QUICK READING May 4th: Russia declares weapons trucks entering Ukraine a legitimate target of attack

Pro-Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol fire rockets from the BM-21 Grad launcher on May 2 – Photo: REUTERS

* According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Russia, speaking at a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry, Shoigu affirmed that any NATO transport to Ukraine’s territory with weapons or materials for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is considered a legitimate target of attack.

According to Shoigu, during the ongoing special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian military is ensuring the safety of the people of the Donbass region of Ukraine, the Russian armed forces will continue to carry out all the tasks assigned by them. proposed by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.

* Day 4-5, The Russian ruble has risen to its highest level in 2 years against the dollar and euro, in the context of the European Union (EU) proposing an additional package of sanctions against Russia related to the conflict in Ukraine, according to Reuters.

Specifically, at 7:21 am GMT on 4-5 (ie 14:21 Hanoi time), the ruble has increased by 0.7% against the USD, traded at the exchange rate of 1 USD for 70.49 rubles, the highest level. as of June 2020. Against the euro, the price of the ruble rose 1.2%, trading at 1 euro for 73.84 rubles, peaking at 1 euro for 72 rubles at the beginning of the session, the highest level since February 2020.

* Day 4-5, The Kremlin denies accusations from Ukraine that the Russian military launched a major attack on the Azovstal steel factory complex in Mariupol.

At a press conference, according to Reuters news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia had not carried out any attack on the Azovstal industrial park, and reiterated an order of Russian President Vladimir Putin issued last month. about not attacking the area.

Peskov also said that Russian forces quickly quelled the Ukrainian side’s efforts to seize important combat positions.

Earlier, on May 3, the Ukrainian military announced that Russian forces had launched an attack on the Azovstal steel plant after more than 100 civilians were evacuated from the tunnels below the plant.

People from Mariupol were evacuated to Kamianske, Zaporizhzhia – Photo: Anadolu Agency

* On Twitter, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen announced European Union (EU) finally proposed ban on Russian oil imports in the context that the bloc wants to “maximize pressure on Russia and minimize the impact on our economies”. Currently, the EU has not officially imposed an embargo on Russian oil.

* According to CNN, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk announced It is expected that there are 4 evacuation corridors to the city of Zaporizhzhia today 4-5 if the situation allows. These corridors will allow the evacuation of people from Mariupol, Lunacharske, Tokmak and Vasylivka. Earlier, on May 3, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 156 people from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol had arrived in Zaporizhzhia.

* Ukraine’s Ukrinform news agency quoted the country’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, as saying: Ukraine may hold a nationwide referendum on neutrality of this country. Zelensky said that “we are ready to consider neutrality” for Ukraine if Russia wants to consider this as one of the terms of the agreement to end the conflict.

* On 4-5, Tass news agency saidt the Belarusian armed forces are holding drills. However, the Belarusian Defense Ministry insists the drills do not threaten neighboring countries or Europe in general. Earlier, the President of Belarus had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 3, including discussing the current situation of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.

* Australia announced sanctions on 110 Russian individuals and politicians in response to Moscow’s recognition of the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. To date, Australia has sanctioned a total of 812 Russian individuals and 47 entities involved in its military campaign in Ukraine, according to the Guardian.

Smoke rises above the Azovstal steel plant in the city of Mariupol, Ukraine – Photo: AP

* Ukrainian officials say Russia is bombing and shelling the Azovstal iron and steel factory complex in the city of Mariupol after the ceasefire period, according to Reuters news agency. The Russian side also previously announced that it is focusing on the firing points of the entrenched Ukrainian forces.

The UN humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine Osnat Lubrani said the organization had evacuated 101 people from Mariupol to Zaporizhzhia. About 100,000 people are still trapped inside the port city besieged by Russia.

* The governor of the Donetsk region, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said that Russia’s air strikes on May 3 left 21 people dead and 27 injured, the highest daily death toll in nearly a month in this region. , according to AFP news agency.

Among them, at least 10 people were killed and 15 injured in an airstrike on the Avdiivka plant, one of the largest coke plants in Europe.

* United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed hope that Ukraine and Russia can organize “more humanitarian pauses”, as has been done to help more than 100 Ukrainian civilians evacuate from the refinery. Kim Azovstal last.

Earlier, the Red Cross and the United Nations said 101 civilians had been evacuated from the tunnels of the factory in the besieged city of Mariupol, and said many others were still trapped there. This is the first fully implemented civilian evacuation from the hotbed of hostilities in the city of Mariupol.

Firefighters put out a fire at a substation in the city of Lviv, Ukraine on May 3 – Photo: REUTERS

* Day 3-5, The Russian Defense Ministry said that the country attacked a military airport near the city of Odessa in southwestern Ukraine with Onyx missiles, destroying drones, missiles and ammunition supplied to Kiev by the United States and its European allies, Reuters news agency reported.

In addition, Russian artillery rockets have also hit many military targets across Ukraine, including command centers, weapons depots and an S-300 air defense missile system.

* On May 3, the mayor of Lviv city said that air strikes damaged two substations, causing power outages in some areas of the city, according to AFP news agency. Mayor Andriy Sadoviy said one person was injured in the incident.

Ukrainian officials also reported airstrikes in the Kirovograd region in central Ukraine and the Vinnytsia region in southwestern Ukraine.

The mountainous Transcarpathia region, which borders Hungary and Slovakia and has not been attacked since Russia launched its military campaign on February 24, was also hit by air strikes on May 3.

Evacuation center in the city of Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine – Photo: GETTY IMAGES

* Day 3-5, Pope Francis said he had requested a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine. Pope Francis said he has yet to receive a response from Moscow, and is concerned that Mr Putin “cannot, nor does he want to meet him at this time”, according to AFP.

* On May 3, US President Joe Biden visited a factory of Lockheed Martin Company in Alabama, where Javelin anti-tank missiles are produced. According to Reuters, Mr. Biden wants to use the visit to push Congress to approve a $33 billion aid package for Ukraine.

* On May 3, the European Union (EU) said that new sanctions against Russia will target its banks and oil industry. The EU also plans to replace two-thirds of its gas imports from Russia by the end of 2022.