Russian troops have withdrawn from Snake Island
Ukrainian authorities say Russian troops have evacuated Snake Island, a remote island in southern Ukraine that was occupied by Russian forces on the first day of the invasion.
Russia’s Defense Ministry also confirmed that the withdrawal was carried out from the island, which is locally known as Snake Island, describing it as an “act of goodwill”.
Andrei Ermak, President Zelensky’s chief of staff, tweeted this morning that there were no more Russian troops on Snake Island, while an official statement from Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command said Russian forces had “quickly evacuated” the island, a strategic outpost. in the Black Sea. .
“During the night, as a result of the successful next stage of the military operation by striking our missile and artillery units on Snake Island, the enemy quickly evacuated the remnants of the garrison in two speedboats and probably left the island,” the operational command said on Facebook.
He added that Snake Island is currently “covered in fire, explosions are being heard”, and the final outcome of the operation is still being investigated.
In a briefing at the Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday, it confirmed the withdrawal, saying:
“On June 30, as a step of good will, the armed forces of the Russian Federation completed their tasks on the island of Dragons and withdrew the garrison stationed there.
It says the move “demonstrates to the world community that the Russian Federation is not hindering UN efforts to organize a humanitarian corridor for the export of agricultural products from Ukraine.”
Russia said the decision “would not allow Kyiv to speculate on the impending food crisis, targeting the impossibility of exporting grain due to Russia’s total control over the northwestern Black Sea.”
It says it “now depends on the Ukrainian side” to clear the Black Sea coast of mines – which the two sides accuse each other of putting at sea and accusing them of obstructing the export of vital products.
“Holly Eliat.”
Ukraine’s forces must avoid being surrounded by Russians, says UK
The British Ministry of Defense provided its latest intelligence on the state of the fighting in Ukraine, noting that the country’s armed forces continue to hold their positions in the city of Lisichansk after their withdrawal from Severodonetsk.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to follow a “creeping encirclement” approach from Popasna, south of Lisichansk, eliminating the need to force a new major crossing of the Seversky Donets River (which separates Severodonetsk from Lisichansk), the United Kingdom said. in his Twitter update on Thursday.
Debris and destroyed cars on a street in Lisichansk.
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The ministry said it was “likely that” the ability of Ukrainian forces to continue to wage protracted battles and then withdraw troops in good order before being surrounded would continue to be a key factor in the outcome of the campaign. “
Ongoing ground fighting is likely to be centered around the Lishchansk oil refinery, 10km southwest of the city center, the UK added, backing similar information from Ukraine’s armed forces this morning.
“At the operational level, Russian forces continue to make limited progress as they try to encircle Ukrainian defenders in the northern Donetsk province through raids by Izyum.
“Holly Eliat.”
The city of Lisichansk is under “constant fire” while a battle for control of a wider region is raging
Ukrainian troops in the eastern Luhansk region on June 23, 2022. On Wednesday, Sergei Haidai, governor of the Luhansk region, where fighting is heaviest, said the city of Lisichansk was under “constant fire.”
Anatoly Stepanov Afp | Getty Images
As world attention has been focused on this week’s NATO summit in Spain, Ukraine, the battle for control of Donbass in the east continues to rage.
On Wednesday, the governor of the Luhansk region, where the fighting is heaviest, Sergei Haidai, said the city of Lisichansk was under “constant fire”.
“The orcs are constantly trying to storm Lisichansk, the fighting continues on the outskirts, the city itself is under constant fire,” Haidai said in a Facebook post last night. Ukrainian authorities regularly describe Russian fighters as “orcs” after the brutal characters from “The Lord of the Rings” by J. R. R. Tolkien.
Lisichansk is the sister city across the Seversky Donets River from Severodonetsk, which was captured by Russian forces last weekend after a tactical retreat by Ukrainian fighters. Haidai said about 15,000 civilians remain in Lisichansk, despite a “quiet” unnoticed evacuation.
In its latest military update on the Russian invasion on Thursday morning, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Thursday that Russian troops were carrying out attacks and “continuing battles” in the area of the Lisichansk oil refinery.
