Ukraine war until noon 17/5: Ukraine ‘completes combat mission’ in Azovstal
Force Ukraine entrenched at the steel mill Azovstal in the city Mariupol had begun to evacuate, ended the combat mission and apparently ceded control of the city to Russia.
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Wounded Ukrainian soldier in Azovstal is carried out of the vehicle on a stretcher during the evacuation on May 16 reuters |
Evacuation of wounded Ukrainian soldiers in Azovstal
Soldiers Ukraine entrenched in the port Mariupol for the past several months began to be “evacuated” on May 16. Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Anna Malyar said 53 wounded soldiers in the steel factory Azovstal was taken to a hospital in the Russian-controlled town of Novoazovsk, about 32 kilometers to the east. Another 211 people were taken to the town of Olenivka in the rebel-held area. These soldiers will be exchanged prisoners with Russia in the future.
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| Ukraine says “completion of combat duty” to save soldiers’ lives in Mariupol |
Ukrainian Army said it had “ordered the commanders of the units stationed at Azovstal to save the lives of the soldiers” and declared the force there to have completed its combat mission.
The move could mark the end of the longest and bloodiest battle in the Ukrainian conflict to date and a significant defeat for Ukraine, according to Reuters. Mariupol had become desolate after a months-long siege by Russia.
See more: Russia allows wounded Ukrainian soldiers to leave Azovstal, Kyiv ends combat mission in Mariupol
Ukraine gains advantage in Kharkiv, big explosion in Lviv
Reuters reported that Ukraine’s counter-offensive in recent days has pushed Russian forces out of the vicinity Kharkiv, the largest city of Ukraine in the east. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said on May 16 that its troops had reached the Russian border, about 40 km north of Kharkiv.
Successes near Kharkiv could allow Ukraine to attack Russian supply lines and move deeper into the region Donbass in the east, where Moscow is pouring in.
Areas around Kyiv and the city Lviv in the west, near the Polish border, also continued to come under shelling. A Reuters witness said a series of explosions rang out in Lviv early on May 17. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Russia has not confirmed these information.
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| Russia says campaign military in Ukraine took place on schedule, there was no intention to use nuclear |
According to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in the US released on the morning of May 17, the attacks of Russian forces along the front lines in Ukraine on 16.5 largely failed. Russian forces around Kharkiv are trying to hold the border and prevent Ukrainian troops from advancing further north.
EU guidelines for companies buying Russian gas
The European Commission (EC) has issued new guidelines to help European Union (EU) countries buy gas from Russia without violating sanctions.
Last month, the EC announced that companies could pay to buy gas from Russia without violating EU sanctions on Russia. Moscow if specific requirements are met. The announcement comes after Russia forced foreign customers to pay for gas in rubles. Last month, Russia cut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria because the two countries refused to pay in rubles as requested by Russia.
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| Putin officially spoke about Sweden and Finland joining NATO |
See more: EU gives green light to companies buying Russian gas
at Blogtuan.info – Source: thanhnien.vn – Read the original article here
