KYIV/POKROVSK, Ukraine, June 27 (Reuters) – Russian forces have been preventing on Monday to realize certainly one of their strategic targets in Ukraine as Moscow-backed separatists stated they have been pushing into Lysychansk, the final main metropolis nonetheless held by Ukrainian troops in eastern Luhansk province.
Lysychansk’s twin metropolis of Sievierodonetsk fell on Saturday in a victory for Moscow’s marketing campaign to grab the eastern provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk on behalf of pro-Russian separatists. learn extra
Tass information company on Sunday quoted a separatist official as saying Moscow’s forces had entered Lysychansk from 5 instructions and have been isolating Ukrainian defenders. Reuters couldn’t verify the report.
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The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces stated Russian forces have been utilizing artillery to attempt to lower off Lysychansk from the south however made no point out of separatists getting into town.
Elena, an aged lady from Lysychansk, was amongst dozens of evacuees who arrived in the Ukrainian-held city of Pokrovsk by bus from frontline areas.
“Lysychansk, it was a horror, the last week. Yesterday we could not take it any more,” she stated. “I already told my husband if I die, please bury me behind the house.”
The RIA company quoted a separatist official as saying separatist forces had evacuated greater than 250 individuals, together with youngsters, on Sunday from Sievierodonetsk’s Azot chemical plant.
The industrial space was the final a part of Sievierodonetsk held by Ukrainian forces earlier than they withdrew on Saturday after weeks of heavy preventing which left the city in ruins.
KYIV STRIKES
Russian missiles struck an condo block and near a kindergarten in Kyiv on Sunday as world leaders gathered in Germany to debate additional sanctions in opposition to Moscow.
Deputy Mayor Mykola Povoroznyk stated one particular person was killed and 6 wounded in the primary Russian assault on the capital in weeks. learn extra
In his nightly tackle, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated a wounded seven-year-old lady was pulled from the rubble of a nine-storey condo block. The lady’s father was killed in the strike, he stated.
“She was not threatened by anything in our country. She was completely safe, until Russia itself decided that everything was equally hostile to them now – women, children, kindergartens, houses, hospitals, railways,” Zelenskiy stated.
A Ukrainian air drive spokesperson stated the strike was carried out with 4 to 6 long-range missiles fired from bombers greater than 1,000 km (621 miles) away in southern Russia.
U.S. President Joe Biden referred to as the strikes acts of “barbarism”, as leaders from the Group of Seven nations gathered for a summit in Germany. Russia denies focusing on civilians.
A smoke rises over stays of a constructing destroyed by a army strike, as Russia’s assault on Ukraine continues, in Lysychansk, Luhansk area, Ukraine June 17, 2022. REUTERS/Oleksandr Ratushniak
Other G7 leaders mocked Russian President Vladimir Putin as they gathered for a bunch {photograph} on the summit. learn extra
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the leaders naked their chests and “show them our pecs” in reference to Putin’s shirtless poses through the years, together with on horseback.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated: “We’re going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display”. European Union President Ursula von der Leyen replied: “Oh yes. Horseback riding is the best.”
Britain, Canada, Japan and the United States proposed a ban on imports of gold from Russia, aimed toward rich Russians who’ve been shopping for safe-haven bullion to cut back the monetary impression of Western sanctions. learn extra
The leaders gathered in the Bavarian Alps are additionally anticipated to debate a potential value cap on Russian oil and efforts to sort out hovering world meals and power costs.
The United States is more likely to announce this week the acquisition of a sophisticated medium to lengthy vary surface-to-air missile protection system for Ukraine, a supply conversant in the matter instructed Reuters on Sunday. learn extra
MISSILES HIT CENTRAL CITY
Russian missiles additionally on Sunday struck the central metropolis of Cherkasy, which till now had been largely untouched by bombardment, in keeping with authorities who stated one particular person was killed and 5 others wounded. learn extra
Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych stated the assault additionally hit a strategic bridge linking western Ukraine and the eastern battlefields.
“They are trying to limit the transfer of our reserves and Western weapons to the east,” he instructed Reuters.
Russia’s defence ministry stated it had used high-precision weapons to strike army coaching centres in the areas of Chernihiv, Zhytomyr and Lviv, an obvious reference to strikes reported by Ukraine on Saturday. There was no rapid remark about Sunday’s strikes on Kyiv or Cherkasy.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what the Kremlin referred to as a “special military operation” to rid the nation of far-right nationalists and guarantee Russian safety.
Kyiv and the West dismiss that as a baseless pretext for a struggle of alternative that has killed hundreds, despatched hundreds of thousands fleeing Ukraine and destroyed cities.
The battle has pushed up fuel, oil and meals costs, pushed the European Union to cut back reliance on Russian power, and prompted Finland and Sweden to hunt NATO membership.
Russia edged nearer to a default on Sunday amid little signal that buyers holding its worldwide bonds had obtained cost, heralding what can be the nation’s first default in a long time. learn extra
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Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Stephen Coates; Editing by Himani Sarkar
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