“In the direction of Donetsk, the enemy, with the support of artillery, is trying to block the city of Lisichansk and take control of a section of the Lisichansk-Bakhmut highway,” Ukraine said, adding that Russian forces were shelling civilian infrastructure in nearby towns. .
Russian forces are strongly focused on acquiring territory in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, which are part of the wider Donbass in eastern Ukraine. Russia’s stated goal is to control the territory where two pro-Russian separatist “republics” are located.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated on Wednesday that the so-called “liberation” of Donbass is its main goal, as well as “the protection of these people. [in the pro-Russian areas]and the creation of conditions to ensure the security of Russia itself. “
“Everything was going well between us”: Putin expresses concern over NATO enlargement
“There is nothing that can worry us about Finland and Sweden becoming members of NATO. If they want, please continue,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
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President Vladimir Putin has said Russia will “respond in kind” if NATO infrastructure and troops are deployed in Sweden and Finland when they join the alliance.
“There is nothing that can worry us about Finland and Sweden becoming members of NATO. If they want, please continue, “he said on Wednesday.
“But they need to be clear that they have not faced any threats before. Now, if NATO’s infrastructure and troops are deployed, we will be forced to respond in kind and create the same threats for the territories where the threats were created. for us, “he added.
“Obviously – don’t they understand that? Everything was going well between us, but now there will be tension. It’s obvious and inevitable.”
Putin’s comments came when NATO leaders and their allies met in Madrid on Wednesday. At the summit, the alliance promised to step up its support for Ukraine and called Russia a “direct threat” to its security. He also formally welcomed Sweden and Finland – historically non-aligned countries – to join the alliance.
The leaders of the two Scandinavian countries said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had changed the dial for them when it came to deciding to apply to join NATO. Russia is upset by enlargement, as its land border with NATO territories will now double. It borders 830 miles with future member Finland and borders five other NATO members: Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and Norway.
“Holly Eliat.”
The United Kingdom has announced £ 1 billion in military support for Ukraine
Soldiers from the Azov Regiment fired weapons during a target training on June 28, 2022 in Kharkiv region, Ukraine. The United Kingdom will provide another 1 billion pounds ($ 1.2 billion) in military support to Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing the British government.
Paula Bronstein Getty Images News Getty Images
Russia has not shown a meaningful attempt at diplomacy, says Blinken in NATO
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke about U.S. policy toward China at an event hosted by the Institute for Asian Society Policy at George Washington University in Washington, DC, on May 26, 2022.
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Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the United States had not seen meaningful Russian diplomacy in ending the war in Ukraine.
“We have not seen any interest on the part of Vladimir Putin in engaging in any significant diplomatic initiative,” Blinken said during the NATO summit in Madrid. “But in any case, as we said from the beginning, it is really important for the Ukrainians to determine the terms of any potential negotiations,” he added.
The top US diplomat said the United States would continue to send aid to Ukraine’s security to mitigate and repel Russian aggression.
“When a negotiating table finally appears, which will happen at some point, they will [Ukraine] they have the strongest possible hand to play at the negotiating table, “he said.
“Amanda Macias.”
“If Russia is not stopped in Ukraine, NATO will inevitably be drawn into the war,” warns Ukrainian official
A Ukrainian serviceman spoke on the phone as he walked through the ruins of a building at the Kharkiv National Technical University’s Polytechnic Sports Complex after being hit by a Russian missile in Kharkiv on June 24, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Sergey Bobok | AFP | Getty Images
Ukrainian official Andrei Ermak said Russia was likely to push its war beyond Ukraine’s borders into NATO territory, according to a NBC News translation.
“History has taught us that the aggressor’s appetites grow with each concession,” Ermak, head of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s office, told Telegram.
“That is why the security not only of Europe but of all humanity is at stake. And we believe that if Russia is not stopped in Ukraine, NATO will inevitably be drawn into the war,” he said, calling for more weapons and ammunition for Ukraine. …
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