In the Donetsk region, Russia is attempting to break down the defensive wall around the last major cities still under Ukrainian control in the east. Meanwhile, there is another shelling on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. The current developments.
The Ukrainian army is coming under increasing pressure in the eastern region of Donetsk – but according to its own statements it has initially fended off all Russian advances. Since conquering the neighboring region of Luhansk, the Russians have concentrated their attacks in the Donbass on Donetsk, where they have so far conquered around 60 percent of the territory.
Against this background, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for new Western weapons – and at the same time thanked those who had already been delivered, which made successful counter-offensives possible. “Any attack on the enemy’s ammunition depots, on their command posts and on Russian technology stockpiles saves all of our lives, the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians,” he said.
Ukrainian General Staff: Advances in Donetsk repelled
Russian offensives in the direction of the cities of Sloviansk, Bakhmut and Avdiivka had been repelled, the Ukrainian general staff said in its evening report. Fierce fighting has been raging around Bakhmut in particular for days. The small town is considered a cornerstone of the defense system surrounding the last Ukrainian-held metropolitan area in Donbass. Should Bakhmut and other smaller towns fall, the way for Russia’s troops would be largely free in the direction of the major cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
Zelenskyj praises the successes of the Ukrainian army
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy praised his armed forces for successful counterattacks – emphasizing the role of Western weapons. In the past week, the Ukrainian army has achieved “strong results” in the destruction of Russian war logistics, Zelenskyj said in his video address on Sunday night.
Selenskyj thanked western partners for previous arms deliveries. He referred in particular to the United States, which a few days ago announced further arms deliveries to Ukraine in the amount of 550 million dollars. This should include ammunition for the Himar multiple rocket launcher system and 75,000 artillery shells. At the same time Zelenskyj asked for further military help.
Nuclear power plant shelled again
For the second time in a few days, Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of shelling the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine. The Ukrainian army fired a rocket at the site of the nuclear power plant during the night, the Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing the occupation administration of the city of Enerhodar, where the power plant is located. The Ukrainian nuclear agency Enerhoatom, on the other hand, accused the Russians of shelling the site under their control themselves.
During the attack, a spent nuclear fuel storage facility was hit and sensors for measuring radiation were damaged. Enerhoatom also reported that shortly before the explosion, hundreds of members of the Russian crew hid in bunkers. The information provided by both sides could not initially be checked independently.
Just last Friday, Moscow and Kyiv blamed each other for the shelling of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) then once again pushed for access to the facility, which the Russians have occupied during the war that has been going on for almost half a year. The latest attack underscores “the very real threat of a nuclear catastrophe that could threaten public health and the environment in Ukraine and beyond,” said IAEA chief Rafael Grossi.
Ukrainian General Staff: Russia continues to bring technology to Belarus
According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russia is continuing to transfer war technology to neighboring Belarus. The general staff in Kyiv announced that additional air defense forces and equipment would be stationed on Belarusian territory, including in the border area with the western Ukrainian region of Volhynia. This could not initially be checked independently.
The former Soviet Republic of Belarus has never officially entered Russia’s war. Shortly after the invasion began at the end of February, the authoritarian ruler Alexander Lukashenko admitted that Russian rockets had been fired from Belarusian territory in the direction of Ukraine. Lukashenko is considered a close partner of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. Belarusian opposition figures who have fled abroad accuse Lukashenko’s power apparatus of collaboration.
Russian occupation administration reports death of member
According to the Russian occupation administration, one of its members died after an attack in the southern Ukrainian region of Cherson. The deputy head of the administration set up by the Russians in the city of Nova Kakhovka, Vitaly Gura, has succumbed to his injuries, pro-Russian politician Yekaterina Gubareva wrote on Telegram. The Russian state news agency Ria Novosti also reported Gura’s death. Accordingly, he is said to have been attacked by unknown persons with a gun earlier in the day near his house.
As a result of the war of aggression against Ukraine, which has been going on for around five and a half months, Russian troops have conquered several areas in southern Ukraine and set up their own administrations there. Since then, there have been repeated protests from the population against the new occupying power, particularly in Cherson. Russian and pro-Russian media also repeatedly reported attacks.
Russia has fired six commanders since the war began
According to British information, half a dozen high-ranking Russian military officers have been dismissed since the Russian invasion. Poor performance by the armed forces during the invasion had been costly to Russia’s military leadership, most likely resulting in the dismissal of at least six commanders, Britain’s Defense Ministry said in its regular intelligence update on Sunday. Among others, General Alexander Dwornikov was deposed after he was given overall command of the operation in Ukraine.
In addition, at least ten Russian generals were killed on the battlefield in Ukraine, the British wrote. All of this probably contributed to Russia’s tactical and operational difficulties in the war of aggression.
Arrival of the grain freighter in Lebanon is postponed
The first cargo ship with Ukrainian grain since the beginning of the war docked in Lebanon later than expected. The arrival of the ship “Razoni” planned for today has been canceled, the ARD reported, citing the Ukrainian ambassador in Lebanon. No information was given about the reasons. The Russian state news agency Tass, citing a source from the port administration in Tripoli in northern Lebanon, reported that the freighter will dock there on Tuesday – it has changed its route.
Four more grain carriers from Ukrainian ports have left Ukraine. The ships loaded with sunflower oil and corn, among other things, bound for China, Turkey and Italy are on their way to Istanbul to be checked there, the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Twitter. A total of eight freighters from the Ukraine have cast off since the conclusion of the grain agreement.
In protest: Ukrainian Amnesty director resigns
The head of the Ukrainian branch of the human rights organization Amnesty International resigned in response to a controversial report on the warfare by the Ukrainian army. “Unless you live in a country that’s being invaded by occupiers who are tearing it to pieces, you probably don’t understand what it’s like to condemn an army of defenders,” Oxanna Pokalchuk wrote on Facebook.
In a report published last Thursday, Amnesty accused the Ukrainian army of entrenching itself in residential areas and thereby unnecessarily endangering civilians. Pokaltschuk now reproached her former colleagues for not preparing the report cleanly enough. In Kyiv there is also criticism that the focus on misconduct by the army of the attacked country is driving a perpetrator-victim reversal.
Source: Stern
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