A rocket attack destroyed a house where five people were staying, the city administration said on Monday evening. A 15-year-old was killed and a girl injured. Odessa has recently been the target of attacks. Around 200 civilians are said to be trapped in buried bunkers at the Azovstal plant in Mariupol.
According to Ukrainian sources, the runway was destroyed by rockets when the airport in Odessa was shelled on Saturday. Russian Major General Rustam Minnekayev announced last month that the aim of the “second phase” of the military operation in Ukraine was to conquer the Donbass and the south of the country. In addition to a land connection to the annexed Crimean peninsula, this would also enable better support for pro-Russian separatists in Transnistria in the Republic of Moldova, he said.
These statements, which were distributed by Russian news agencies, indicate that in addition to completely capturing the port city of Mariupol, which has been heavily contested for weeks, Moscow is also aiming to conquer Odessa. Odessa, with a population of around one million, is symbolically important for both Ukrainians and Russians because of its long history. In addition, the largest port in Ukraine is located in the predominantly Russian-speaking metropolis, which is therefore vital for the economy of the entire country.
200 civilians captured
According to the Ukrainian military, around 200 civilians are trapped in buried bunkers at the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol. The deputy commander of the Azov regiment, which has holed up in the huge factory premises, told the Reuters news agency that there were children, women and the elderly in the shelters. However, Swiatoslaw Palamar said his troops had no heavy equipment to clear the entrances.
According to Ukrainian sources, 20 civilians left the besieged Azov steelworks in the port city of Mariupol on Monday evening. The Azov regiment involved in the defense of the steelworks said the evacuation operation could only take place five hours late because the factory premises had again been shelled by Russian soldiers. “The enemy’s artillery created new debris and destruction,” explained deputy commander Svyatoslav Palamar.
According to the Donetsk separatists, more than 200 people were taken east of the city to Besimenne at the same time. More than 100,000 people are said to live in the badly damaged port city with once more than 400,000 people. Over the weekend, more than 120 civilians escaped from the besieged factory premises. The city council announced another evacuation attempt for Tuesday.
Mariupol was surrounded by Russian troops immediately after the Russian attack at the end of February. Only parts of the site of the Azovstal steelworks are still under the control of Ukrainian soldiers.
“Minimal Achievements”
According to a US insider, Russia has made “minimal at best” progress on its offensive in Donbass in the east of the country in recent days. The United States did not confirm media reports that the Russian chief of staff was injured in fighting in the Donbass last week. According to a senior US military official, it is true that Valery Gerasimov visited the region. According to authorities, at least four civilians were killed and 16 others injured in the contested areas of Kharkiv and Donetsk on Monday.
In the “ZiB2” of the ORF, the military strategist Günther Hofbauer said about a possible use of nuclear weapons by Russia: “We should take it seriously, but not exaggerate either.” On the one hand, he saw this option as a message to the West not to “interfere”. On the other hand, it is an inward-looking war propaganda by the Kremlin under the motto: “Look what options we have,” said the major general.
Source: Nachrichten
