The fighting in eastern Ukraine continues, with Russian forces pounding key locations.
Here are the latest developments.
* A Russian missile has struck Kyiv, Ukraine for the first since April
Severodonetsk, a city in eastern Russia, has been consolidated by Russian forces
* Russian troops continue to attack Ukrainian positions north-west of Kharkiv
Shelling has hit Ukrainian positions in the South
Eastern cities heavily bombarded
Russian officials have stated that their forces are fighting to “completely liberate” the Donbas. This refers to the eastern regions of Ukraine, Donetsk & Luhansk where Russian-backed separatists previously held significant territory.
The Russians have made significant but slow advances in the east at the cost heavy losses both of troops and equipment.
In the last week, Russian forces took over the eastern city Severodonetsk. They now control almost the entire Luhansk Region.
On Sunday morning, Russian cruise-missiles were fired in areas far away from the frontline.
The Institute for the Study of War reports that, following the capture of Severodonetsk by Russian forces, they are now attacking the nearby city of Lysychansk.
The MoD reports that Russian forces continue to launch attacks from Izyum towards Slovyansk, in an effort to regain momentum.
The MoD states that Russia has likely suffered devastating losses amongst its junior and middle ranking officers. These losses will likely contribute to a lack of discipline and a loss in morale among lower ranks, says the MoD. A significant amount of Russian weapons were also destroyed.
According to the ISW, further north, Russian units are fighting for control of advantageous defensive positions north from Kharkiv, and are trying to protect ground communication lines to the Donbas.
Russia aims to control the entire south
Russian forces made rapid gains initially in the south. Their main objective was to create a land corridor connecting Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, with areas held by Russian-backed rebels in Donetsk or Luhansk.
The Russian advance was significantly slowed by the strong resistance of Ukrainian forces in Mariupol and near Mykolaiv, in the west.
After a siege that lasted more than two months, the Russians now have full control over Mariupol. About 100,000 people remain in the city.
Russian troops continue to shell Ukrainian positions in the southern regions of Zaporizhia and Kherson as well as Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Dnipropetrovsk.
ISW reports that Russia’s priority in the south at this time is to stop Ukrainian counterattacks which have been successful in regaining territory in recent weeks.
In March, a Ukrainian counteroffensive forced Russia’s forces back to Kherson after they were repelled by a strong defense in Mykolaiv.
Analysts claim that Russia has continued to strengthen Snake Island with air defenses to protect its naval ships blocking the Ukrainian coast. This is to prevent the resumption or trade.
The Russians have not attempted to occupy or take over any areas in the west, including Lviv.
US Unveils New Russia Sanctions, Outlines G7 Plans
The United States government took several actions against Russia on February 2, including sanctioning those who it claims support Russia’s defence industrial base, designating Russian units for human rights violations in Ukraine, and implementing a new ban on imports of Russian Gold.
The latest moves were taken in response to Russia’s months-long conflict in Ukraine, and came after G7 leaders met in Germany to agree to steps, such as the gold import prohibition, that would weaken Moscow.
The US Treasury Department issued a statement in which it announced sanctions against 70 entities. These included State Corporation Rostec, “a massive Russian enterprise formed to consolidate Russia’s technological, aeronautical, and military-industrial know-how”, and its key holdings, affiliates, and 29 Russian individuals.
Rachel Rizzo, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council Europe Center, told CNN the imposition of sanctions on Rostec was significant, pointing out that it is “basically the foundation of Russia’s defense industrial base.”
She said, “It is a huge state-owned enterprise that has different sections for tech, aerospace and military industrial expertise.” “The company subsidiaries are basically involved in a wide range of industries, such as auto, defense, and metals.
Rizzo said that if we can stop Russia from being able to export, import and sell in these different sectors, which then helps Russia to fund and continue the war against Ukraine.
She did note, however, that she does “not believe that any of the sanctions we are implementing is meant to deter Russia at the very near-term.”
The Treasury Department renamed the so called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic, two pro-Russian separatist areas of Ukraine that are recognized as independent by Moscow. They also sanctioned Vitaliy Pavolovich Khotsenko who is the “newly appointed chairperson of so-called DNR government” and six individuals “who are or have been high-level officials in the DNR and LNR governments.”
In a separate announcement Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the State Department was imposing sanction on 45 entities and 29, and moving to impose Visa restrictions “on 511 Russian officers for threatening, violating Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence,” as well as “on 18 Russian citizens in relation to the suppression dissent, which includes politically motivated detentions.”
State Department sanctioned 19 members of Rostec’s board of directors and nine of their spouses and adult children. Halyna Danylchenko was also named as “the illegitimate Russia installed’mayor'” of Melitopol, who, according to the State Department, “was installed by Russia after the kidnapping the democratically elected Mayor of Melitopol.”
Blinken stated that the Department of State also designates Russian military units which have been credibly implicated by human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian laws as part of its commitment to promote accountability for the atrocities committed in Ukraine.
By Ana Dumbadze
Read More @ georgiatoday.ge