LAST UPDATE: 09.55
The Ukrainian military leadership has downgraded expectations that an operation will be launched to rescue soldiers and civilians trapped at the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, surrounded by Russian troops.
Russia calls for an immediate end to hostilities The Russian army has installed strong defenses in Mariupol.
The port of strategic importance in the Sea of ​​Azov, in southeastern Ukraine, has been under Russian siege for more than two months.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Irina Verestsuk, about 1,000 Ukrainian servicemen, about half of whom are wounded, are still at the Azovstal facility. Russian sources say 2,500 Ukrainian fighters and foreign mercenaries in the huge factory.
Russia hinted yesterday that it could try to annex Kherson, the only major city it has occupied during the war. Analysts estimate that this could be done through a “referendum” similar to the one that took place years ago in Crimea.
Ukrainian forces continue counterattack north of Kharkov, according to Britain
Ukrainian forces continue their counterattack north of the country’s second largest city, Kharkiv, and are recapturing towns and villages on the border with Russia, Britain announced today.
Russia has reportedly withdrawn units from the area and its forces are likely to re-deploy after making up for the losses suffered on the east bank of the Seversky Donets River, the Pentagon said in a regular Twitter post.
Yesterday, Wednesday, Ukraine announced that its forces had repulsed the Russians in the east and recaptured Pitomnik, a village on the main highway north of Kharkov, about halfway to the border with Russia.
Russia calls for evacuation of Kramatorsk and Slovyansk
The Russian military leadership has called on international organizations and aid organizations to take the initiative to evacuate civilians from two cities in eastern Ukraine.
“In view of the deteriorating humanitarian situation for most civilians in Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, we call on the international community, the United Nations, the OSCE and the IAEA to take immediate action to ensure the rapid and safe evacuation of all civilians.” “It’s under the control of the Ukrainian armed forces,” Russian Lt. Gen. Mikhail Mizinchev was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency on Wednesday afternoon.
Lt. Gen. Mizinchev stressed that Ukrainian troops, fortified in Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, were using civilians as human shields.
The senior Russian official also claimed that there were still some 90,000 civilians in the two cities.
These two urban centers are the cornerstones of the Ukrainian army’s defense lines in Donbas, as eastern Ukraine is called.
Russian governor tells of a dead man from Ukrainian fire
One person was killed and seven others were injured when gunmen stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck.
Authorities in the region bordering Ukraine have blamed Kyiv for a series of strikes, including a helicopter raid on a fuel depot. Kyiv, which has repelled a Russian invasion since February, has not claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Phone conversation between Soltz and Zelensky
German Chancellor Olaf Solz had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky late last night, government spokesman Stephen Hempstreet said.
The Chancellor was briefed on the current situation and the progress of the negotiation process with Russia, during the announcement.
“The Russian Chancellor stressed that Russia continues to call for an immediate end to hostilities in Ukraine and to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity and (national) sovereignty. The Chancellor and the Ukrainian President also exchanged views on “further support for Ukraine and agreed to stay in touch,” the Berlin statement said.
It is also noted that Mr. Soltz expressed his condolences to Mr. Zelensky for the death of the first president of post-Soviet Ukraine Leonid Kravtsuk. “Ukraine has lost a politician who led it to independence with foresight and courage. In view of Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine, it is now more important than ever to preserve the dream of an independent, free and sovereign Urania,” he said. , during the announcement.
For his part, Mr Zelensky tweeted that he had spoken with Olaf Solz about defense aid, energy co-operation and tougher sanctions against Russia.
Source: Capital
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