LIVE | Ukrainian woman gives birth in British hospital after escaping Russian bombs | Abroad

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Ukrainian woman gives birth in British hospital after escaping Russian bombs

A Ukrainian woman has given birth in a hospital in Nottingham after fleeing Russian bombs in Ukraine.

Lesia Husar, 41, gave birth to her son Richard on June 12, after traveling more than 1,900 miles to the UK from her home in Chernivsti, southwestern Ukraine.

Husar was able to send a message to her husband, who works in the Ukrainian army, thanks to staff at Nottingham City Hospital. The couple already have a 14-year-old daughter, Renatta, who currently lives with her mother in Woodthorpe, Nottingham.

“I am so grateful to everyone, My host family, their neighbors and the hospital staff here in Nottingham,” says Husar. “I was so stressed during my pregnancy which doctors say could explain why Richard was so small when he was born, but it was a great relief to be looked after in Nottingham by such friendly and knowledgeable doctors and midwives. I love my country and want to return to Ukraine soon, hopefully this summer, but the war has to end before I can bring my children back there.”

14:45 Asscher European advisor Ukrainian refugees

Former deputy prime minister and former PvdA leader Lodewijk Asscher has been appointed ‘special adviser’ to European Commissioner Nicolas Schmit. According to a spokesperson in that position, he will advise the Luxembourger on “the issue of the integration of Ukrainian refugees in the European labor market.”

This confirms a message from the NOS earlier on Saturday. According to a statement from the European Commission, Asscher will be charged with the inventory of the first emergency shelters for the refugees and their integration in European countries. He will also examine their housing, education and health care.

According to the NOS, it is an unpaid position, which he fulfills in addition to his job. Asscher has been working as a consultant at an organization bureau for several months.

Ukrainian president visits Mikolayiv at southern front

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky has gone to the south of the country to visit the city of Mikolayiv near the front. The city has been close to the lines since the start of the war in February. Zelenski visited a street hit by shelling where, among other things, an apartment building was hit by a rocket. He has had a meeting with local authorities in what appears to be a bunker of sorts. It is the president’s first visit to the city since the war broke out.

Zelensky rarely leaves the capital Kiev, as far as is known. At the end of May, he visited the country’s second city, Kharkov, which is also located at the front.

Russian forces have advanced rapidly from Crimea to the southern banks of the Dnieper River, which they crossed near the town of Kherson, 50 kilometers south of Mikolayiv. Mikolayiv is strategically located on the Bow River on the road from Kherson to Odessa, Ukraine’s main port.

12.55 Boris Johnson: Ukraine should simply organize the Eurovision song contest

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson believes that Ukraine should be able to organize the Eurovision Song Contest next year. On Friday it was announced that the umbrella organizer European Broadcasting Union (EBU) does not consider it safe to organize the event there in view of the war in Ukraine. The United Kingdom is now being considered as an alternate.

Ukraine won the song contest in Italy in the last edition. Traditionally, the winner of the event organizes the next edition. “Of course I would love it if it was organized in this country, but the fact is that they won and therefore deserve it,” Johnson told the press after visiting Kiev. “That’s why I think they should do it.”

Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC is not happy with the announcement that it will not be allowed to organize the Eurovision Song Contest next year. In a message signed by Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko, broadcaster Chernotytsky Mykola and former winners Ruslana (2004) and Kalush Orchestra frontman Oleh Psiuk (2022), UA:PBC says the EBU has made the decision “without discussion”. taken.

12.30 Germany investigates hundreds of war crimes in Ukraine

The German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) is investigating several hundred possible war crimes committed by Russians in Ukraine, the chairman of the BKA, Holger Münch, reported in the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag. According to Münch, the criminal investigation department is specifically looking for the military and political leaders of these crimes and not just for the actual perpetrators themselves.

“We have already received hundreds of indications in this direction so far,” said the BKA chairman. “This is the most difficult part of our investigation. It is a complex puzzle piece.”

According to Münch, the aim of the BKA is to “identify those responsible for the atrocities, prove their actions through the investigation and bring them to justice.” The latter should, among other things, be done in Germany itself on the basis of universal jurisdiction, making it possible to try certain crimes, regardless of where in the world they were committed.

