International

Zelenskyy: Russians create ‘complete disaster’ with mines

Published

4 years ago

April 2, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned his people early Saturday that retreating Russian forces were creating “a complete disaster” outside the capital as they leave mines across “the whole territory,” including around homes and corpses.

He issued the warning as the humanitarian crisis in the encircled city of Mariupol deepened, with Russian forces blocking evacuation operations for the second day in a row. Meanwhile, the Kremlin accused the Ukrainians of launching a helicopter attack on a fuel depot on Russian soil.

Ukraine denied responsibility for the fiery blast, but if Moscow’s claim is confirmed, it would be the war’s first known attack in which Ukrainian aircraft penetrated Russian airspace.

“Certainly, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of the talks,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, five weeks after Moscow began sending upwards of 150,000 of its own troops across Ukraine’s border.

Russia continued withdrawing some of its ground forces from areas around Kyiv after saying earlier this week it would reduce military activity near the Ukrainian capital and the northern city of Chernihiv.

“They are mining the whole territory. They are mining homes, mining equipment, even the bodies of people who were killed,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address to the nation. “There are a lot of trip wires, a lot of other dangers.”

Ukraine’s military said it had retaken 29 settlements in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions.

Still, Ukraine and its allies warned that the Kremlin is not de-escalating to promote trust at the bargaining table, as it claimed, but instead resupplying and shifting its troops to the country’s east. Those movements appear to be preparation for an intensified assault on the mostly Russian-speaking Donbas region in the country’s east, which includes Mariupol.

Zelenskyy warned of difficult battles ahead as Russia redeploys troops. “We are preparing for an even more active defense,” he said.

He did not say anything about the latest round of talks, which took place Friday by video. At a round of talks earlier in the week, Ukraine said it would be willing to abandon a bid to join NATO and declare itself neutral — Moscow’s chief demand — in return for security guarantees from several other countries.

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The invasion has left thousands dead and driven more than 4 million refugees from Ukraine.

Mariupol, the shattered and besieged southern port city, has seen some of the worst suffering of the war. Its capture would be a major prize for Russian President Vladimir Putin, giving his country an unbroken land bridge to Crimea, seized from Ukraine in 2014.

On Friday, the International Committee for the Red Cross said it was unable to carry out an operation to bring civilians out of Mariupol by bus. City authorities said the Russians were blocking access to the city.

“We do not see a real desire on the part of the Russians and their satellites to provide an opportunity for Mariupol residents to evacuate to territory controlled by Ukraine,” Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to Mariupol’s mayor, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

He said Russian forces “are categorically not allowing any humanitarian cargo, even in small amounts, into the city.”

Around 100,000 people are believed to remain in the city, down from a prewar 430,000. Weeks of Russian bombardment and street fighting have caused severe shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine.

“We are running out of adjectives to describe the horrors that residents in Mariupol have suffered,” Red Cross spokesperson Ewan Watson said.

On Thursday, Russian forces blocked a 45-bus convoy attempting to evacuate people from Mariupol and seized 14 tons of food and medical supplies bound for the city, Ukrainian authorities said.

Zelenskyy said more than 3,000 people were able to leave Mariupol on Friday.

He said he discussed the humanitarian disaster with French President Emmanuel Macron by telephone and with the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, during her visit to Kyiv.

“Europe doesn’t have the right to be silent about what is happening in our Mariupol,” Zelenskyy said. “The whole world should respond to this humanitarian catastrophe.”

Elsewhere, at least three Russian ballistic missiles were fired late Friday at the Odesa region on the Black Sea, regional leader Maksim Marchenko said. The Ukrainian military said the Iskander missiles did not hit the critical infrastructure they targeted.

Odesa is Ukraine’s largest port and the headquarters of its navy.

As for the fuel depot explosion, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said two Ukrainian helicopter gunships flew in extremely low and attacked the civilian oil storage facility on the outskirts of the city of Belgorod, about 25 kilometers (16 miles) from the Ukraine border.

The regional governor said two workers at the depot were wounded, but the Rosneft state oil company denied anyone was hurt.

Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s national security council, said on Ukrainian television: “For some reason they say that we did it, but in fact this does not correspond with reality.”

Later, in an interview with Fox, Zelenskyy refused to say whether Ukraine was behind the attack.

On the outskirts of Kyiv, where Russian troops have withdrawn, damaged cars lined the streets of Irpin, a suburban area popular with young families, now in ruins. Emergency workers carried elderly people on stretchers over a wrecked bridge to safety.

Three wooden crosses next to a residential building that was damaged in a shelling marked the graves of a mother and son and an unknown man. A resident who gave her name only as Lila said she helped hurriedly bury them on March 5, just before Russian troops moved in.

“They were hit with artillery and they were burned alive,” she said.

n Irpin resident who gave his name only as Andriy said the Russians packed up their equipment and left on Tuesday. The next day, they shelled the town for close to an hour before Ukrainian soldiers retook it.

“I don’t think this is over,” Andriy said. “They will be back.”

Associated Press

Related Topics:complete disaster mines Russians Zelenskyy

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International

Netanyahu Condemns ‘Christian Persecution’ in Nigeria in Easter Message

Published

13 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu Condemns ‘Christian Persecution’ in Nigeria in Easter Message

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again condemned what he described as Christian persecution in Nigeria, using his Easter message to spotlight growing concerns over religious violence.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu extended Easter greetings to Christians in Israel, the United States, and across the world, while raising alarm over what he termed the continued targeting of Christian communities in several countries.

