What happened in the Russo-Ukrainian war this week? Get news and analysis to read

What happened in the Russo-Ukrainian war this week? Get news and analysis to read

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit to Britain on Wednesday - his first since the Russian invasion - to seek support for more Western resources. As Kevin Rawlinson said this is how he spends his day. Speaking to British MPs at Westminster Hall he impassionedly pleaded for fighters and forced Rishi Sunak. The Defense Department is considering whether it can meet Zelenskys request. Its a speech filled with emotive humor as youd expect from an actor-turned-politician. Below is a short excerpt from Peter Walkers half-hour talk. Patrick Wintour wrote after the interview that Zelensky felt he had the worlds attention. Standing next to the speakers of the House of Lords and House of Commons in camouflage his message was simple: Dont forget this war in Ukraine or Europe. Later Wednesday Zelensky traveled to Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. German Chancellor Olaf Schulz demanded the use of heavy weapons. The sooner Ukraine gets long-range heavy weapons and our pilots get aircraft the sooner Russian aggression ends and we can restore peace to Europe. Ukraines president says he has arrived at the Elysee Palace. Macron remains firmly behind Zelensky. Angelique Crisfis said France was committed to winning peace in Ukraine and restoring the rule of law with Europe. Macron said that Russia cannot and must not win. The future of Europe is at stake.Finally, Zelenskiy attended an EU summit in Brussels where he urged European leaders to speed up weapons delivery and open EU membership talks with Ukraine this year.
Jennifer Rankin reported that Zelenskiy warned the EU’s 27 leaders that his intelligence services had intercepted a plan from Russia “to break the democracy of Moldova and establish control over” the country. His claim could not be independently verified.
Zelenskiy said it was unknown whether Moscow had “given an order to follow that plan” but it was “a very similar plan” to others tried in Ukraine and elsewhere.

Russia launched drone and missile attacks on targets in southern and eastern Ukraine late Thursday according to officials and local residents who heard loud explosions. Air raid sirens sounded across most of the country said Luke Harding. Military chief of the Dnepropetrovsk region Serhiy Lisak said Shahids drone was seen en route to the region. The overnight standoff came hours after the governor of the Lugansk region said Russia had launched a major offensive in eastern Ukraine and was trying to stop it. Destroy the fort near the town of Cremina.

The Russian military is seeking to crush Ukrainian forces with fighting in the eastern region of Donbas as Moscow gathers additional troops there for an expected offensive in the coming weeks that may target the Luhansk region Ukraine said. Moscows troops are stationed in the Donetsk region which with neighboring Luhansk forms the Donbass industrial zone on the border with Russia said Peter Beaumont. “The battles for the region are heating up,” said Pavlo Kyrylenko, the governor of Donetsk, in televised Note. The Russians are sending new soldiers into the war and destroying our cities and villages.
Western governments believe Russia is planning a major attack on Ukraine possibly to coincide with the anniversary of its major invasion Luke Harding reports. Its main goal is to capture the Donbass region
Luke Harding reported that one of the Russians targeted by UK sanctions on Wednesday is Vladimir Putins alleged ex-lover Svetlana Krivonozhik and Foreign Secretary James Chaturai announced a new round of sanctions against Kremlin-linked military figures and entities on Volodymyrs behalf. Interview with Zelensky. in London. These include a drone manufacturer a helicopter parts company and an aviation software company.
But apparently the most poignant and personal act involved Krivonogif a Russian citizen who worked as a janitor in the 1990s before meeting Putin in St. Petersburg. Claims to be the father of Louisas daughter.
Taras 23 Vladislav 21 and his commander Oleksiy 39 know that if the worst happens the Ukrainian government will deny any information they have. A collective shudder goes up at the thought of them in Western capitals. Daniel Buffy talks to members of the Brutsovo Battalion a volunteer group of Ukrainian special forces fighting against Vladimir Putin outside the pre-war front lines in Ukraine. regions of their country - and deep into Russia. Their work ranges from kidnapping high-ranking Kremlin officials to destroying key military infrastructure and shooting down enemy planes over Russian soil. It may seem strange that a battalion like theirs would allow their stories to be made public. But this is to misunderstand their purpose. Everything they do has a single message they want to send. Its easy for us to cross the Russian border laughed Vladislav the youngest of the three.
Ukraine has faced temperatures as low as -20C in recent months, at the same time as dealing with a humanitarian crisis caused by Russia strikes on key civilian infrastructure.
Humanitarian groups have warned that attacks in the coldest winter months can “devastate” civilian lives, limiting access to energy and water for vulnerable groups such as displaced and elderly people.
This interactive map made by Antonio Voce, Ashley Kirk, Isobel Koshiw and Lucy Swan shows the vast impact of Russia’s weaponisation of winter.

Ukraine has seen temperatures dip below -20 degrees Celsius in recent months while Russia faces a humanitarian crisis with attacks on key urban infrastructure. Humanitarian groups have warned that winter attacks could harm civilian lives. Access to energy and water is limited for vulnerable groups such as the homeless and the elderly. Created by Antonio Voss Ashley Kirk Isobel Cuccio and Lucy Swann this interactive map shows the extensive influence of Russias winter artillery.