Russia pushes to control Ukraine’s last stronghold of Luhansk

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Ukrainian forces are still fighting in Sievierodonetsk, leading Russian-backed separatists to halt civilian evacuations from the area as Russian missiles continue to pound Ukraine on the 123rd day.

The Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said the attempt by Ukrainian forces to turn the Azot plant into a “tenacious center of resistance” had been thwarted. (Reuters)

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Russia pushes to control Ukraine’s last stronghold of Luhansk

Russian forces sought to engulf the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern Lugansk region, building on their momentum after taking full control on Saturday of the charred ruins of Sievierodonetsk and the chemical plant where hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians had been locked up.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said separatist forces backed by Russia and Moscow now control Sievierodonetsk and the villages surrounding it. He said the attempt by Ukrainian forces to turn the Azot plant into a “stubborn center of resistance” had been thwarted.

But Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said some Ukrainian special forces are still in Sievierodonetsk, directing artillery fire at Russians who local police said should suspend the evacuation of people, Tass quotes the local Russian police.

UK ready to guarantee additional $525m loan to Ukraine — Johnson

Britain is ready to guarantee an additional $525 million in World Bank loans to Ukraine later this year, bringing total budget support this year to $1.5 billion, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said ahead of a G7 meeting in Germany.

“Ukraine can and will win. But they need our support to do so. Now is not the time to give up on Ukraine,” Johnson said in a statement.

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Source: TRTWorld and agencies