The BKA is assisted in its investigation by the German intelligence services (BND). For example, they recorded radio conversations of Russian soldiers in which they spoke candidly about the atrocities against civilians.

Münch emphasizes that the investigation may take some time, because many investigations into the war in Ukraine are still in the early stages. Germany also wants to send detectives to Ukraine, but this requires international mandates.

10.10 Ukraine wants to resume negotiations with Russia in August

Kiev does not want to resume peace negotiations with Moscow until the end of August, Ukrainian chief negotiator David Aratsjamia told US broadcaster Voice of America on Saturday. According to Archamia, Ukraine will carry out counter-attacks on the Russians before then, which will give the country a better negotiating position.

“I think we will conduct an operation with counter-attacks in several places,” the chief negotiator said, without giving details.

Peace negotiations between Kiev and Moscow began shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, the talks soon ended. Representatives of both governments have not seen each other since late April and remote negotiations have also stalled.

Both countries blame each other for the lack of a breakthrough. Both Russia and Ukraine are now trying to improve their negotiating position through military successes.

09:10 Ukraine: Another Russian ship sunk after attack

A Russian ship en route to deliver weapons to the strategically located Snake Island sank Friday after it was hit by Ukrainian missiles, a Ukrainian military official reported.

The tug, named Vasili Bech, was hit earlier in the day by missiles supplied by Denmark to Ukraine and was seriously damaged. “Later in the day it became clear that the ship has sunk,” Odessa military governor Maksym Marchenko said in a video message to Telegram. The German news agency DPA could not independently confirm Marchenko’s claim. Russia has not yet responded to the attack.

The ship is said to have been en route to Snake Island, about 35 kilometers south of the Ukrainian coast. The island is important for access to the Black Sea. From there, Russians can block shipping traffic to and from southern Ukraine. Russia took control of the island at the beginning of the war, but has no real control over it. There is a lot of fighting around the island.

The Vasili Bech is not the first Russian ship to be lost since the war with Ukraine. Russia has previously confirmed the loss of the flagship of the Black Sea fleet, the Moskva.

US drone sales to Ukraine may be in jeopardy

A U.S. government plan to supply Ukraine with four large drones that can be armed with missiles is in doubt, according to insiders. Within the Pentagon, there are concerns that the advanced equipment could fall into Russian hands.

It concerns four MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones. The plan to sell it to Ukraine has previously been approved by the White House, Reuters news agency reported.

However, a Pentagon subdivision responsible for securing high-tech technology now fears the drones could pose a security risk if Russian forces get their hands on them. In particular, the radar and surveillance equipment on the drones should under no circumstances come into hostile possession.

Whether the deal can still go through is currently being discussed within the top of the US Department of Defense. However, one person involved tells Reuters that it is not yet clear when a decision will be made about this. According to government documents, the drones in question cost about ten million dollars (more than 9.5 million euros) each.

Ukraine recently appealed to its allies to provide more heavy military equipment for the war with Russia. Kiev says it will need 1,000 howitzers, 300 missile launchers, 500 tanks, 2,000 armored vehicles and 1,000 drones to defeat the Russians.

05.56 Zelensky: Ukraine is a valuable member for the EU

According to President Volodimir Zelensky, Ukraine’s accession to the European Union would be of great value not only to Kiev, but also to Brussels and the member states themselves. “This is the biggest contribution to the future of Europe in many years,” Zelenski said in a video message on Friday.

The European Commission on Friday recommended that Ukraine and Moldova be designated as candidate members of the EU. It will then take years before both countries can actually become members. For example, Ukraine still needs to do a lot to reduce corruption and strengthen democracy and the rule of law. The stamp of candidate for membership has been a fervent wish of the Kiev government, especially since Russia invaded the country.

According to Zelensky, the EU needs Ukraine to ensure its power and independence. The president also states that European integration will have positive consequences for Ukrainians. “The closer we are to other European countries, the more opportunities we will have to guarantee a modern and safe life for all Ukrainians.”

07.25 Russia continues to attack Severodonetsk

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