As it happened

Ukraine accuses Kremlin of using same ‘genocidal’ tactics from Soviet-era famine

Issued on: 26/11/2022 – 10:36

01:53
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena pay tribute at a monument to victims of the Holodomor, also known as the Great Famine, which took place in the 1930’s and killed millions, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on November 26, 2022. © Bureau de presse de la présidence ukrainienne, via AP

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Ukraine accused Russia on Saturday of using the same “genocidal” tactics that it used against it in the 1930s under Josef Stalin as Kyiv commemorated a Soviet-era famine that left millions of Ukrainians dead during the winter of 1932-33. Read our blog to see how the day’s events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).

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9:32pm: Russian bombing has killed at least 32 people in Kherson since its liberation

At least 32 people in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson have been killed by Russian shelling since pro-Moscow forces pulled out two weeks ago, the head of Ukraine’s police said on Saturday.

“Daily Russian shelling is destroying the city and killing peaceful local residents. In all, Russia has killed 32 civilians in the Kherson region since the deoccupation,” National Police Chief Ihor Klymenko said in a Facebook post.

3:13pm: Kyiv summit promotes ‘Grain from Ukraine’ for most vulnerable

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted a summit in Kyiv on Saturday to promote its “Grain from Ukraine” initiative to export grain to countries most vulnerable to famine and drought.

The Ukrainian leader said the plan demonstrated that global food security was “not just empty words” for Kyiv. The Kremlin has said that Ukraine’s exports during the war have not been reaching the most vulnerable countries.

Zelensky said Kyiv had raised around $150 million from more than 20 countries and the to export grain to countries including Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen.

“We plan to send at least 60 vessels from Ukrainian ports to countries that most face the threat of famine and drought,” Zelensky told the gathering.

1:34pm: Ukraine marks Soviet-era famine as Russia’s war rages on

Ukraine accused the on Saturday of using the same “genocidal” tactics that it used against it in the 1930s under Josef Stalin as Kyiv commemorated a Soviet-era famine that left millions of Ukrainians dead during the winter of 1932-33.

Ukraine this year holds its memorial day for the victims of the “Holodomor” famine as it grapples to repel invading Russian forces and deals with massive power outages across the country after waves of Russian air strikes on vital infrastructure.

“Once they wanted to destroy us with hunger, now – with darkness and cold,” President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel. “We cannot be broken.”

1:29pm: Russia says 9 prisoners of war freed in exchange with Ukraine

as part of a prisoner exchange with Ukraine on Saturday, Russian news agencies reported, citing Moscow’s defence ministry.

“On Nov. 26, as a result of the negotiation process, nine Russian servicemen who were in mortal danger in captivity were returned from the territory controlled by the Kyiv regime,” the ministry said in a statement.

1:28pm: Ukraine holds food security summit in Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted an international summit in Kyiv on Saturday to discuss food security and agricultural exports with the prime ministers of Belgium, Poland and Lithuania and the president of Hungary.

Zelensky opened the summit speaking at a panel flanked by his chief of staff and prime minister. French President and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen delivered speeches that were shown by video.

11:23am: Power restored in Ukrainian city of Kherson, senior presidential aide says

Electricity has been restored in the southern Ukrainian city of after its liberation earlier this month from Russian occupation, a senior presidential aide said on Saturday.

“First we are supplying power to the city’s critical infrastructure and then immediately to household consumers,” Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

9:36am: Ukraine president’s chief of staff: Russia ‘will pay’ for Soviet-era famine

The head of Ukraine’s presidential administration said on Saturday Russia would answer for a that left millions of Ukrainians dead during the winter of 1932-33.

“The Russians will pay for all of the victims of the Holodomor and answer for today’s crimes,” Andriy Yermak wrote on Telegram, using the Ukrainian name for the tragedy.

8:10am: Russian air strikes kill several in attack on Ukrainian city of Kherson

At least 1 by Russian missile attacks on Kherson in what appears to be a retaliation against the Ukrainian civilian population due to Ukraine’s military victories in the region. FRANCE 24’s Carys Garland reports.

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8:05am: ‘People in many regions of Ukraine are going to have to expect rolling blackouts’

FRANCE 24’s Gulliver Cragg reports from Noviy Buh, in Ukraine, on on Ukrainian power grids namely in Kyiv.

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8:00am: Putin meets with moblised soldiers’ mothers amid rising anti-war sentiment

Following the “partial mobilisation” announced by the governement, Putin met with Russian mothers and expressed that he “shares their pain”. However, not all mothers are invited to talk with the president. FRANCE 24’s Antonia Karrigan reports.

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© France 24

 

7:31am: Britain says Russia likely removing nuclear warheads from missiles and firing at Ukraine

Russia is likely removing nuclear warheads from ageing nuclear cruise missiles and firing unarmed munitions at Ukraine, said on Saturday.

“Whatever Russia’s intent, this improvisation highlights the level of depletion in Russia’s stock of long range missiles”, the defence ministry said in its daily intelligence update on Twitter.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 26 November 2022

Find out more about the UK government’s response:

🇺🇦 🇺🇦

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ)

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)

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