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57th day of war in Ukraine: Kiev threatens to destroy the bridge connecting Crimea with Russia

Ukrainian officials said that if given the opportunity, they would break the bridge connecting the Crimean peninsula with Russia, a move that Moscow saw as an announcement of “terrorist act”.

“If we had the opportunity to do this, we would have done it. If there was a chance, we would definitely do it,” said Alexey Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council. April 20, when asked if Ukraine can Crimea Bridge Attack no, because Russia is using this bridge to send reinforcements.

The Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Strait Bridge, began construction in 2016, two years after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula through a referendum, and completed in 2018. The bridge is worth billions of dollars. connects the Crimean peninsula with the Krasnodar region in southwestern Russia. With a length of 19 km, this is the longest bridge in Europe, allowing cars and trains to pass.

After opening a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, Russia used this bridge to transport armored vehicles into the southern regions of Ukraine.

“Such statements are no different than announcements of possible terrorist acts. This is unacceptable,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news conference today, adding that there are many signs. indications of acts that need to be verified and punished by law.

Former Russian president, now chairman of the National Security Council, Dmitriy Medvedev also posted on Telegram that “one of the hardline Ukrainian officials talked about the need to attack the Crimean bridge. I hope he understands the point. What will be the target of retaliation”.





The Crimean Bridge connects the Crimean peninsula with the Krasnodar region in southwestern Russia.  Photo: AFP.

The Crimean Bridge connects the Crimean peninsula with the Krasnodar region in southwestern Russia. Image: AFP.

A senior US defense official said that Russia continued strengthen forces in Ukrainewhen regrouping in the east, added three more battalion-level combat groups since April 20, bringing the total number of Russian battalion-level tactical groups in Ukraine to 85.

According to the official, most of the reinforced battalion was in the “Donbass area”, but warned that it was impossible to know exactly.

Ukraine’s parliament accepts martial law extension in this country for another 30 days. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared martial law nationwide after Russia launched a special military operation on February 24, allowing the Ukrainian army to issue a curfew, set up military checkpoints and limit restrictions. freedom of movement of citizens, foreigners as well as vehicles”.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk added another meeting prisoner exchange took place between Ukraine and Russia. “Today we will have 19 more people going home, including 10 military personnel, including two officers, and nine civilians,” she said. “This time there are injured people among those released, which is very important. From now on they can receive full treatment and recover.”

Russia claims to have control of the city Mariupol in the south and is tightening the siege of the Azovstal factory, where Ukrainian defense forces and hundreds of civilians are hiding. Russian President Putin ordered only to besiege the facility without attacking. Ukraine then called emergency evacuation civilians and soldiers were injured from the factory.

However, Mariupol mayor Vadym Boichenko said it was not possible to evacuate civilians from the Azovstal plant today because there is no stable ceasefire to ensure safe evacuation.

The mayor called on international partners to facilitate a ceasefire and establish humanitarian corridors for evacuation. He also noted about 200 people were waiting for an evacuation bus in Mariupol, but the bus had not yet arrived. Four buses evacuating 80 civilians left Mariupol on April 20 and arrived in the city of Zaporizhzhia.

He added that since March 13, when the first evacuation efforts became possible, more than 100,000 people have left Mariupol but about 100,000 civilians remain in the city.





People prepare to board buses to evacuate from the city of Mariupol, southern Ukraine today.  Photo: AFP.

People prepare to board buses to evacuate from the city of Mariupol, southern Ukraine today. Image: AFP.

Ukrainian official says Russian forces now control 80% of the province Lugansk, one of two areas in the Donbass. Before Moscow launched the campaign, Ukrainian authorities controlled 60% of Lugansk.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that at least 12.7 million people in Ukraine have been displaced by the fighting, of which more than 5 million have gone to neighboring countries, and 7.7 million are internally displaced.

“Women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities are most affected because they represent a vulnerable group of people,” said IOM Director General António Vitorino.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 5,264 civilian casualties from the fighting, including 2,345 dead and 2,919 wounded. The agency warned the actual number could be much higher.





New Russian advances in Ukraine.  Click on the picture to see details.

New Russian advances in Ukraine. Click on the picture to see details.

Huyen Le (According to RT, AFP, CNN)

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