Putin’s ‘yes’ to evacuation of civilians from Azovstal – Russian attacks in Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhia

LAST UPDATE 22:46

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed “in principle” to evacuate civilians from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol with the assistance of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to a UN statement. The statement came from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Russian Ministry of Defense, following a meeting in Moscow between UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin reportedly expressed hope to Guterres that negotiations with the Ukrainian side would have a “positive effect”.

Earlier, the secretary general The United Nations has called on Moscow and Kyiv to work in coordination with the United Nations to open “humanitarian corridors” in Ukraine to evacuate civilians from war-torn areas. For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected a proposal by Kiev to hold peace talks in Mariupol.

Denis Pushilin, leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, said today that Moscow was expected to launch the next phase of its military campaign in Ukraine once it reached the region’s borders, RIA Novosti reported.

The war that has ravaged Ukraine is in its 62nd day, and Nikolai Patrushev, the all-powerful secretary of Russia’s National Security Council, has said in a statement that the government is collapsing in several provinces of the war-torn country, seeking to advance (as for Russian propaganda) the West and Ukraine for the fact that their practice is likely to lead to the creation of new states. With this, Patrushev makes a clear reference to the announced forthcoming referendum in Kherson, in which the “inhabitants” are going to answer a question concerning the independence of a new “democracy”.

Ukrainian officials say heavy fighting continued Tuesday in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Pavlo Kirilenko, head of the Donetsk regional military administration, said Russian forces had launched rocket attacks on the town of Avdivka, near the front lines. “Central City Hospital, a school and high-rise buildings were hit,” he said. Kirilenko said another Russian attempt to attack Mariinka had been repulsed. The Russians had also left the city of Krasnohorivka without electricity after damaging a transformer. In neighboring Lugansk, three civilians were killed in the town of Popasna when a building collapsed amid heavy bombardment, according to Serhiy Haidai, head of the Luhansk military administration. “The situation in Popasna is extremely difficult. Street battles in the city continue. The enemy is firing heavy weapons. The air force is constantly bombing the residential area,” Haidai said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Russia’s foreign minister on Tuesday that he was ready to fully mobilize UN resources to save lives and evacuate people from the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

For its part, Germany announced on Tuesday its first delivery of heavy weapons – Gepard anti-aircraft guns – to Ukraine to help it repel Russian attacks after weeks of domestic and foreign pressure amid confusion over her attitude.

Ukraine’s general staff said on Tuesday that the Russian offensive continued in the eastern Kharkiv region with Moscow forces trying to advance on a village called Zavody.

Russia is likely to try to encircle heavily fortified Ukrainian positions in the east of the country, the British military said in a statement on Tuesday, noting that forces were trying to advance on the cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. There are reports that the city of Kremlin has fallen into the hands of Russian troops and that heavy fighting is taking place in the city of Izium, as they try to advance towards Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. “Ukrainian forces are preparing defenses in Zaporizhia “The Russian government estimates that Russia has lost about 15,000 troops since its invasion of Ukraine on February 24,” said Ben Wallace, a Member of the Knesset for Kadima. Minister of Defense of the Tory government, speaking before the House of Commons.

The Russian Defense Ministry said its missiles destroyed six facilities supplying railway lines used to deliver foreign weapons to Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbas region.

NATO and other Western allies have met at a US air base in Germany to discuss how to help Ukraine, and the German government has said it will send about 50 anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine – a reversal of a long-standing policy.

What is happening on Ukrainian soil

Kyiv: Kyiv will impose a night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am local time, Monday to Friday, this week to protect its citizens from “provocative actions” by Russia, said the head of the Regional Military Administration city’s. Excludes those who work in critical infrastructure or have a special license.

Sumi: Russian forces bombed the Esman area, near the northeastern border of the two countries.

Kharkiv: At present it is known that there are three dead and seven wounded as a result of bombardment by Russian forces. Heavy bombing of the village of Barvinkove.

Lugansk: Three civilians were killed in the town of Popasna when a building collapsed amid heavy bombardment, according to Serhiy Haidai, head of the area’s military administration.

Donetsk: The Russian army has been bombing the towns of Mariinka, Avdivka and Ocheretine in the Donbas region since last night.

Mariupol: A third mass grave was found near Mariupol, said Vadim Boichenko, mayor of the besieged southeastern city. New satellite images show a mass grave in the village of Staryi Krym, according to the Telegram channel of the city authorities. Russian forces continue relentlessly bombing Azovstal.

Zaporizhia: At least one person was killed and another injured when a rocket hit commercial buildings in the Zaporizhia region of southern Ukraine, according to local authorities. The district administration said two rockets hit the buildings and a third exploded before it hit its target.

Creevy Ri: The Russian army bombed Novolativka with MLRS Smerch, it also bombed the community of Zelenodolsk, the villages of Novopavlivka, Novovorntsovka, Trudolyubivka, Knyazevka and others. No deaths or injuries have been reported so far.

Hersonissos: In Kherson, the only major city fully occupied by Russia, Russian gunmen seized the city council building, the mayor said.

Mykolaif: Heavy bombing of Mykolaif. It has been announced for the time being that there is a dead body. Alarms sounded at noon on Tuesday.

Odessa: A road and rail bridge at the mouth of the Dniester River in southwestern Ukraine has been severely damaged by an explosion. The bridge, which is located near the city of Odessa, appears to have been damaged by a rocket attack. “The circumstances and information about the victims are being clarified,” authorities said. Pictures from the spot show extensive damage to the road section of the bridge.

Russian territory: Russian media published images of parts of Bayraktar drones, claiming that 2 were shot down over the village of Borovskoe in the Kursk region.