Moscow, 8 June 2024, (GNP): Kremlin stated on Friday that recent comments by French President Emmanuel Macron are escalating tensions in Europe and suggest that France is preparing to take a direct role in the Ukraine conflict.
Macron has adopted a strong stance in support of Ukraine, pledging on Thursday to send Mirage fighter jets to the country and to assist in training Ukrainian pilots.
“Macron demonstrates absolute support for the Kyiv regime and declares readiness for France’s direct participation in the military conflict,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying.
“We view these statements as highly provocative, increasing tensions in the region and not contributing to anything positive,” Peskov remarked during the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Despite strong objections from Moscow and hesitation from other NATO members, Macron has not ruled out sending troops to Ukraine.
Currently, France does not have military personnel aiding or training Ukrainian forces in Ukraine, but Kyiv mentioned last week that it is “in talks” with Paris about the matter.
The region is entirely under Russian control, and Moscow has claimed it as fully annexed.
Main city, Lugansk, experienced a “massive” missile attack, according to its Russian-appointed leader, Leonid Pasechnik.
The emergency situations ministry reported that part of an apartment block collapsed, resulting in three fatalities. Rescuers managed to save seven people from the debris.
Images showed a five-story building with its facade torn open from the roof to the ground and a large crater nearby.
The regional government reported on Telegram that 35 people were injured, including three children aged 8 to 16, according to the regional health ministry.
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“Five people are in a serious condition,” stated regional health minister Nataliya Pashchenko. Pasechnik mentioned on Telegram, “Ukrainian nationalists launched a massive daytime attack on Lugansk’s civilian infrastructure.”
“In one multi-story building, a section has completely collapsed, and there are people trapped under the rubble. Rescuers are working to free them,” Pasechnik said.
Footage posted by the emergency ministry showed rescuers carrying an elderly casualty on a stretcher.
According to the Russian defense ministry, Ukraine “deliberately fired five US-made ATACMS missiles at residential areas in Lugansk.”
The ministry added, “Russian air defenses shot down four American missiles, but one missile struck two apartment blocks.”
