Russian pressure remains strong in eastern Ukraine, by kyiv's own admission, convinced of winning after Russian setbacks on the battlefield. And while Ukraine won Eurovision, a victory hailed by NATO and many Western leaders.

“Very difficult” situation in the Donbass

“The situation in the Donbass remains very difficult. Russian troops are trying to achieve at least one victory there. It is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who recognizes him in person. "Little by little, we are forcing the occupiers to leave our lands."

The situation in Donbas remains very difficult. Russian troops are still trying to show at least some victory. On the...Posted by Володимир Зеленський on Saturday, May 14, 2022

Russian forces are trying to advance in this strategic eastern region, partly controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014, and which Moscow has made its main objective since the withdrawal of its troops from around kyiv at the end of March.

“We are preparing for major offensives in Severodonetsk, and around the Lysytchansk-Bakhmut axis,” said Serguiï Gaïdaï, Ukrainian governor of the Lugansk region, describing an increasingly critical humanitarian situation. "The Lugansk region is constantly under chaotic fire...there is absolutely no gas, water or electricity," he said on Saturday evening.

In particular, the Russians have been trying for three weeks, without success, to cross the Severskyi Donets river, at the level of the village of Bilogorivka, in the Lugansk region.

In this almost deserted village, an AFP team saw the roads strewn with abandoned military equipment. Only three soot-covered corners remained of a school that was bombed a week ago, a strike that kyiv touts as one of the gravest crimes committed by Russian forces since they began their invasion of Ukraine, along with 60 civilians killed.

No "meaningful catch"

In the east, the Russians are failing to make a "meaningful hold", said a US defense official on condition of anonymity.

The situation also seems to have changed around Kharkiv, the country's second city. Russian forces had to withdraw from several localities northeast of the city, according to the Ukrainian General Staff.

But according to the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), "Ukraine and its Western partners probably have only a small window of opportunity to support a counteroffensive in the territories occupied" by Russia. . Vladimir Putin "probably intends to annex southern and eastern Ukraine to the Russian Federation in the coming months", according to this institute.

Large convoy to Zaporizhia

According to Petro Andryushchenko, deputy mayor of Mariupol, a large convoy of 500 to 1,000 cars, which had been waiting to pass for three days, was finally authorized on Saturday to reach Zaporijjia, a city under Ukrainian control located some 230 km from Mariupol.

Mariupol on the Eurovision stage

“Please help Ukraine and Mariupol! Help Azovstal”, launched on stage the singer of the Kalush Orchestra, Oleh Psiuk, whose performance was applauded. The Ukrainian group, favorite of bookmakers, won Eurovision.

Read alsoEurovision: after its victory, is Ukraine obliged to organize the competition next year?

"I am sure that our victorious choir in the battle against the enemy is not far away," said Volodymyr Zelensky, promising to organize "one day" Eurovision in a "free, peaceful and rebuilt Mariupol". », in reference to this martyred city where the last Ukrainian fighters are entrenched in the Azovstal steelworks.