Good morning from Kyiv.
"Slava Ukraini" (Glory to Ukraine) often trends on social media in Ukraine but rarely to the degree in which it has over the last 24 hours.
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A shocking video in which an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war appears to be shot to death by Russian soldiers after shouting the words has become the latest and one of the most powerful symbols of Ukrainian resistance to Moscow’s ongoing aggression against the country.
Translator Tetyana Denford, wrote on Twitter: “If you’re wondering why everyone is tweeting #SlavaUkraini today, it is because a Ukrainian soldier, a prisoner of war, was standing in front of the occupiers and said ‘Slava Ukraini’.
“He was immediately shot at point blank range, almost 10 times. The occupiers responded with: ‘The b*tch is dead.’
“He was a hero, and his name will be identified and honored. Rxssians (sic) are terrorists. #Ukraine is sacrificing their best in order for the world to see the truth of these monsters.”
What’s happening today?
Kyiv is calling for the International Criminal Court to probe the footage, which Ukraine’s foreign minister described as “horrific video of an unarmed Ukrainian POW executed by Russian forces merely for saying 'Glory to Ukraine'.”
“Another (piece of) proof this war is genocidal," Dmytro Kuleba he added.
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Kuleba said it was "imperative" that International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan "launches an immediate ICC investigation into this heinous war crime." He added: "Perpetrators must face justice."
Elsewhere, President Zelensky has said Ukraine will boost defenses in Bakhmut after reports that Kyiv could be preparing for a withdrawal from the heavily fought over frontline city.
During his daily address on Monday evening, Zelensky said Ukraine’s military command unanimously supported the view that “there is no part of Ukraine about which one can say that it can be abandoned.”
You can read more about that story here.
What else was in President Zelensky’s latest message?
What’s the latest military situation?
The British Ministry of Defense (MoD) update on March 7 focuses on Bakhmut where it says the “Ukrainian defense… continues to degrade forces on both sides.”
It adds: “Over the weekend, Ukrainian forces likely stabilised their defensive perimeter following previous Russian advances into the north of the town.
“A Russian strike destroyed a bridge over the only paved supply road into Bakhmut still under Ukrainian control around 02 March. Muddy conditions are likely hampering Ukrainian resupply efforts as they increasingly resort to using unpaved tracks.
“Public disagreements between the Wagner Group and Russian Ministry of Defence over the allocation of munitions highlights the difficulty in sustaining the high levels of personnel and ammunition required to advance with their current tactics.”
The Institute for the Study of War’s March 6 daily assessment also focuses on Bakhmut, highlighting the recruitment situation facing the Kremlin due to the high numbers of casualties it’s taking there.
· The Kremlin is returning to its previously unsuccessful volunteer recruitment and crypto-mobilization campaigns to avoid ordering another major involuntary reserve call-up.
· Such voluntary recruitment drives may also indicate that the Kremlin is running out of combat-ready reserves to continue its offensive operations past the Battle of Bakhmut and its failed offensives around Vuhledar and in Luhansk Oblast.
· The return of the voluntary recruitment and crypto-mobilization campaigns likely indicates that the Kremlin will not launch another mobilization wave before the summer of 2023 at the earliest because the spring conscription cycle is due to begin on April 1.
And that’s it for today’s Morning Memo.
Kyiv Post will bring you the latest news throughout the day and we’ll be back with another edition tomorrow.
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