It’s day 30 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian offensive, which Russian soldiers are reportedly being told must be completed by May 9, is largely stalled due to fierce Ukrainian resistance.
Intense fighting continues near cities such as Kharkiv, and the situation in the besieged city of Mariupol is dire. Humanitarian corridors have been difficult to establish, and reports have emerged of occupying Russian forces shooting at and killing civilians, including children.
The head of regional authorities in the Donetsk region, Pavlo Kyrylenko, reported that at least six people, including two children, were killed on Thursday, and an additional eleven people were injured due to Russian military actions.
A total of 3,343 people were evacuated through humanitarian corridors on Thursday, and 4,554 people were evacuated the day before, according to Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, Iryna Wierieszczuk.
The United Nations estimates that more than 10 million Ukrainians, over 20% of the population, have been forced to flee their homes, with more than 3.6 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries such as Poland.
Source: Radio Gdańsk, PAP, Reuters
The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday voted to demand aid access and civilian protection in Ukraine in response to the humanitarian crisis created by the Russian invasion.
The resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly specifically demands the protection of civilians, medical personnel, aid workers, journalists, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure.
It also called on Russia to stop its siege of Ukrainian cities, particularly the southern port of Mariupol, where local authorities have reported residents dying of hunger and have issued pleas to the international community to “save us from hell.”
An “overwhelming majority” of 140 countries supported the resolution drafted by Ukraine and her allies, including Poland. Russia, Syria, North Korea, Eritrea, and Belarus voted against the measure, while 38 other countries, including China, abstained.
Source: Radio Poland, Reuters, PAP
US President Joe Biden arrives in Warsaw today to meet directly with Polish President Andrzej Duda and discuss international efforts to support Ukraine and bolster regional security.
Biden’s visit follows an “extraordinary” NATO summit held yesterday in Brussels, during which members agreed to bolster NATO’s eastern flank by setting up four new combat units in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia.
The new battlegroups would be in addition to the four multinational battlegroups already present in Poland and the Baltic states, thus expanding NATO coverage from the Baltic to the Black Sea, according to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
The US also announced yesterday it would take in 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and supply an additional billion dollars in aid to support refugees sheltering in neighboring countries such as Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
Source: Radio Poland, PAP
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced yesterday that Poland will cut taxes to protect people’s incomes from the impacts of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Under the government’s proposed plan, the personal income tax rate would be reduced from 17 percent to 12 percent, and health insurance premiums would be made tax-deductible for entrepreneurs.
The planned changes also include more favorable tax treatment for families with children and single parents, as well as the scrapping of a „complex measure” known as “the middle-class tax credit.” According to Morawiecki, the cuts aim to “give Polish taxpayers breathing space in these difficult times that lie ahead of us.”
Morawiecki later promised additional proposals over the coming weeks as the government extends its “anti-Putin shield” to counteract price pressures caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Source: Radio Poland, Radio Gdańsk
Poland drew 1-1 with Scotland in a friendly match in Glasgow last night ahead of a World Cup playoff against Sweden next week.
Kieran Tierney made it 1-0 for Scotland with a header in the 68th minute of the game at Hampden Park stadium in Glasgow. Striker Krzysztof Piątek tied the match for Poland after scoring off a penalty kick in the 94th minute.
The Polish team will play Sweden next week for a spot in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar next autumn. The match is set for March 29 at 20:45 at Silesian Stadium (Stadion Śląski) in Chorzów.
Source: Radio Poland, UEFA.com
Weather
Today will be mostly sunny and warm, with very little chance of rain and light winds coming from the west. Temperatures will be warmer than yesterday, with a high around 16°C, or 60°F, dropping to an overnight low of 4°C or 39°F. Slightly cooler weather is expected tomorrow, with a chance for clouds and some rain starting out the week.
Elizabeth Peck/raf
