While the Russian Army continues its offensive, the Defense Minister assured that during the last five days 126 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have surrendered and that the total number amounts to 6,489.
In a meeting with the senior staff of the Armed Forces, Sergei Shoigu He stated that Russian troops have complete control of the residential areas of Severodonetsk, the last bastion of the Ukrainian Army in Lugansk.
In addition, he warned that the Russian Army continues its offensive in the Popasna region, in order to close the siege of the Ukrainian forces.
Sergey Shoigu with Russian President VladImir Putin. Photo: EFE
According to the minister, in Severodonetsk the offensive continues to control the industrial zone, where the Ukrainian troops took refuge.
In all, Shoigu stated, “To date, 97% of the territory of the Lugansk People’s Republic has been liberated”recognized by the Kremlin.
“A considerable part of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics have been liberated along the left bank of the Severski Donets (river), including the cities of Krasny Liman and Svyatogorsk, as well as 15 other towns,” he said.
A destroyed bridge connecting the city of Lysychansk with the city of Severodonetsk in the eastern region of Ukraine. Photo: AFP
The minister highlighted the reconstruction work started in the territories under Russian control, noting that “Russian Railways (RZD) with the support of the Russian Ministry of Defense created the conditions for resuming rail traffic between Russia, Donbas, Ukraine and Crimea by six railway sections”.
“We started cargo transportation to Mariupol, Berdyansk and Kherson,” he added, noting that it involves 1,200 kilometers of railway.
In addition, he noted that the port of Mariupol (Sea of Azov) began to receive cargo ships.
“The demining of the port of Mariupol has been completed. It works normally and has received the first ships,” he said.
According to Shoigu, both in Mariupol and in other Ukrainian regions of Donbas under Russian control “Measures continue to be implemented to get life back to normal.”
“In Mariupol, the supply of water and electricity to the residential neighborhoods is gradually being restored, the streets are being cleaned and the first social institutions have begun to function,” he said.
Regarding the Azovstal steelworks, a refuge for the last defenders of the city until they surrendered to the Russian troops, he assured that the facility was completely demined.
“Demining work continues. In total, around 3,000 hectares have been reviewed and almost 15,000 explosive devices have been deactivated. The territory of the Azovstal factory has been completely cleared, including the underground facilities,” he concluded.
Ukraine needs 60 multiple rocket launchers
The Ukrainian army needs at least 60 multiple rocket launchers to stop the advance of Russian troops, Alexei Arestovich, adviser to the Ukrainian presidency, said on Tuesday.
British Defense Minister Ben Wallace had announced that the UK will send Ukraine M270 multiple rocket launchers to deal with Russian artillery.
“If we get 60 systems like this, the Russians will lose all ability to advance, we’ll stop them in their tracks.. If we get 40, they will advance, albeit very slowly and with many casualties; with 20 they will continue advancing with more casualties than now,” said Arestovich consulted by the newspaper TheGuardian.
“The fewer (rocket launchers) we have, the worse our situation will be. Our troops will continue to die and we will continue to lose ground,” warned the adviser to the President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, according to reviews by the Sputnik and Europa Press agencies.
At least 60 multiple rocket launchers to stop the advance of Russian troops. Photo: AFP
The UK plans to send Ukraine three M270 systems initially and will train the Ukrainian military to operate these launchers, which can fire 12 surface-to-surface missiles per minute at a distance of up to 80 kilometers.
With information from EFE
