Elliot Lake, Espanola look at providing supports in Ukrainian conflict
In response to the devastating and ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, several local organizations are helping to raise funds.
The City of Elliot Lake has set up a link to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.
All donations will receive a tax-deductible receipt from the City of Elliot Lake by a return email once payment is made and the form is submitted.
The city will then forward all collected donations to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.
Northern Credit Union, which has a branch in Espanola, is donating $5,000 to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation Humanitarian Appeal.
And the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #39 in Espanola is looking at hosting a local event later this month.
Members will meet on Wednesday to discuss potential plans.
WEB: Donations are also being accepted at: Canada-Ukraine Foundation Humanitarian Appeal.
Invasion continues
Russian forces continue to close the ring around the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
Heavy artillery fire has been reported in towns and villages to the northwest and east of the city today.
The southern port city of Mariupol is also under renewed bombardment.
That city has been under siege for almost two weeks, and its mayor says supplies of food and water are running out.
The Russians struck a Ukrainian military base just 15 kilometers from the Polish border yesterday, killing at least 35 people.
The base is a major hub for arms shipments from the West, and has hosted NATO training missions.
Ukraine’s president says, if NATO doesn’t declare a no-fly zone over his country, Russian missiles will soon be falling on their countries.
Another round of talks
A fourth round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials is on today, and both sides are sounding optimistic that some sort of progress can be made.
The U-S deputy Secretary of State says Russia now seems to be willing to engage in “substantive” negotiations towards ending the conflict.
Russia has been demanding that Ukraine recognize its occupation of Crimea and the independence of two breakaway regions in the east of the country, and not join NATO, conditions Ukraine has refused.
Protests in Russia
Protests against the invasion of Ukraine continued for the third weekend across Russia, with hundreds more arrests.
Despite new laws that criminalize opposition to the war, thousands turned out to demonstrations in cities across the country.
An international human rights group says more than 750 people were arrested yesterday, about half in Moscow.
The group says more than 14-thousand people have been detained so far, at least 170 are still being held in custody.
