Ukrainian forces say they have repelled 12 Russian attacks in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions of eastern Ukraine in recent days, and downed seven drones.
General Staff of the Ukraine reported that resistance by Russian forces was increasing in areas temporarily controlled by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. At the same time, the agency said that Russian forces continued to attack Izyum, in the Kharkov Oblast, from all directions and attempt to take full control of the towns of Rubizhne and Popasna, in the Lugansk Oblast.
Ukrainian military officials added that there are signs that Russian forces are replenishing combat units with equipment.
“According to available information, 17 tanks and 60 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles were taken out of the depot in the city of Bohuchar in the Voronezh region between April 27 and May 2. They were sent to Ukrainian territories temporarily controlled by Russian troops,” the General Staff of Ukraine said.
Voronezh is located in the south of the country Russiabordering the Luhansk province of Ukraine.
A warehouse was hit by shelling in Severodonetsk, eastern Ukraine today. Image: AFP.
In Lugansk, Serhiy Hayday, head of the military agency, said shelling damaged or destroyed many houses in several towns such as Severodonetsk, Hirske and Orikhove. However, he did not give information on the number of casualties.
In Donetsk, Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the military agency, said that Russian planes bombed the town of Avdiivka on the morning of May 3, and a residential area in the center of the town was attacked. He said the area was also hit by missile strikes on the night of May 2. Local officials said at least 10 people were killed and 15 others were injured.
In addition, shelling on the town of Vuhledar left three people dead and three others dead in a shelling in Lyman, a town that has suffered serious damage in recent days.
Meanwhile, the area southern Ukraine also engaged in fierce fighting.
Regional gender Zaporizhzhia said fighting was still intense, especially around the town of Hulyaipole. Russian units have managed to make a breakthrough in this area, to be able to get close to the regional capital.
Russia also launched a new attack on the Azovstal steel plant today, the last bastion of Ukrainian forces in the port city. Mariupol. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it would continue shelling and air strikes on Azovstal, citing that Ukrainian forces “are taking advantage of the ceasefire”.
The Russian Defense Ministry added that units of the Russian army and the “Donetsk People’s Republic” are using artillery and aircraft to destroy firing positions of soldiers. Ukraine.
Captain Sviatoslav Palamar of the Azov Battalion said Russia shelled the factory overnight and dropped heavy bombs from the aircraft. The Ukrainian military released a statement describing the Russian offensive as “violent” and “supported by armored vehicles and tanks”.
Russia has poured its firepower into eastern and southern Ukraine after announcing its withdrawal from Kiev and the north. In particular, Mariupol is considered an important target of Russia when Moscow tries to find a way blocking the way to the Black Sea of Ukraine and to control the part of Ukraine that stretches from the east to the south.
Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said more than 200 civilians remained at the Azovstal plant following UN-brokered evacuations on May 1 and May 2.
Farther west along the Black Sea coast, Russian high-precision missiles hit an airfield near the port Odessa, which stores modern drones and ammunition supplied to Ukraine by the US and its allies, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Ukraine also confirmed the attack.
American and Western officials believe the President Vladimir Putin May declare war on Ukraine on Victory Day 9/5, in order to mobilize all forces for the operation. So far, President Putin has called the developments in Ukraine a “special military operation”. However, the Russian foreign minister previously said that the May 9 anniversary had no impact on the war in Ukraine.
Nearly 10 weeks of military campaign in Ukraine has left thousands dead, more than 5 million people have to leave the country.
The direction of Russian penetration in eastern Ukraine. Click on the picture to see details.
Thanh Tam (According to CNN, Reuters, AFP, RT)
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vnexpress.net – Read the original article here
