“People keep running because they are afraid of bombs, air strikes and indiscriminate destruction”. More than 3.3 million refugees have now fled Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, the United Nations said on Saturday 19 March, while nearly 6.5 million people are believed to be internally displaced. About 90% of those who fled were women and children. Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 years can indeed be called up and must remain in the country.

Franceinfo summarizes what to remember from the day’s developments in Ukraine.

Moscow uses hypersonic missiles

Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced on Friday that it was using Kinjal (“dagger” in Russian) hypersonic missiles to destroy an underground arsenal in western Ukraine. Russia has never previously reported the use of these ballistic missiles in the two conflicts it has fought in, Ukraine and Syria.

This type of missile, highly maneuverable, opposes all anti-aircraft defense systems, according to Moscow.

Zelensky calls for serious talks with Moscow

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says it’s time for Moscow to agree “reunite” for “discuss” serious about peace to avoid consequences for Russia “more than a few generations”. “The peace and security negotiations for Ukraine are the only chance for Russia to minimize the damage caused by its own mistakes.”Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video posted on Facebook, it was filmed at night on a deserted street.

Destroyed military site in Mykolaiv

Dozens of people died in Friday’s attack on a military barracks in southern Ukraine, Mykolaiv, witnesses said the following day.

“No less than 200 soldiers are sleeping in the barracks”according to a 22-year-old soldier interviewed on the spot. “At least 50 bodies have been extracted, but it is unknown how many remain under the rubble”, continued the young soldier. Other soldiers on the scene estimated that the attack could have killed 100 people. The site in northern Mykolaiv was completely destroyed after being hit by six rockets.

Russia claims to have entered Mariupol

The Russian army, for its part, claims to have managed to enter besieged Mariupol and is fighting in the city center alongside troops from the separatist Donetsk “republic”.

Taking Mariupol would be an important turning point in the war and would allow Russia to ensure territorial continuity between its troops coming from annexed Crimea (South) and troops from Donbass (East).

kyiv asks China to “condemn Russian barbarism”

Ukrainian presidency calls on China to join the West and “condemn Russian barbarism”while Beijing has so far never officially criticized Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

“China can become an important part of the global security system if it makes the right decisions to support the coalition of civilized nations and condemn Russia’s barbarism.”tweeted Mykhaïlo Podoliak, a presidential adviser and one of the participants in the negotiations with Russia.

Moscow fears armed mines at sea could drift in the Mediterranean

Russia finally warned against the flow of mines placed by Ukrainian forces in the Black Sea after the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, ensuring that it is possible that the mines could reach the Bosphorus Strait or even the Mediterranean.