He listed Nigeria alongside Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey as regions where Christians face persecution. However, he maintained that Israel remains the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population is protected and continues to grow.

The remarks come amid renewed global attention on insecurity in Nigeria, particularly following recent attacks on churches in Kaduna State, where worshippers were killed and abducted during Easter celebrations.

Netanyahu also referenced ongoing tensions in the region, noting that Israel continues to face missile threats targeting Jerusalem, even during the Easter period.

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Despite these security challenges, he said Israel remains committed to protecting religious freedom and ensuring that people of all faiths can worship without fear.

“Even under fire, our commitment is unwavering: to defend life, to safeguard liberty, and to ensure that every believer can pray in peace,” he said.

The Israeli leader stressed that Israel guarantees freedom of worship and provides a safe environment for Christians, especially during important religious observances like Easter.

He also expressed hope that the Easter season would bring renewal, faith, and hope to Christians worldwide.

The latest statement follows similar remarks made by Netanyahu during Christmas, when he condemned attacks on Christians in Nigeria and called for an end to violence against religious communities.

Analysts say the repeated statements highlight increasing international concern over religious violence in Nigeria, as well as broader issues of security and protection of vulnerable communities.

Netanyahu Condemns ‘Christian Persecution’ in Nigeria in Easter Message

International

Trump Confirms Rescue of Second F‑15E Crew Member From Deep Inside Iran

Published

20 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Trends Admin

US President Donald Trump

Trump Confirms Rescue of Second F‑15E Crew Member From Deep Inside Iran

U.S. forces have successfully rescued the second crew member of a downed F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jet from deep inside Iran, President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday. The operation has been described as one of the most daring search-and-rescue missions in American military history, highlighting the skill and coordination of U.S. forces in a highly contested region.

The rescued airman, a highly respected weapons systems officer and U.S. Air Force colonel, was trapped in treacherous mountainous terrain for nearly two days after the jet was shot down on Friday, April 3, 2026. He sustained injuries but is expected to make a full recovery, according to Trump and U.S. officials.

Trump praised the officer’s bravery and detailed the scope of the mission, saying he was monitored around the clock while behind enemy lines. Dozens of U.S. aircraft, equipped with advanced weaponry, supported the operation, which also involved special forces units. A firefight against Iranian troops occurred during the extraction, underscoring the high-risk nature of the rescue.

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“This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave pilot yesterday,” Trump said. “This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in enemy territory. No American personnel were killed or wounded in either operation.” The first crew member, the pilot, was rescued shortly after the jet went down.

The F‑15E was downed amid ongoing joint U.S.–Israeli military operations, marking the first confirmed loss of a U.S. combat aircraft to enemy fire in the conflict. Reports indicate the colonel defended himself while evading capture, reportedly armed only with a handgun, before being extracted.

U.S. officials described the operation as a high-risk nighttime-to-daylight mission involving heavy air support and tactical commando movements. Suppressive fire from supporting aircraft helped secure the airman and ensured that all U.S. forces exited Iranian territory safely.

The rescue comes amid continuing military strikes in Iran, including recent damage at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran caused by U.S.–Israeli airstrikes. Trump used the announcement to rally national unity, saying, “This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around. We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal military in the history of the world.”

The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command have withheld further operational details due to security concerns. The colonel’s identity has not been publicly disclosed, and officials emphasized the operation demonstrates both the capability and commitment of U.S. forces to recover personnel under extreme conditions.

Trump Confirms Rescue of Second F‑15E Crew Member From Deep Inside Iran

International

US Conducts Daring Rescue of Second Downed Pilot Deep Inside Iran

Published

21 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Trends Admin

US Conducts Daring Rescue of Second Downed Pilot Deep Inside Iran

United States forces have successfully carried out a high-risk operation to rescue a second American pilot trapped deep inside Iran, officials confirmed Sunday, marking a dramatic development amid escalating U.S.–Iran tensions. The pilot had been stranded for more than 24 hours after an F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down by Iranian forces on Friday.

President Donald Trump celebrated the mission on social media, calling it “one of the most daring search and rescue operations in U.S. history” and confirming that all personnel involved were safely extracted from Iranian airspace. Trump described the rescued airman as a highly respected U.S. Air Force colonel who sustained injuries but is expected to make a full recovery.

“The brave warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies,” Trump said. “At my direction, the U.S. military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the world, to retrieve him. WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!”

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This extraction follows the earlier rescue of the F‑15E’s first crew member, highlighting an unprecedented dual operation behind enemy lines. U.S. officials noted that elite special operations forces, aerial support, and real-time intelligence were critical to locating and safely evacuating the pilot. The successful mission demonstrates U.S. military capabilities and air superiority over hostile territory.

Rising Regional Tensions

The rescue comes less than two days before President Trump’s deadline for Iran to negotiate a deal with the United States or open the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. Meanwhile, Iranian forces have reportedly deployed new domestic air-defense systems, and a recent projectile strike near a nuclear power plant killed one person, further intensifying concerns over regional instability.

Analysts warn that while the rescue represents a major U.S. success, the situation underscores the high stakes of U.S.–Iran confrontations, particularly following last month’s Iranian strike on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia, which caused more damage than previously disclosed. Efforts by regional mediators, including Qatar, to broker a ceasefire have stalled, leaving tensions elevated.

The operation is a significant military and political achievement for the U.S., highlighting both the risk and precision of modern combat search-and-rescue missions in hostile environments, and reasserting the commitment of the United States to recover its personnel under the most challenging conditions.