Intense fighting between Ukrainian and Russian troops is taking place in the strategically important city of Donbas in Severodonetsk.
Aris Messinis | Afp | Getty Images
Heavy fighting is underway on the streets of a critical city in eastern Ukraine that is now at the heart of the invasion of Moscow, while Kyiv implored the West to hand over more weapons to curb Russian forces.
In Severodonetsk, a city in eastern Ukraine that has become the focus of Russia’s advance in eastern Ukraine, there are likely to be many casualties on both sides, according to an update from the Ministry of Defense. Defense of the United Kingdom on 11 June.
“There is intense street fighting and it is likely that both sides will suffer a large number of casualties,” the ministry said on Twitter. “Russia is accumulating fire with its artillery and air capabilities, in an attempt to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses.”
However, the ministry said that Russian forces had failed to take control of the southern part of the city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the battle for Severodonetsk may decide the outcome for eastern Ukraine. He described fighting in the Donbas region of Ukraine as “probably one of the most difficult during this war.”
Donbas refers to two provinces, Donetsk and Luhansk, in the easternmost part of Ukraine. It is an important strategic, political and economic goal for the Kremlin.
“Very fierce fighting continues in the Donbas,” Zelenskyy said in his June 11 nightly speech. “Russia wants to destroy all Donbas cities.”
“Ukrainian troops are doing everything they can to stop the occupiers’ offensive. As far as possible. As far as heavy weapons, modern artillery — everything we have asked and continue to ask our partners — allow them to do.” , has said. .
Ukraine is calling for a faster and faster delivery of weapons from the West, as the war in the east is primarily an artillery battle where Ukrainians are far outnumbered, according to Reuters, citing officials in the country.
“It all depends on what (the West) gives us. Ukraine has one piece of artillery for 10 to 15 pieces of Russian artillery,” Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine’s chief military intelligence chief, told the newspaper. British Guardian.
The country now has high hopes for rocket systems that the US and UK have promised to send.
The United Kingdom said earlier this week that it would send multi-launch rocket systems to Ukraine that could hit targets up to 50 miles away, in a coordinated move with the United States. Washington said it would supply high-mobility artillery rocket systems to Ukraine, which can travel more than 43 miles.
Russia has attacked Ukrainian defenders with many such rocket systems, which have a longer range than artillery cannons.