Heavy fighting as Russian troops enter outskirts of Ukraine’s Sievierodonetsk By Reuters

By Pavel Polityuk and Natalia Zinets

KYIV (Reuters) -Russian troops have entered the outskirts of the Ukrainian metropolis of Sievierodonetsk, in line with the regional governor, who described fierce preventing on Monday over the ruins of a metropolis that has turn out to be the main focus of Moscow’s offensive.

The European Union has sought to make Moscow pay a heavy value for invading Ukraine, however leaders arriving for a summit acknowledged they had been unlikely to cross a brand new spherical of sanctions but, having didn’t comply with ban imports of Russian oil.

Russia has concentrated its firepower on the final main inhabitants centre nonetheless held by Ukrainian forces within the japanese Luhansk province, in a push to realize one in every of President Vladimir Putin’s said aims after three months of struggle.

Incessant shelling has left Ukrainian forces defending ruins in Sievierodonetsk, however their refusal to withdraw has slowed the broader Russian offensive throughout the Donbas area. Luhansk area governor Serhiy Gaidai mentioned Russian troops had superior into town’s southeastern and northeastern fringes.

The Russians “use the identical ways again and again. They shell for a number of hours – for 3, 4, 5 hours – in a row after which assault”, Gaidai mentioned.

“Those that assault die. Then shelling and assault observe once more, and so forth till they break by way of someplace.”

With temperatures rising, he mentioned there was a “horrible scent of dying” on the outskirts of town.

However he mentioned Ukrainian forces had pushed the Russians out of the village of Toshkivka to the south, probably irritating Moscow’s push to encircle the realm.

Gaidai later mentioned a French journalist had been killed by shrapnel that pierced his automobile, and that evacuations from the realm had been halted.

In a televised speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described capturing Sievierodonetsk as “a elementary activity for the occupiers”.

“Some 90% of buildings are broken. Greater than two-thirds of town’s housing inventory has been utterly destroyed,” he mentioned.

Ukraine’s defence ministry mentioned Moscow was additionally attempting to regroup to assault the strategically vital city of Sloviansk, additional west.

EU DEADLOCK

The EU’s newest sanctions bundle has been blocked by landlocked Hungary’s refusal to comply with a ban on imports of Russian oil, which it receives by way of the massive Soviet-era “Friendship” pipeline.

In keeping with a draft textual content reviewed by Reuters – which may nonetheless be modified – the leaders would agree in precept to ban Russian oil, first by sea and in some unspecified time in the future later by way of pipelines, however with dates and particulars ignored.

European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged that settlement had not been reached, however added: “I am assured that thereafter there will likely be a risk.”

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas mentioned a deal on the subsequent summit, set for June 23-24, was “the sensible method by now”.

The failure has infuriated Kyiv and brought on frustration amongst its largest supporters throughout the EU.

“It is solely cash: the Ukrainians are paying with their lives,” mentioned Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins. “We are able to and we should help them, if solely out of self-interest, as a result of solely when Russia is defeated can we in Europe really feel protected.”

Forward of the summit, German Financial system Minister Robert Habeck expressed fears that EU unity was “beginning to crumble”.

After failing to seize Kyiv in March, Russia introduced that the main focus of its “particular army operation” was now to grab the whole Donbas area, consisting of two provinces, Luhansk and Donetsk, that Moscow claims on behalf of separatist proxies.

Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday mentioned the “liberation” of the Donbas was an “unconditional precedence”.

COUNTERATTACK

Capturing Sievierodonetsk and its twin metropolis Lysychansk on the alternative financial institution of the Siverskyi Donets river would give Russia efficient management of Luhansk province, some extent at which the Kremlin would possibly have the ability to declare some type of victory.

However by focusing its effort on a battle for the one small metropolis – Sievierodonetsk housed solely round 100,000 folks earlier than the struggle – Russia may be leaving different territory open to eventual Ukrainian counterstrikes.

The previous few days have seen preliminary indicators of a possible Ukrainian counteroffensive within the south, the place Moscow is attempting to consolidate its management of Kherson province.

Kyiv says its forces pushed again Russian troops in latest days to defensive positions in three villages – Andriyivka, Lozove and Bilohorka – all positioned on the south financial institution of the Inhulets River that varieties the border of Kherson.

The Institute for the Research of Conflict assume tank mentioned this counterattack to date didn’t seem more likely to retake substantial territory within the close to time period, however may disrupt Russian operations and drive Moscow to strengthen the realm.

French Overseas Minister Catherine Colonna turned the newest Western dignitary to go to Kyiv, visiting a mass grave within the suburb of Bucha, the place lots of of lifeless civilians had been discovered after Russian forces withdrew following their failed assault on the capital in March. Moscow denies focusing on civilians.

Ukrainian prosecutors mentioned they might strive a Russian soldier in absentia for killing a civilian man and raping his spouse in Brovary, one other Kyiv suburb, in March, the primary prosecution of sexual violence by Russian troops.

Kyiv has referred to as on the West to supply longer-range weapons to show the tide within the struggle. Zelenskiy mentioned he anticipated “excellent news” within the coming days. U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned Washington wouldn’t give Ukraine missiles that might be used to assault Russia.