Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kharkiv. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kharkiv. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kharkiv. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kharkiv. AP

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Zelenskyy sacks Kharkiv official and condemns Russian bombardment

President criticised damage to 90 per cent of buildings in eastern town of Severodonetsk

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

May 29, 2022

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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that the country’s military is suffering a relentless Russian artillery barrage against Severodonetsk, a town in the east.

In a video address, Mr Zelenskyy said Russian forces had “destroyed the town’s critical infrastructure and damaged 90 per cent of buildings”.

“We are doing everything we can to contain this offensive. There was not a day when we did not try to find more weapons or modern weapons to protect our land and our people. I am grateful to everyone who defends Severodonetsk and demonstrates to the occupiers that peace will still be ours,” he said.

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Mr Zelenskyy, who visited the country’s second-largest city of Kharkiv on Sunday on his first trip outside the Kyiv region since the start of the Russian invasion, condemned the damage to the city from Russian bombardment.

“Russia has already lost not only the battle for Kharkiv, not only the battle for Kyiv and the north of our country. It has lost its own future and any cultural ties with the free world,” he said.

“One-third of the Kharkiv region is still under occupation. We will definitely vacate the whole territory, and everyone should work for this result in positions at both the local and state levels.”

Rescuers carry the body of civilian from a residential building damaged by shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Reuters
Rescuers carry the body of civilian from a residential building damaged by shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Reuters
Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, is feeling the strain after coming under heavy Russian bombardment. Reuters
Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, is feeling the strain after coming under heavy Russian bombardment. Reuters
Ukrainian troops help an elderly man out of a damaged apartment building after an air strike in the city of Slovyansk in Donbas region. AFP
Ukrainian troops help an elderly man out of a damaged apartment building after an air strike in the city of Slovyansk in Donbas region. AFP
A school bus carrying Ukrainian refugees leaves Kharkiv. EPA
A school bus carrying Ukrainian refugees leaves Kharkiv. EPA
The pain of war hits this woman hard shortly after her apartment building in Slovyansk was damaged by Russian shelling. AFP
The pain of war hits this woman hard shortly after her apartment building in Slovyansk was damaged by Russian shelling. AFP
A crater scars the road surface in Slovyansk, Donbas. AFP
A crater scars the road surface in Slovyansk, Donbas. AFP
A Russian soldier oversees the loading of steel on to a Russian ship at Mariupol port in Ukraine. AP
A Russian soldier oversees the loading of steel on to a Russian ship at Mariupol port in Ukraine. AP
European Council President Charles Michel, right, and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, left, talk before the second day's session of an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine, energy and food security, in Brussels. AP
European Council President Charles Michel, right, and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, left, talk before the second day's session of an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders to discuss Ukraine, energy and food security, in Brussels. AP
Rescuers extinguish a fire at a meat factory, amid fighting in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Reuters
Rescuers extinguish a fire at a meat factory, amid fighting in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Reuters
A man waits to collect water in Mariupol. AFP
A man waits to collect water in Mariupol. AFP
Ukrainians cross a makeshift bridge built next to a destroyed structure, in the Kharkiv region. EPA
Ukrainians cross a makeshift bridge built next to a destroyed structure, in the Kharkiv region. EPA
A destroyed tank in Mariupol. AFP
A destroyed tank in Mariupol. AFP
People charge electronic devices outside a theatre building, in Mariupol. Reuters
People charge electronic devices outside a theatre building, in Mariupol. Reuters
Pensioner Gennady Ivanov, 83, sits outside a residential building heavily damaged by shelling, in Mariupol. Reuters
Pensioner Gennady Ivanov, 83, sits outside a residential building heavily damaged by shelling, in Mariupol. Reuters
Ukrainian firefighters try to extinguish a fire at a house that was hit by Russian strikes, in Kharkiv. AP
Ukrainian firefighters try to extinguish a fire at a house that was hit by Russian strikes, in Kharkiv. AP
Russian Navy sailors of the Black Sea Fleet prepare to raise a sunken Ukrainian warship at the sea port, in Mariupol. AP
Russian Navy sailors of the Black Sea Fleet prepare to raise a sunken Ukrainian warship at the sea port, in Mariupol. AP
A Ukrainian soldier in the city of Lysytsansk, in the eastern region of Donbas. AFP
A Ukrainian soldier in the city of Lysytsansk, in the eastern region of Donbas. AFP
A boy, Yarik, plays in a playground in front a building destroyed during attacks, in Irpin. AP
A boy, Yarik, plays in a playground in front a building destroyed during attacks, in Irpin. AP
Two Ukrainian soldiers enjoy a tender off-duty moment near the village of Stoyanka, Kyiv region. GettyImages
