“If Donbass falls, Kyiv will be in danger.” Both Volodymyr Zelensky and his associates have strongly emphasized that Vladimir Putin will not be confined to the region of eastern Ukraine. If Russian forces prevail in Donbas, they will turn to Kyiv again, as the division of the country is the only issue for the Kremlin. The second is the fall of the Zelensky government, in order to achieve the political goal.
The basis of the Ukrainians’ reasoning has to do with the country’s military forces. A significant percentage of the Ukrainian army is currently in eastern Ukraine to defend its positions on the border with Russia. Donbasstherefore, is the key to developments and possibly to the outcome of military operations.
They are said to be moving in the Kremlin with a similar reasoning. Russian forces have launched a massive offensive in eastern Ukraine with more than 70,000 troops, with 76 armies fully equipped, on a 480-kilometer front that stretches from Crimea to Kharkov.
Another 22 armies are in Mariupol, where they operate for the total occupation of the city and of course of the strategic importance of the port. The Russians believe that if the city of Mariupol falls, a domino effect of the collapse of the Ukrainian forces will begin, which will lead to their total defeat.
The Russians have hit more than 1,000 targets in eastern Ukraine since Monday night, when the second phase of the Donbass attack began, with ground forces intervening and “clearing” the ground after artillery and air bombardment. The fall of Mariupol, Donetsk and Lugansk is considered a matter of time, but the damage will be so great that, according to estimates, these areas will need to be rebuilt from scratch.
Azovstal will fall today, threatens Chechen Kadyrov
THE Ramzan Kadyrovleader of its Russian region Chechnya and an ally of President Vladimir Putin, said that Russian forces will today fully occupy the Azovstal steel plant where the Ukrainian defenders of the besieged Mariupol.
“Today, with the help of the Almighty, we will … fully understand Azovstal,” Kadyrov said in an audio message on his Telegram channel.
Russia has earlier called on Ukrainian forces and foreign fighters stationed at the Azovstal plant to lay down their arms by 12:00 noon Moscow (and Greek time) if they wish to live.
Ultimatum from Moscow to Azovstal fighters: Surrender by noon
Moscow issued a new ultimatum earlier to the defenders of Mariupol. Russia today called on Ukrainian forces and foreign mercenaries to leave the Azovstal steel plant in the besieged city between 14:00 and 16:00 Moscow time (and Greece) “without exception, without any weapons and without ammunition”.
“Everyone who lays down their arms has a guarantee that they will stay alive “, announced the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Earlier in the day, Russian-backed separatists said they were trying to seize control of the steel industry, Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency reported, citing separatist spokesman Edward Basurin.
Chronology for Ukrainian forces to leave Mariupol steelworks proposed by Russia:
– From midday offer to cease hostilities
– From 1pm communication established between 🇷🇺 & 🇺🇦 sides
– From 1:30 pm ceasefire to be declared
– 🇷🇺 raise red flag, 🇺🇦 white
– From 2-4pm exit of cesforces– Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) April 19, 2022
Separatist forces, Russian-backed Azovstal steel plant was attacked by the Russian news agency RIA, citing statements made today by separatist spokesman Edward Basurin.
The separatists aim to “liberate” the plant as soon as possible, said another separatist, Dennis Pushilin, according to RIA.
No humanitarian corridors will be opened for the evacuation of civilians
No humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians from war zones will be opened in Ukraine today, without an agreement with the Russian side, for the third consecutive day, said in the meantime the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Irina Verestsuk. |
“Unfortunately, today, April 19, there will be no humanitarian corridors. Heavy bombardment continues in Donbass,” in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces launched a major offensive in Kyiv on Monday, Verestsuk told Telegram.
Concerning Mariupol, “The Russians refuse to open a corridor for the exit of civilians in the direction of Berdyansk,” Verestsuk added.
“We are continuing the difficult negotiations for humanitarian corridors in the regions of Kherson (south) and Kharkiv (east),” the Ukrainian official said.
Fortified in the factory Azovstal metallurgical plant, the last Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol are fighting against a far superior opponent.
In a dramatic statement posted on Facebook, the commander of the 36th Marine Brigade in Mariupol, trying to keep the Russians out of it, described the dramatic conditions in the besieged city.
He called on the West to send heavy weapons, which will strengthen the Ukrainian army’s efforts against “overwhelmingly enemy forces and continuous airstrikes.”
According to credible military analysts, the number of defenders in Mariupol does not exceed a few hundred.
The British Ministry of Defense, however, commented that “the Russian commanders will be worried about the time it will take to subdue Mariupol”. He added that the coordinated Ukrainian resistance had severely tested Russian forces, delaying the advance of Putin’s forces into other parts of Ukraine.
According to Mariupol police official Michael Versinin, there are about 100,000 people left in the city, when before the war it had about 400,000 inhabitants.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the launch of a major Russian military offensive in eastern Ukrainereferring to the “Battle of Donbass”, part of which is under the control of pro-Russian separatists.
“We can now say that the Russian troops have started the battle of Donbass, for which they have been preparing for a long time. “A very large part of the Russian army is now focused on this attack.”Zelensky said in a video message to the Telegram.
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