Russia will be able to capture Lugansk in a few weeks thanks to its superiority in men and resources on the field. The prediction is made by the Americans, but the Ukrainians’ estimates are not much better. The Russian army continues to attack Severodonetsk by destroying its bridges. Ukrainians have announced that their forces have withdrawn from the center and that the risk to the hundreds of civilian refugees inside after a fire caused by a raid is very high. Amnesty International denounces ‘indiscriminate’ cluster bomb attacks in Kharkiv. New tensions between Kyiv and Berlin over arms deliveries. Moscow: “We welcome the efforts of the Vatican”, confidential contacts “especially on humanitarian issues”.
The offensive – The battle that will decide the fate of Donbass
09.05 Kyiv: “Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from the center of Severodonetsk”
Kievan troops were retreating from the center of Severodonetsk, the strategic city whose capture would give the Russians control of all of Lugansk. This was announced by the Ukrainian General Staff in its latest update, but reiterated that “the struggle continues”.
08.54 Moscow: “We welcome the efforts of the Vatican”
Moscow welcomes the Vatican’s mediation efforts in the war in Ukraine and maintains an “open, confidential” and trusting dialogue with the Holy See on a range of issues: the Russian agency Ria Novosti Alexei Paramonov, director of the First Europe Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry. “The Vatican leadership has repeatedly stated its readiness to provide any possible assistance to achieve peace and end hostilities in Ukraine. These statements are confirmed in practice. We are conducting an open and confidential dialogue on a number of issues , which are mainly related to the situation. Help in Ukraine,” added the diplomat.
08.30 The British Defence: “Crossing the Seversky Donets River is Crucial”
In the coming months, operations to cross the Seversky Donets river in Severodonetsk are likely to be among the most important determinants of the course of the war. This was supported by the UK Ministry of Defense in its most recent report. The 90 km key sector of Russia’s front line in Donbass lies west of the Siverskyy Donets River, and in order to be successful in the current operational phase of its offensive in Donbass, Russia “must conduct ambitious flanking actions or lead offensive river crossings. Ukrainian forces often managed to tear down bridges before retreating “while the Russians ‘scrambled to establish the complex coordination necessary to successfully conduct river crossings when pounded by fire'”.
08.15 Kyiv: 288 children killed since the beginning of the war
288 children have been killed and 527 injured since the Russian invasion began. This was announced by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office, specifying that most of the victims were recorded in the Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv and Chernihiv regions. Bombing of Ukrainian towns and villages by Russian forces – adds the note – damaged 1,971 educational institutions, 194 of which were completely destroyed.
08.04 Kyiv: Russians surround Ukrainians in Severodonetsk
The Russian army, supported by artillery, managed to attack Severodonetsk and encircle the remaining Ukrainian troops in the area. It is the assessment of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, whose latest report focuses on the offensive on the city, the capture of which could give the Russians control of the entire Lugansk region. “The enemy was relatively successful” because they did not drive out the Ukrainian troops completely and “the battle is therefore continuing,” according to the Ukrainian military leadership’s Facebook page.
07.30 bridge between Severodonetsk and Lysychansk destroyed
Russia destroyed a bridge connecting Sevierodonetsk to its sister city Lysychansk, effectively cutting off a possible civilian evacuation route. In reality, the explosion of the Proletarsky bridge, on the one hand, prevented supplies to the defenders of the Azot plant, on the other hand, it impeded the Russian advance on Lysyhansk.
06.44 Zelenskyy: “We need modern missile defense systems”
“Ukraine needs modern missile defense systems.” According to reports from the Kyiv Independent, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. “Since February 24, 2,606 Russian cruise missiles have hit Ukraine. These are lives that could be saved, these are tragedies that could have been avoided if Ukraine had been heard,” he said in his video address.
06.00 Arab League no to “pressure from the West”
Arab League tough stance on Western countries: “Arab countries are under strong pressure from the West to take a stand on the crisis in Ukraine and to condemn Russia’s military actions, but they will not back down,” said Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit , in an interview with Egyptian state television, broadcast by the Russian agency Tass.
Severodonetsk (loop)
04.00 Kyiv: “The massive attack on Severodonetsk is about to begin”
“Russia wants to completely isolate Severodonetsk and we fear a massive attack that will take the city within 48 hours.” This was said by the governor of the Lugansk region Serguii Gaidai. “The situation in Severodonetsk is extremely difficult”. “The enemy has focused most of their efforts on the northern Lugansk region,” where “they are deploying large-scale artillery and unfortunately have a 10-to-one advantage,” Valery Zalouzhny, the supreme commander, explained on Facebook of the Ukrainian army. “We continue to hold our positions,” he assured, however, explaining that “every meter of Ukrainian land is covered in blood, but not only on ours.”
In Odessa it is bathroom front. “Sea and coasts forbidden for mines” but there are people who dive anyway
by our correspondent Tonia Mastrobuoni June 12, 2022
02.40 Gb Company donates demining robot to Kyiv
The British company QinetiQ will donate ten Talon robots to Ukraine, which will be used in particular for land clearing. This was announced by the Ukrainian authorities, quoted by the Kyiv Independent.
02.10 Amnesty: Russian cluster bombs over Kharkiv
Russia’s indiscriminate use of banned weapons like cluster bombs has killed hundreds of civilians in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. The complaint follows an investigation by Amnesty International. The organization accuses Russian troops of indiscriminately bombarding Kharkov’s residential areas with missiles that, by their nature, lack precision to hit specific targets. Amnesty International investigators found evidence of the repeated use of 9N210 and 9N235 cluster munitions, all of which are banned by international treaties.
The Battle of Azot: How the Factory Resists the Pro-Russians
by our correspondent Corrado Zunino, June 12, 2022
01.00 German media: Marder ready, but Berlin’s OK is missing
The first Marder vehicles are ready, but the German government has not given its okay to deliver these armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, the armaments manufacturer Rheinmetall said, as quoted by the daily newspaper Bild. Rheinmetall boss Armin Papperger told Bild that the company was repairing around 100 Marder vehicles, some of which were already operational. However – Papperger emphasizes – it is up to Berlin to decide where they will be sent.
The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, also commented on the subject last night and attacked on Twitter: “Why are you refusing these martens to the Ukrainian army while Ukraine is bleeding in Donbass before your eyes?”
00:30 Zelenskyy: “Moscow is trying to deploy reserve forces in Donbass”
“Russian generals just see their people as cannon fodder.” This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who announced in the latest video published on social media that “the Russian army is trying to deploy reserve forces in Donbass”. “But what reserves can they have now?” Zelenskyy asks, reporting: “It looks as if they are trying to throw poorly trained conscripts and other people gathered in a secret mobilization into battle.”
00.00 Governor of Lugansk: still 500 civilians in Azot
About 500 civilians remain at the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk, according to local authorities, quoted by the Kiev Independent. The governor of the far-eastern Ukrainian region of Lugansk, Serhiy Haidai, explains that among these people there are about 40 children. Two days ago, a Russian bombing raid on the factory caused the loss of tons of oil and the outbreak of a violent fire.