Two Ukrainian soldiers enjoy a tender off-duty moment near the village of Stoyanka, Kyiv region. GettyImages
A girl in Kyiv looks at Russian weapons used in the attack on Ukraine. Reuters
A girl in Kyiv looks at Russian weapons used in the attack on Ukraine. Reuters
Children play on a destroyed car in a residential area of Mariupol. AFP
Children play on a destroyed car in a residential area of Mariupol. AFP
Demonstrators hold Ukrainian flags at a charity telethon in support of Ukraine, in Berlin. Reuters
Demonstrators hold Ukrainian flags at a charity telethon in support of Ukraine, in Berlin. Reuters
Ukrainian servicemen near Zaytseve village in Donetsk, Ukraine. EPA
Ukrainian servicemen near Zaytseve village in Donetsk, Ukraine. EPA
A shell hole near a destroyed building in Zaytseve village. EPA
A shell hole near a destroyed building in Zaytseve village. EPA
In the Saltivka district of Kharkiv, writing on the vans reads "warning, shelling" and "warning, passing by for civilians is prohibited". AFP
In the Saltivka district of Kharkiv, writing on the vans reads "warning, shelling" and "warning, passing by for civilians is prohibited". AFP
A heavily damaged residential building in the Saltivka district of Kharkiv. AFP
A heavily damaged residential building in the Saltivka district of Kharkiv. AFP
Ukrainian servicemen inspect a Russian amphibious vehicle near Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine. AP
Ukrainian servicemen inspect a Russian amphibious vehicle near Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine. AP
A rocket launcher belonging to a "Donetsk People's Republic" militia is fired from its position not far from Panteleimonivka, eastern Ukraine. AP
A rocket launcher belonging to a "Donetsk People's Republic" militia is fired from its position not far from Panteleimonivka, eastern Ukraine. AP
The damaged building of the economics department of Karazin National University in Kharkiv. AFP
The damaged building of the economics department of Karazin National University in Kharkiv. AFP
Karazin National University in Kharkiv came under heavy Russian bombardment. AFP
Karazin National University in Kharkiv came under heavy Russian bombardment. AFP
Ukrainian troops approach a destroyed military vehicle in the village of Rus'ka Lozova, north of Kharkiv. AFP
Ukrainian troops approach a destroyed military vehicle in the village of Rus'ka Lozova, north of Kharkiv. AFP
A bridge is a destroyed near Rus'ka Lozova, north of Kharkiv. AFP
A bridge is a destroyed near Rus'ka Lozova, north of Kharkiv. AFP
A building after a Russian military strike in the town of Marinka, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Donetsk region. Reuters
A building after a Russian military strike in the town of Marinka, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Donetsk region. Reuters
An employee mows the lawn near a destroyed warehouse refrigerator, belonging to the Chanta factory, in Novi Petrivtsi, near Kyiv. AFP
An employee mows the lawn near a destroyed warehouse refrigerator, belonging to the Chanta factory, in Novi Petrivtsi, near Kyiv. AFP
Defiant Ukrainian service members ride on top of a military vehicle, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on the road connecting Kostiantynivka and Bakhmut, in Donetsk region. Reuters
Defiant Ukrainian service members ride on top of a military vehicle, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, on the road connecting Kostiantynivka and Bakhmut, in Donetsk region. Reuters
Vladimir Mihailovich, a solar plant manager, surveys a crater after the business in Merefa on the outskirts of Kharkiv was hit by Russian shelling. Reuters
Vladimir Mihailovich, a solar plant manager, surveys a crater after the business in Merefa on the outskirts of Kharkiv was hit by Russian shelling. Reuters
A KA-52 helicopter gunship fires rockets on a mission at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. AP
A KA-52 helicopter gunship fires rockets on a mission at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. AP
Locals walk past a road damaged by shelling in a residential area in Kharkiv. EPA
Locals walk past a road damaged by shelling in a residential area in Kharkiv. EPA
Diana, on the train, waves to her mother Viktoriya and sister Kseniya as she leaves Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. AP
Diana, on the train, waves to her mother Viktoriya and sister Kseniya as she leaves Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. AP
Yana Skakova and her son Yehor, who fled from Lysychansk, sit in an evacuation train in Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine. AP
Yana Skakova and her son Yehor, who fled from Lysychansk, sit in an evacuation train in Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine. AP

While praising Kharkiv regional officials for their work, Mr Zelenskyy said that he fired the regional head of the country’s security agency, the SBU, for his poor performance.

“He did not work to defend the city from the first days of the full-scale war but thought only of himself personally. What were his motives? Police are investigating,” Mr Zelenskyy said.

He also met regional officials to discuss the military situation and prospects for rebuilding housing stock.

On his visit to Kharkiv, Mr Zelenskyy presented medals to service personnel.

“I want to thank each of you for your service. You risk your life for all of us and for our state. Thank you for defending the independence of our country. Take care of yourselves,” he said.

Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
​​​​​​​Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

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Updated: May 30, 2022, 5:16 AM`
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