Russia-Ukraine war anniversary: ​​Western leaders gather in Kiev as Russian drones attack Odessa

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Western leaders to Kyiv on Saturday. 2nd anniversary With the Ukrainian military running low on ammunition and weapons, and foreign aid in jeopardy, Russia's full-scale invasion begins.

President Zelenskiy posted a video from Hostomel Airfield, along with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. did.

“Two years ago, we encountered enemy landing forces and artillery fire here. Two years later, we will meet our friends and partners here,” Zelenskyy said at an airport outside Kiev, but in the early days of the war. Russian paratroopers unsuccessfully attempted to capture the airport.

Western leaders arrived shortly after a Russian drone strike hit a house in the southern city of Odesa, killing at least one person. Three women also suffered severe burns in Friday night's attack, the local governor, Ole Kipel, wrote on his social media account. Rescue teams combed through the rubble looking for survivors.

Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven (G7), announced on Saturday that the G7 would meet online with President Volodymyr Zelensky and adopt a joint statement on Ukraine.

“Now more than ever, we firmly support Ukraine: financially, economically, militarily and morally. Until this country is finally free,” von der Leyen said. said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

On the front lines in eastern Donetsk, Ukrainian soldiers begged for ammunition.

“When the enemy attacks, many of our comrades die. … We are sitting here without anything,” said Volodymyr, 27, a senior artillery officer.

“To protect the infantry… we need a lot of shells, and right now we don't have them,” said Oleksandr, 45, the commander of an artillery unit. The two officers gave only their first names, citing safety concerns.

About 100 people gathered outside St. Sophia's Cathedral in central Kiev on Saturday to demand the release of Azov Brigade members who were captured by Russia after defending the southern city of Mariupol.

Olena Petrivna, the mother of a member who was taken prisoner by the Russian military, said that before the war, people “didn't bother anyone, lived their own lives, and raised their children.” He questioned whether he had invaded Ukraine.

According to her, the Russians tried to conquer Ukraine and tell them what to say and what language to speak, but added: “We don't need them.” We have one destiny: victory. we have to win. ”

In a message on the second anniversary of the war, Colonel-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel Oleksandr Shirushkyi thanked Ukrainian soldiers for their sacrifices and the support of Western allies, saying: Armored vehicles are, first of all, saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. ”

Earlier this month, Zelenskiy Military chief Valery Zarzini dismissed and replaced him with Shirushki, marking the most significant shake-up of the upper echelons since the full-scale invasion.

Officials also pointed to achievements such as Friday's downing of a Russian early warning and control plane.

If confirmed, it would be the second similar aircraft loss in just over a month. The Ukrainian military claims that Russia is using the aircraft to direct missile attacks.

War has come to Russia too. A drone attack on Saturday at a steel mill in Russia's southern Lipetsk region caused a massive fire, regional governor Igor Artamonov said, adding there were no casualties. Russian independent media reported that the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant is Russia's largest steel plant. Videos shared on Russian social media showed multiple fires breaking out at the factory and the sound of explosions.

Russia's independent media outlet Zona reported on Saturday that there were about 75,000 people. russian man He died in the war in 2022 and 2023.

A joint study published by Mediazona and Meduza, another Russian independent news site, shows that the rate of Russian losses in Ukraine is unabated and that Russia is incurring losses in Ukraine. 120 people a day. Based on a statistical analysis of soldiers' death records compared to Russia's heritage database, the journalists said around 83,000 soldiers likely died in the two years of fighting.

According to Mediazona and Meduza's analysis, the Russian regular army suffered the heaviest losses in the first months of the war.But then prisoners were given freedom In exchange for combat, after President Vladimir Putin ordered partial mobilizationespecially in the early months of 2023, these groups began to incur more casualties.

Demonstrations in solidarity with Ukraine were held across Europe, including in London, Berlin and Stockholm.

In Belgrade, hundreds of people marched through the city center carrying Ukrainian flags. Although Serbia has condemned the invasion of Ukraine, it has not joined Western sanctions against Russia and maintains friendly relations with Russia.

There is a somber mood in Ukraine as the war with Russia enters its third year and Kiev troops remain stationed there. face mounting challenges They are fighting on the front lines as ammunition supplies dwindle and manpower becomes scarce. Recently, Russian troops withdrew from the eastern strategic city of Avdiivka, handing Moscow one of its greatest victories.

Russia still controls about a quarter of the country after Ukraine failed to make a major breakthrough in a summer counteroffensive.Meanwhile, millions of Ukrainians continue to live in unstable conditions In the barrage of battles, and many others face a constant struggle under Russian occupation. Most people are waiting for the liberation of Ukraine, which has not yet come.

First lady Olena Zelenska said Saturday that more than 2 million Ukrainian children have left the country since the war began and that at least 528 have been killed. “The war started by Russia is deliberately targeting children,” she says.

Britain has pledged 8.5 million pounds ($10.8 million) in additional humanitarian aid to Ukraine, ramping up efforts to provide health care, food and basic services to the population as it marks the second anniversary of the Russian invasion.

When announcing the aid, the UK Foreign Office said that approximately 14.6 million people, or 40% of Ukraine's population, were in need of assistance, many of whom were homeless or lacked adequate access to food, water and electricity. He said that

In the US Congress, Republicans have stalled $60 billion in military aid to Kiev, which is desperately needed in the short term. The EU recently approved a 50 billion euro (about $54 billion) aid package for Ukraine aimed at supporting the country's economy, despite resistance from Hungary.

President Joe Biden linked the loss of the defensive stronghold Avdiivka in the Donetsk region after months of heavy fighting to the holdup in U.S. aid. Concerns have since grown that Ukrainian forces will face similar difficulties in other parts of the 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front as pressure from Russian attacks increases.

Despite a harsh crackdown on dissent, some Russians marked the anniversary by laying flowers at monuments in Moscow and holding anti-war placards in the streets.

A weekly demonstration calling for the return of mobilized Russians carried “no war” placards in Moscow on Saturday, according to Russian rights group OVD-Info, which tracks political arrests and provides legal aid. At least five people who participated in the attack were arrested. A soldier from Ukraine.

Police also detained a young woman who gave flowers in Ukraine's national colors, blue and yellow, to a monument to victims of political repression in Moscow, OVD-Info reported.

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Associated Press writers Alex Babenko in Donetsk region, Ukraine, and Vasilisa Stepanenko in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report.