Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the fate of the entire Donbus region depends on a “very fierce” battle with Russian troops over the eastern city of Flashpoint, Severodonetsk. Moscow’s army is concentrating its firepower on strategically important industrial centers as part of its efforts to occupy the eastern part of Ukraine. Ukraine said Thursday that begging western long-range artillery would end the battle of Sievierodonetsk in a few days, as bombardment and airstrikes killed 11 more people nationwide.
Zelensky said in a speech to the public on Wednesday evening that the battle over the city was “very fierce … very difficult.” Probably one of the most difficult things throughout this war. “In many respects, the fate of our Donbus is determined there.” A few days after the fierce street battle, Ukrainian authorities said that Russian troops dominate most of Severodonetsk and for constant bombardment. He admitted that his army may have to withdraw.
The cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansik, separated by rivers, were the last regions in Lugansk still under Ukrainian control. Lysychans’k is still in the hands of Ukraine, but has been heavily bombarded by Russia. After being repulsed from Kieu after the invasion on February 24, Russian President Vladimirputin’s army concentrated the attack on the Donbas region, including Lugansk and Donetsk.
“Very primitive”
Some of the Donbus have already been held by pro-Russian separatists since 2014. At the United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added his voice to an increasingly dire warning about the effects of the war. “For people around the world, war can unleash an unprecedented wave of hunger and poverty, resulting in social and economic turmoil,” he said. Severodonetsk appeared to be captured just a few days ago, but Ukrainian troops launched a counterattack and managed to withstand it.
Lugansk Governor Sergie Guyday reiterated Kyiv’s call for further military aid, saying Western artillery would help ensure Ukraine’s victory. “As soon as we have a long-range cannon that can duel with Russian cannons, our special forces can clean the city in a couple of days,” he says. I did. Gaiday describes Russia’s tactics as “very primitive,” adding that the Ukrainian army in the city is “very ambitious” and “everyone holds their position.” rice field. The United States and the United Kingdom have announced that they will provide Kyiv with a long-range precision turret, in response to Putin’s warning.
Global food crisis
The Ukrainian president said Russia’s airstrikes on Toshkivka, a village about 25 km (14 miles) south of Severodonetsk, killed four people and injured five. He said four more people were killed in the fighting in Donetsk and two were killed in the bombardment in the northeastern city of Kharkiv. Another person was killed in the southern Mykolaiv area. Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said it had targeted a Ukrainian training center for “foreign mercenaries” in the Zhytomyr region.
Governor Zhytomyr Vitaliy Bunechiko confirmed a Russian strike overnight in the town of Novofrad Volynskii, but did not mention the training center and said there was no information about the victims. The shockwaves from the Ukrainian conflict continue to echo, especially from the impending global food crisis. Russia and Turkey have made little progress in signing an agreement to ensure a safe passage for grain exports stuck in Ukraine.
At the request of the United Nations, Turkey provided services to escort sea convoys from Ukrainian ports despite the presence of land mines. “We are ready to work with our Turkish colleagues to do this,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Ankara. Lavrov’s Turkish counterpart, Mevrut Chabsogur, called for Russia’s request to end sanctions to support the “legal” of grain to the global market.
“Everyone ran away”
However, Kieu, who did not attend the Ankara talks, accused the high grain prices of “invasion of Russia, not sanctions.” Before the war, Ukraine was a major exporter of wheat, corn and sunflower oil. The ground conditions in other parts of Donbus are increasingly hopeless. According to AFP journalists, in the city of Archemovsk, after being bombarded on Wednesday, an empty school building became a smoldering wreckage and a burnt book was visible in the rubble. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
In Lysychans’k, the twin city of Severodonetsk, residents who chose to stay faced intense Russian bombardment. “There are bombings every day, something is burning every day. Homes, apartments … and no one can help me,” 70-year-old Yuri Krasnikov told AFP. “I tried to go to the city authorities, but no one was there. Everyone ran away.” Their football team won a 1-0 Nations League victory over the Republic of Ukraine on Wednesday. So there was some unusual good news for Ukraine. Thanks to Viktor Tsyhankov’s free kick, this victory lifted the spirit of the country after struggling and failing to compete in the World Cup. – AFP
