"China can be an important part of the global security system if it makes the right decision to support the coalition of civilized countries and condemn Russian barbarism," tweeted Mykhaïlo Podoliak, an adviser to Mr. Zelensky and one of the participants in the meetings. negotiations with Russia.