A citizen watches a Russian tank pass near Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region. Photo by Reuters
the forces of Ukraine they fought the battle at home home of advancing Russian troops in the city of Severodonetsk, the final battle for control of the Lugansk region, in eastern Ukraine, as pro-Russian militias approached within the gunfire of the city of Sloviansk, in the nearby Donetks region.
“The fighting is already taking place in the streets of Severodonetsk. The enemy is advancing,” regional governor Serhiy Gaidai told 1+1 television about the situation in the city, the last major city in the Luhansk region not to fall into hands of Russian forces.
He assured that “the city’s critical infrastructure nearly one hundred percent were destroyedwhile 90% of the houses are damaged and, among them, 60% show dilapidated state ”.
“The city is full of Russian corpses, the streets are burning; in the future, it can lead to the development of infections, ”Gaidái said.
The governor ordered the suspension of the evacuation of civilians of the city after today that French journalist of the BFMTV network Frédéric Lecrecq-Imhoff was killed by shrapnel on a bus that was supposed to be heading to evacuees.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky on a visit, in Kharkov, Ukraine. Photo of Xinhua
“The fighting has reached its maximum intensity. Russian troops are firing on the entire front line and trying to strike with artillery deep in our defense,” a Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman said today in a press appearance. Oleksandr Motuzianik.
At the same time, he added, Russian forces are attacking in some fields, but the “toughest battle will take place in the directions of Severodonetsk, Bakhmut and Kurakhiv. ”“ We are optimistic about the situation, but it remains difficult, ”Motuzianik admitted.
The Ukrainians attacked in the south
Meanwhile, the Territorial Defense General Staff of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic confirmed that its militias, with the support of the Russian Army, they continued to advance towards Sloviansk and they occupied two towns, 10 and 20 kilometers northeast of that city with just over 100,000 inhabitants.
The capture of Sloviansk was key to launching the attack on Kramatorsk, a main railroad junction and the main Ukrainian military stronghold in the east of the country, as it is only 10 kilometers away.
If in the east of the country the situation becomes more complicated for Ukrainian forces, in the south they have been able to launch several counterattacks and even force Russian troops to retreat in some sectors.
“In the course of a Defense Forces offensive the enemy was killed and left the town of Nikolaika in the Kherson region, “reported today by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
A Ukrainian tank in the Donetsk region. Photo by Reuters
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), attacks launched by Ukrainian forces in the Kherson region have altered Russia’s plans to occupy southern Ukraine.
Heavier weapons
Ukraine has insisted its demands on the West that need heavier weaponsin particular, tanks, artillery and rocket launchers, to compensate for Russia’s current efficiency in munitions.
Although the United States and some of its allies have provided the Ukrainian military with 155-millimeter howitzers and other weapons, the kyiv government ensures the volume of these deliveries. is not enough to change the course of the war.
The Russian Defense Ministry said today that some 155-millimeter howitzers that Italy supplies to Ukraine had been destroyed.
The position of the Ukrainian military operating these towable howitzers was seen from the air and destroyed by artillerysaid the portfolio in a statement posted on the Telegram.
The Russian Army ensured that it verified the results of its attack by drone and published the corresponding video.
Moscow has repeatedly warned that any arms supply to Ukraine would be considered as a “legitimate target” of the Russian Army.
As fighting intensifies in eastern Ukraine, Russia is concentrating troops on Russia’s Kursk region, border with the Ukrainian region of Sumyin the northeast of Ukraine.
“Due to the situation in the border areas, the Ministry of Defense has sent a large number of troops to the region,” Kursk Governor Román Starovoit said today, quoted by the Interfax agency, at a meeting of the Regional Executive.
He added that “additional weapons have come and continue to come to the region: artillery and rocket launchers “.
“All this, to guarantee the life and safety of the inhabitants of the region,” Starovoit stressed.
Source: EFE
PB
Source: Clarin
