'I was raped for three days': Ukrainian police investigate war crimes
Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian police and justice system have embarked on a titanic, almost impossible mission: to investigate every crime committed during the war, from the most serious to the most trivial, from the worst killings of innocent civilians to looting and theft. Tens of thousands of cases are under investigation. So far, indictments have been issued against 679 individuals (171 Ukrainians and 508 Russians), including 53 accused of crimes involving sexual violence, and courts have convicted 189 people for war crimes (19 in custody and 170 in absentia).
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Euronews
8 hours ago
- Euronews
EU leaders reaffirm support for Moldova's bid to join bloc
Senior officials from the European Union were in Moldova on Friday for a landmark bilateral summit to strengthen ties and reaffirm the bloc's commitment to EU candidate country, just months ahead of its parliamentary elections. To support Moldova's EU integration and reform efforts, the bloc announced up to €1.9 billion in funding for 2025–2027 under the new Moldova Growth Plan - the largest EU financial package since the country's independence. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu for the first EU-Moldova summit. 'Nine months ago, we agreed on the growth plan for Moldova, and eight months ago, the people of Moldova have enshrined their European future in Moldova's constitution,' said von der Leyen. 'What a testament to Moldova's and our unwavering commitment... Moldova is constantly proving in making progress in the accession process.' Von der Leyen and Costa reaffirmed EU support for Moldova's sovereignty amid Russia's full-scale invasion of neighbouring Ukraine as well as continued hybrid threats to Moldova. They condemned Russian interference and discussed measures to bolster Moldova's defences against foreign influence, disinformation and electoral manipulation. Sandu was optimistic about her nation's EU membership, describing how: 'For the first time, we are being seen as a natural part of the European family.' 'Through this summit, the European Union is sending a clear message: Moldova matters.'
Euronews
13 hours ago
- Euronews
Russia launches massive aerial attack on Kyiv, injuring at least 23
Russia launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine overnight on Friday, deploying 550 drones and missiles in strikes across the country. Kyiv was the main target of Moscow's strikes, with at least 23 people injured and 14 of them hospitalised, according to Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko. The Ukrainian capital was hit directly by nine missiles and 63 drones, causing damage in eight different areas. Debris from the attacks also fell across more than 30 other locations around the city. Kyiv resident Joseph Haim Roche, whose brother-in-law is defending Ukraine at the frontlines, told Euronews that recent attacks on the city have intensified. "The Shahed drones are far more numerous and deadlier than before, we tend to take shelter even for drone attacks—we've all got a bit paranoid," he said. Roche recounted his experience after spending a night in a Kyiv metro station, which residents use as a shelter during air raids. "In recent nights, we've been going to the metro. There's a shelter less than 100 metres from our place, but it's impossible to spend the night there. It's damp, there's not enough space, and during major attacks, it gets way too crowded," Roche said. "Honestly, I'm tired, but I think it's not just because of that. It's been three and a half years of war, you know, so we're starting to get a bit ... it's started to become hard, I guess". Zelenskyy: Russia shows no intention of ending the war Friday night's attack left homes, a school, shops, a medical facility, and many other civilian infrastructures damaged in the city, according to Klitschko. Following fires set off by the strikes, residents have been warned about a sharp decline in air quality due to the smoke around the city. Officials have urged Kyiv citizens to keep their windows closed as a precaution. The hardest-hit districts include Solomianskyi, Holosiivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Darnytskyi, Dniprovskyi and Shevchenkivskyi. The city's railway infrastructure was also damaged, resulting in delays of up to two hours for passengers. According to Ukraine's air defence forces, 539 Shahed-type drones and decoys were used in the attack, as well as six ballistic missiles, four Iskander cruise missiles, and one Kinzhal aeroballistic missile. However, 478 of the aerial attacks were shot down or neutralised via electronic warfare, and two of the cruise missiles were shot down. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was one of the largest-scale air attacks, calling it 'deliberately massive and cynical'. Ukraine's president pointed out that the first air raid alerts across the country went off 'almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin'. 'Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,' Zelenskyy said. 'All of this is clear evidence that without truly large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its dumb, destructive behaviour,' Ukraine's president added, calling on the US to put more pressure on Russia with tougher sanctions. 'For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure." "This is the only thing that can be achieved quickly to change the situation for the better. And it depends on our partners, primarily the United States," Zelenskyy concluded.
Euronews
14 hours ago
- Euronews
Zelenskyy and Trump agree on joint defence efforts in key phone call
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on Friday with US President Donald Trump, in what the Ukrainian leader said was a "very important and fruitful" phone call. "Today we discussed the current situation, including Russian airstrikes and the broader frontline developments," Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X. "President Trump is very well informed, and I thank him for his attention to Ukraine. We spoke about opportunities in air defence and agreed that we will work together to strengthen protection of our skies. We have also agreed to a meeting between our teams." He added that they also discussed in detail the prospects for joint defence production. "We - in Ukraine - are grateful for all the support provided. It helps us protect lives, safeguard our freedom and independence." "We have achieved a lot together with America and we support all efforts to stop the killings and restore just, lasting, and dignified peace. A noble agreement for peace is needed," Zelenskyy pointed out. The Ukrainian leader added they discussed the possibility of joint defence production, mutual purchases, and investments. Neither the White House nor Trump himself have said anything about the call. Trump speaks to Putin That conversation comes a day after Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine, Iran and other issues in a call the Kremlin described as "frank and constructive." It was their sixth publicly disclosed talk since Trump returned to the White House. On the war in Ukraine, Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said Trump emphasised his push for a quick halt to the fighting, and Putin voiced Moscow's readiness to pursue talks with Kyiv, noting the previous rounds in Turkey yielded humanitarian results. At the same time, the Russian leader said Moscow will seek to achieve its goals in Ukraine and remove the "root causes" of the conflict, Ushakov said. "Russia will not back down from these goals," Ushakov told reporters after the call. Also on Thursday, Trump complained that the United States provided too many weapons to Ukraine under the previous administration, his first public comments on the pause in some shipments as Russia escalates its full-scale invasion. On Tuesday, the US said it was halting shipments of some air defence missiles and other weapons previously promised to Kyiv amid concerns that its own stockpiles had declined too much, according to officials. Certain munitions were previously promised to Ukraine under the Biden administration to support its defences. However, the administration appears to have revised some of those decisions due to concerns for US interests. "This decision was made to put America's interests first following a review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.
