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The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman warned that they will not hesitate to launch strong reprisals against the European Union and Lithuania if the latter does not undo the blockade of commercial traffic to the enclave of Kaliningrad. In other news, Moscow advances on Mikolaiv, near Lysychansk and awaits the fall of Severodonetsk; and the first foreign ship runs aground in the port of Mariupol.
The war in Ukraine continues with different points of dispute. While Russia continues with its military plans in the Donbass region, with the capitulation of Severodonetsk very close and the siege of Lysychansk beginning, the Ukrainian government awaits the arrival of heavy weapons from the West.
On the other hand, tensions are rising between the Kremlin, Lithuania and the European Union’s actions. The community club endorsed Vilnius’ actions by blocking the trade route to the Kaliningrad enclave, but Russian Foreign Affairs warned of “practical” retaliation if the inconvenience continues.
In addition, a Turkish ship left the port of Mariupol, being the first of the five ships that are still in the ruined port city.
These are the most important news of the war in Ukraine this Wednesday, June 22:
- 11.00 (BOG) UNHCR says eight million Ukrainians left the country during the war
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that eight million Ukrainian civilians have left the country since the start of the war on February 24.
It is the largest number of exiles that Europe has suffered since the Second World War. However, these numbers reported by the UN organization count those citizens who have returned to their homes in recent weeks.
- 10.26 (BOG) Moscow warns of “practical” retaliation for the blockade of Kaliningrad
The Russian Foreign Ministry predicted that there will be strong responses from the Government due to the restrictions that Lithuania is implementing on traffic to the enclave of Kaliningrad, which were endorsed by the authorities of the European Union.
The ministerial spokeswoman, Maria Zajarova, explained to the media that Vilnius and Brussels have already been notified that their actions are “inadmissible” and that, if they do not stop, “retaliatory movements will be inevitable.”
The response “will not be diplomatic but practical,” warned the Kremlin spokeswoman.
However, from the European Union they indicated that Lithuania is not violating any rule and that it is simply applying the sanctions promulgated by the bloc against certain products or elements.
- 9.42 (BOG) The first foreign freighter leaves the port of Mariupol
The ‘Azov Concord’, a Turkish cargo ship, left the port facilities, being the first of the foreign vessels that are in the inactive place.
The delegations of the Russian and Turkish defense ministries negotiated on Tuesday to enable the release of Ukrainian ports for the export of grain and roads to ensure stable navigation in the Black Sea.
“The parties discussed the safe departure of Turkish merchant ships and the export of grain from Ukrainian ports,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
As revealed by the TASS agency, there are five other foreign ships in Mariupol. The ‘Tsarvena’ from Bulgaria, the ‘Azbug’ from the Dominican Republic, the ‘Smarta’ from Liberia, the ‘Blue Star’ from Panama and the ‘Lady Agusta’ from Jamaica. Of these, the Bulgarian is the closest to leaving the port.
- 9.09 (BOG) Russian attacks on Severodonetsk, Lysychansk and Mikolaiv
Russian troops increased the pressure on Lysychansk, Ukraine’s last solid holdout in Luhansk province. However, the start is not promising for the locals, since the Russian forces are very close to surrounding the city and leaving the Ukrainian troops isolated from supplies and reinforcements for the beginning of the aggressions.
“The fence is already closed and about 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers and another hundred foreign mercenaries can be captured,” reported the adviser to the Ministry of the Interior of the Lugansk People’s Republic. While the leader of Chechnya warned that “very soon” the news of the siege of Lysychansk will spread.
The other disputed point in the region is Severodonetsk, but it seems to be a matter of time before it is fully controlled by Russia. The soldiers locked up in the Azot chemical complex are the only Ukrainians who are preventing the rival Army from taking over the city, which is already largely controlled.
The Ukrainian authorities stress that the forces in Donetsk, Russia’s next step when it prevails in Lugansk, are more robust and will give enough time to receive heavy supplies from the West and match firepower.
Finally, today they attacked Mikolaiv again, in the south of the territory. “In an attack with high-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces, up to 500 servicemen of the 59th Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were killed,” the Russian military command reported.
With EFE, Reuters and AFP
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