War in Ukraine: Ukrainian forces discuss retreat to the east and Russia moves closer to control of Donbas

War in Ukraine, day 105: Ukrainian forces fight Russian troops in the crucial eastern city of Severodonetsk they looked like they were about to retire this Wednesday, even as the region’s governor insisted they were still fighting “For every inch of the city, reliving the tragic scenario of the fall of Mariupol weeks ago.

The urban battle for Severodonetsk reflected the painful and slow advance of the Russian forces drinking the entire Luhansk regionone of the two that form the industrial heart of Ukraine, known as Donbas.

After a failed attempt to take over Kiev in the early days of the war, Russia focused on eastern Ukraine, a region of coal mines and factories.

The region was under partial separatist control with Russian support, shortening supply lines and allowing Moscow to call on separatist forces to step up its offensive. But Russia is also facing Ukraine’s more experienced troops, who have been fighting separatists there for eight years.

But these are out of stock. According to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, an average of 100 men die every day. And the heavy arsenal that comes from the West is not known for use.

In this context, on Tuesday, Russia had assured it had taken control of 97% of one of the two provinces that make up the Donbas region, bringing the Kremlin closer to its goal of conquering the industrial zone of eastern Ukraine.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow forces control almost the entire province of Luhansk. And apparently, Russia now practically occupies half of Donetsk provinceaccording to Ukrainian military officials and analysts.

But actually the result it’s a slow pulse where both sides cross artillery fire which seems to cause heavy losses, without neither seems to have a clear advantage.

Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai acknowledged the difficulties in Severodonetsk on Wednesday, telling the Associated Press that “maybe (Ukrainian forces) having to retirebut right now there are battles in the city. ”

Previously, he said on Telegram’s messaging app that Ukrainian forces were fighting “for every inch of the city.”

Haidai said they could retreat to more defensible positions. The city across the river, Lysychansk, it is on higher ground.

Severodonetsk became the administrative capital of the region after the city of Luhansk came under separatist control in 2014. Both that square and Lysychansk they are surrounded by Russian forces in the east, north and south, and they are one of the few cities in Luhansk that Kyiv still controls.

Bombing of Kharkov

In the north, five people were killed and 12 injured in Russian attacks in the Kharkov region in the previous 24 hours, region governor Oleh Syniehubov said Wednesday.

The Russian military said Wednesday that Moscow had used it “high-precision airborne missiles” to attack an armor repair facility near Kharkov. Ukraine has not confirmed an attack on that plant.

Russian food blackmail

On the diplomatic front, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Turkish officials on Wednesday to discuss a plan that could allow Ukraine exports its wheat across the Black Sea so that we can reach global markets in the middle of a growing global food crisis.

Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but war and the Russian blockade of its ports It has prevented the exit of these products from the country, endangering the food supply of many developing countries. Also, now many of those ports They are littered with mines.

The Sky News chain reported Wednesday that the Kremlin has called for sanctions imposed on Russia must be removed before grain exports from Ukraine can be resumed.

It is estimated that 22 million tons of wheat waiting in silos in Ukraine.

According to the network, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a phone call with reporters that “there were no substantive discussions” on the lifting of the sanctions.

Moscow thus denies its responsibility in the international food crisis and instead blames Western sanctions.

Turkey aspires to negotiate a safe corridorpossibly under the supervision of the United Nations, for Ukrainian grain shipments, as well as Russian food and fertilizers.

But Kiev is wary of any deal Turkey reaches with Russia, saying a safe corridor could be used by Moscow to attack Ukraine.

“Lavrov’s words are empty. Ukraine has clarified its position on seaports: military equipment is needed to protect the coast and a naval mission to patrol the export routes in the Black Sea,” said the spokesman for the ministry of seaports. Foreign.

“Russia cannot be allowed to use the grain corridors to attack southern Ukraine.”

Prior to the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, Ukrainian authorities claimed that Russia controlled about 7% of the country, including the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, and separatist-controlled areas in Donetsk. and Luhansk. President Volodymyr Zelensky said last week that Russian forces were in control 20% of the country.

Although Russia has superior firepower, Ukrainian defenders they reasserted themselves and showed the ability to fight back.

“The absolutely heroic defense of Donbas continues,” Zelensky said in his evening video message Tuesday night.

Speaking earlier at a conference organized by the Financial Times, Zelensky insisted on the need for Ukraine to defeat Russia on the battlefield, although he also said that remains open to conducting peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

After meeting with Lavrov, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said his country was “much more optimistic” that Russia and Ukraine could be persuaded to return to the negotiating table to end the war. the beginning of the conflict they didn’t work.

With information from the Associated Press

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