Russian troops have withdrawn from Snake Island
Ukrainian officials said 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 has taken place from the island, which is known locally as Zmiinyi Island, and described it as an act of “goodwill”.
Andriy Yermak, President Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, tweeted this morning that there were no longer any Russian troops on Snake Island, while an official message from the operational command of southern Ukraine said that Russian forces had “evacuated hastily “the island, which is a strategic outpost in the Black Sea. .
“During the night, as a result of the subsequent success of the military operation with attacks from our missile and artillery units on Snake Island, the enemy hastily evacuated the remnants of the garrison with two speed ships and, presumably, he left the island, “the operational command said on Facebook.
He added that currently, Snake Island “is covered in fire, explosions are heard” and the final outcome of the operation is still being investigated.
In an information session of the Russian Ministry of Defense on Thursday, he confirmed the withdrawal, stating:
“On June 30, as a step of goodwill, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation completed the fulfillment of their tasks on the island of Zmeiny and withdrew the garrison stationed there.”
He said the measure “demonstrated 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 the territory of Ukraine.”
Russia said the decision “will not allow Kyiv to speculate on the impending food crisis, referring to the impossibility of exporting grain due to Russia’s full control of the northwestern part of the Black Sea.”
He said that “now it is up to the Ukrainian side” to clean up mines on the Black Sea coast, which both sides have accused each other of planting in the sea and blaming them for hindering exports of vital products.
“Holly Ellyatt.”
Ukrainian forces must avoid being surrounded by the Russians, the UK says
The British Ministry of Defense has given its latest intelligence update on the state of combat in Ukraine, noting that the country’s armed forces continue to maintain their positions in the city of Lysychansk after its withdrawal from Severodonetsk.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to pursue a “rampant wrap” approach from the direction of Popasna, south of Lysychansk, eliminating the need to force a major new crossing of the Siverskyi Donets River (which separates Severodonetsk from Lysychansk). point to the UK. in his Twitter update on Thursday.
Garbage and cars destroyed along a street in Lysychansk.
Images of Soup | light rocket | Getty Images
The ministry said it is very likely that “the ability of Ukrainian forces to continue fighting in retarded battles and then withdraw troops in good order before they are surrounded will continue to be a key factor in the outcome of the campaign.”
The current ground combat is likely centered around the Lyschansk oil refinery, 10 kilometers southwest of the city center, the UK added, backing similar information from the Ukrainian armed forces this morning.
“At the operational level, Russian forces continue to make limited progress as they try to encircle Ukrainian defenders in northern Donetsk province through advances from Izium.”
“Holly Ellyatt.”
The city of Lysychansk is under “constant hype” as the battle pits over control of a wider region
Ukrainian soldiers in the eastern Luhansk region on June 23, 2022. On Wednesday, Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk region where fighting is most severe, said the city of Lysychansk is under “constant hype.” .
Anatoly Stepanov | Afp | Getty Images
While global attention has been at the NATO summit taking place this week in Spain, Ukraine, the battle for control of the Donbas in the east continues to rage.
On Wednesday, Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk region, where fighting is most severe, said the city of Lysychansk is under “constant hype.”
“Orcs are constantly trying to storm Lysychansk, fighting continues on the outskirts, the city itself is under constant fire,” Haidai said in a Facebook post last night. Ukrainian officials regularly describe Russian fighters as “orcs” after the brutal characters in JRR Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.”
Lysychansk is the twin city across the Siverskyi Donets River from Severodonetsk, which was taken by Russian forces last weekend after a tactical withdrawal from Ukrainian fighters. Haidai said about 15,000 civilians remain in Lysychansk even though a “quiet” and discreet evacuation is taking place.
In its latest military update on the Russian invasion this Thursday morning, the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff said Thursday that Russian troops are carrying out attacks and “battles continue” in the area. the Lysychansk oil refinery.
“Towards Donetsk, the enemy, with the support of artillery, is trying to blockade the city of Lysychansk and take control of a section of the Lysychansk-Bakhmut highway,” Ukraine said, adding that Russian forces were firing on the civilian infrastructure of nearby settlements. .
Russian forces are very focused on gaining territory in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions that 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 the Donbas was its main goal, as well as “the protection of these people.” [in the pro-Russian areas]and the creation of conditions that guarantee the security of Russia itself. “
“Everything was going well between us”: Putin expresses his dismay at the expansion of NATO
“There is nothing to worry about for Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO. If they want to, please go ahead,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
Getty Images
President Vladimir Putin has said Russia will “respond in kind” if NATO infrastructure and troops are deployed to Sweden and Finland when they join the alliance.
“There is nothing to worry about for Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO. If they want to, please go ahead,” he said Wednesday.
“But they should clearly understand that they did not face any threat before that. Now, if NATO infrastructure and troops are deployed, we will be forced to respond in kind and create the same threats to the territories. where threats to us are created. ” added.
“Obviously, don’t you understand? Everything was going well between us, but now there will be tensions. This is obvious and inevitable.”
Putin’s comments came when NATO leaders and their allies met in Madrid on Wednesday. At the summit, the alliance pledged to strengthen 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 Nordic countries said that the invasion of Ukraine by Russia changed their dial when deciding to apply to join NATO. Russia is hurt by expansion, as its land border with NATO territories will roughly double. It has an 830-mile border with future member Finland and borders five other NATO members: Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and Norway.
“Holly Ellyatt.”
The UK announces £ 1bn in military support to Ukraine
Soldiers of the Azov Regiment fire weapons during the practice of targets on June 28, 2022 in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine. The UK will provide another £ 1bn ($ 1.2bn) in military support to Ukraine, Reuters was quoted as saying by the British government.
Paula Bronstein | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Russia has not shown a significant attempt at diplomacy, Blinken tells NATO
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken talks about U.S. policy toward China during an event hosted by the Asian Society Policy Institute at George Washington University in Washington, DC, on May 26. 2022.
Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US has not seen significant Russian diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine.
“We have not seen any interest on the part of Vladimir Putin in participating 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 very important that the Ukrainians define the terms of any potential negotiations,” he added.
The top US diplomat said the US will continue to send security aid to Ukraine to mitigate and repel Russian aggression.
“When a negotiating table finally emerges, they will at some point [Ukraine] have the strongest possible hand to play at the negotiating table, ”he said.
– Amanda Macias
“If Russia does not stop in Ukraine, NATO will inevitably be involved in the war,” warns a Ukrainian official.
A Ukrainian soldier speaks by phone as he walks through the ruins of a building at the Kharkiv National Technical University Polytechnic Sports Complex after the Russian missile was struck in Kharkiv on June 24, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Sergey Bobok | AFP | Getty Images
Ukrainian official Andriy Yermak said Russia will likely push its war beyond Ukraine’s borders into NATO member territory, according to a translation by NBC News.
“History has taught us that the aggressor’s appetites grow with each concession,” Yermak, the head of the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told the messaging application Telegram.
“That is why the security of not only Europe, but of all humanity is threatened. And we believe that if Russia does not stop in Ukraine, NATO will inevitably be dragged into the war,” he said, calling for more weapons and ammunition for Ukrainian …