News

Russia withdraws troops after Ukraine encircles a key city : NPR


Artillery craters are seen in the field from the air in the newly liberated area in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on Friday.

Evgeniy Maloletka / AP


hide captions

switch captions

Evgeniy Maloletka / AP


Artillery craters are seen in the field from the air in the newly liberated area in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on Friday.

Evgeniy Maloletka / AP

KYIV, Ukraine — After being encircled by Ukrainian forces, Russia on Saturday withdrew its troops from an eastern Ukrainian city that it had used as a frontline hub. It is the latest victory in a Ukrainian counter-offensive that has humiliated and angered the Kremlin.

Russia’s withdrawal from Lyman complicates the internationally defamed claim just a day earlier annexation of four regions of Ukraine – an area that includes Lyman. The capture of the city opens the way for the Ukrainian military to have the ability to move deeper into territory that Moscow now claims as its illegal territory.

The fighting comes at a pivotal moment in Russian President Putin’s war. Faced with Ukraine’s interests on the battlefield – what he sees as a US orchestrated effort to destroy Russia – Putin this week stepped up the threat of nuclear force and used aggressive anti-Western rhetoric. the hottest so far.

The Russian Defense Ministry claims to have inflicted damage on Ukrainian forces in the fight to hold Lyman, but said the outnumbered Russian army had been withdrawn to more favorable positions. Kyiv’s air force said it had moved to Lyman, and the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff posted a photo of the Ukrainian flag being flown on the outskirts of town.

The city is an important logistics center for the Russians

Lyman was once an important link in Russia’s frontline in terms of both ground communications and logistics. Located 160 km (100 mi) southeast of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, it is in the Donetsk region near the border with the Luhansk region, both of which were annexed by Russia on Friday after a “referred referendum” local referendum” is held by gun.

Ukrainian forces recaptured large swaths of territory in a counteroffensive that began in September. They pushed Russian forces out of the Kharkiv area and moved eastward across the Oskil River.

Moscow’s withdrawal from Lyman drew immediate criticism from some Russian officials.

Chechnya’s leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, blamed the retreat without evidence, on a general “covered up by higher-ups in the General Staff”. He called for “more drastic measures.”

Meanwhile, on the Crimean peninsula annexed by Russia, the governor of the city of Sevastopol announced a state of emergency at an airport there. Explosions and huge plumes of smoke could be seen in the distance by beachgoers at the Russian-run resort. Authorities said a plane had rolled off the runway at Belbek airport and the ammunition depot believed to be on board had caught fire.

Russia annexed Crimea in the Black Sea from Ukraine in 2014 in violation of international law.

Russian bombardment has intensified in recent days as Moscow hastened its latest annexation and ordered mass mobilization at home to bolster its forces. Russia’s appeal has proven unpopular at home, prompting tens of thousands of Russian men to flee the country.

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and his army have vowed to continue fighting to liberate areas Putin claimed to have annexed on Friday and other areas occupied by Russia.

A Ukrainian official says civilians were killed in a Russian attack on a convoy

Ukrainian authorities accuse Russian forces of targeting two humanitarian convoys in recent days, killing dozens of civilians.

The governor of Kharkiv region, Oleh Syniehubov, said 24 civilians were killed in an attack this week on a convoy trying to flee the Kupiansk district. He called it “unjustifiable cruelty.” He said 13 children and a pregnant woman were among the dead.

Syniehubov wrote on Telegram: “The Russians shot at civilians almost at an unknown range.

The Security Service of Ukraine, a secret police force known by its initials SBU, posted photos of the convoy being attacked. At least one truck appeared to have been blown up, with burned bodies in what remained in the truck beds. Another vehicle in front of the convoy also caught fire. Bodies were lying on the side of the road or still inside the vehicles, on which there were many bullet holes.

The Russian Defense Ministry said its missiles destroyed Ukrainian military targets in the area but did not comment on the alleged targeting of civilians on the run. Russian troops have withdrawn from most of the Kharkiv area, but they continue to attack the area.

Ukrainian officials say a Russian attack in the regional capital Zaporizhzhia has killed 30 people and wounded 88. The British Ministry of Defense said the Russians “almost certainly” attacked a humanitarian convoy there with S-300 anti-aircraft missiles. Russian-installed officials in Zaporizhzhia blamed Ukrainian forces, but offered no evidence.

In other developments, in an apparent attempt to secure Moscow’s hold on the newly annexed territory, Russian forces arrest of the general manager of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power PlantIhor Murashov, on Friday, according to the Ukrainian state nuclear company Energoatom.

Energoatom said the Russian military intercepted Murashov’s vehicle, blindfolded him and took him to an undisclosed location.

Russia has not publicly commented on the report. The International Atomic Energy Agency said Russia told it “the director-general of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been detained to answer questions.”

The Vienna-based IAEA said it “has been actively seeking clarification and hopes for a prompt and satisfactory resolution to this matter.”

The power plant was repeatedly in the sights of war. Ukrainian technicians continued to operate it after Russian troops seized the power plant and its last reactor was shut down in September as a precautionary measure amid ongoing shelling. out nearby.

Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said that in another skirmish reported on Saturday, four people were killed as a result of Friday’s Russian shelling in the Donetsk region. According to Regional Governor Vitaliy Kim, the Russian military attacked the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv twice during the night, once with a drone and a second time with a missile.

Following Friday’s land grab, Russia now claims 15 percent of Ukraine’s territory, which NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called “the largest attempt to annex European territory by force since the end of the war. Second World War.”

Zelenskyy on Friday formally applied to join NATO, putting pressure on Western allies to defend Ukraine.

In Washington, President Joe Biden signed a bill Friday providing another aid — more than $12.3 billion — in military and economic aid related to the Ukraine war.

news7f

News7F: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button