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The Ukrainian east continues to be the epicenter of the invasion of Moscow these days. After the capture of Limán, the troops seek to continue their advance on Sievierodonetsk. From the Kremlin they believe that they are gradually gaining ground in the Donbass. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky traveled to Kharkiv, leaving kyiv for the first time in three months; later, the second largest city again recorded missile attacks from Russia.
This Sunday Russia’s aggressions on the Donbass mining basin were sustained with Sievierodonetsk – the largest city of Lugansk, which remains in the hands of Kiev – as the main site, according to a report by the Ukrainian Army General Staff.
“The enemy carried out assault operations,” says the letter, alluding to an area where the invaders are beginning to gain ground.
Sergi Gaïdaï, governor of Lugansk, expressed on his Telegram account that “Russia has used all its means to seize Sievierodonetsk or to prevent any communication between the region and Ukraine.”
The official warned that next week “will be very hard” due to the imminent Russian siege on the town in eastern Ukraine. However, he guaranteed that the attackers “will not be able to achieve everything they have planned.”
For his part, Mayor Olexander Stryuk was optimistic that “the city will resist.” “The Russians brought a lot of means to storm, but they still couldn’t do it,” he stressed.
This Sunday, the Ukrainian defenders had to withstand heavy and prolonged Russian artillery shelling. The intensity of the attack made it impossible to assess casualties and damage, while dozens of buildings were pulverized. “The situation has escalated extremely,” Gaïdaï added.
Zelensky visited the east for the first time
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has left the kyiv region for the first time since the start of Russia’s military operation. The president moved to Kharkiv, in the east of the territory, a city that was recently a bastion of Ukrainian resistance, forcing the invading army to withdraw.
The head of state visited the soldiers on the front line, praised them and highlighted their work. “You risk your lives for all of us and for our country,” he told them, according to the website of the presidential office.
In his Telegram account he published that “2,229 houses have been destroyed in Kharkiv”. “We will restore, rebuild and bring life back, here and in all the towns and villages where evil has arrived,” he said.
During his stay in Kharkiv, he toured residential buildings that were destroyed and pointed out that, when they are rebuilt, they must include anti-aircraft shelters.
After their departure, the region was the victim of several explosions hours later, forming a large tower of dark smoke in the northeast.
The chief of staff explained that 31% of the territory of the region is monopolized by Russia, despite the fact that Ukraine recovered 5% in recent days.
Russia agrees with Serbia to maintain supply
Belgrade turned its back on pressure from the European Union and Western countries and ratified its pact with its historic ally to maintain “uninterrupted” gas reception, as promised by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin reported.
In a telephone conversation with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, they also delved into the steps to follow to strengthen economic-commercial cooperation. “In particular, they agreed that Russia will continue to supply Serbia with natural gas uninterrupted,” the statement said.
In this way, the Balkan country did not submit to the sanctions that the West defined against Russia, since it depends almost exclusively on the gas it receives from Moscow. The 10-year deal between the two was due to expire this month, but was extended by three years at low cost, Vucic announced on Sunday.
“It is by far the best deal in Europe,” said the head of state of a country that is a candidate for EU membership but has been close with the Kremlin since the trouble broke out in eastern Europe.
During their communication, Putin and Vucic also touched on international issues, such as the war in Ukraine and the events surrounding Kosovo.
With EFE, Reuters and AFP
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