Moscow-backed officials try to solidify rule in Ukraine
Kremlin-installed officials in occupied southern Ukraine celebrated Russia Day on Sunday and began issuing Russian passports to residents in one city who requested them, as Moscow sought to solidify its rule over captured parts of the country.
At one of the central squares in the city of Kherson, Russian bands played a concert to celebrate Russia Day, the holiday that marks Russia’s emergence as a sovereign state after the collapse of the Soviet Union, according to Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti.
In the neighbouring Zaporizhzhia region, Moscow-installed officials raised a Russian flag in Melitopol’s city centre. Ukrainian media reported that few if any, local residents attended the Russia Day festivities in the two cities.Russia Day was also celebrated in other occupied parts of Ukraine, including the ravaged port of Mariupol.
Also, the Russia-aligned administration in Melitopol started handing out Russian passports to those who applied for Russian citizenship.
RIA Novosti posted a video of a Moscow-backed official congratulating new Russian citizens and telling them: “Russia will not go anywhere. We are here for good.”
Need ‘heavy weapons parity’ to end war: Ukraine
Ahead of a summit of Defence Ministers in Brussels, Ukrainian top official Mykhailo Podolyak on Monday said “heavy weapons parity” needed to end the ongoing war.
Taking to Twitter, adviser to the Head of Ukrainian President’s office Podolyak said, “Being straightforward -- to end the war we need heavy weapons parity.”
According to him, Ukraine is in need of ‘’1000 howitzers calibre 155 mm, 300 MLRS, 500 tanks, 2000 armoured vehicles and 1000 drones”. North Atlantic Council’s meeting at the Defence Ministers’ level will be held on Wednesday and Thursday at Brussels, which will be chaired by the NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.