Ukraine War Update: Russia on cusp of major victory; Ukraine reports alarming number of children abductions

by Chris Lange

Chris Lange, FISM News

 

Moscow is poised to claim a major victory in the fight for control of Ukraine’s Donbas region. Ukrainian authorities confirmed that Russian forces have reached the center of Sievierodonetsk and now have control of between 70 and 80% of the industrial city.

It appears unlikely that a U.S. supplied $700 million weapons package, which includes much sought-after advanced rocket systems, will reach Kyiv in time to prevent Moscow from seizing Sievierodonetsk, particularly in light of the fact that the use of the rocket launchers requires training.

The Kremlin said that the latest U.S. weapons shipment has added “fuel to the fire,” as they continue their assault on the Donbas region.  Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the supply of rocket launchers increases the risk of a “third country” being dragged into the conflict in what appeared to be a thinly-veiled threat to Washington.

Sievierodonetsk is one of the few cities in the Russian-backed Donbas region under Ukrainian control and had a pre-war population of 100,000. An estimated 13,000 citizens still sheltering in the city, now without water or electricity, are in increasing peril of being struck by shells or captured by Russian soldiers.

Sievierodonetsk has been pulverized by weeks’-long Russian artillery bombardments. It is unknown at this time how many remaining civilians may have already been killed or wounded.

Russia now occupies about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Luxembourg’s parliament in a video address on Thursday.

“We have to defend ourselves against almost the entire Russian army. All combat-ready Russian military formations are involved in this aggression,” he said, adding that the Russian offensive is spread across more than 620 miles. 

Children abductions

Russian forces have forcibly taken 200,000 orphans and children separated from their families since the beginning of the war, President Zelenskyy said last night in a video address to mark International Children’s Day. 

“The purpose of this criminal policy is not just to steal people but to make those who are deported forget about Ukraine and unable to return,” he said.

The leader also said that 689 children have been injured in Russian attacks since the Feb. 24 invasion, adding, “And these are only those we know about.”

Denmark sends ‘clear signal’ to Moscow with historic vote

Elsewhere, two-thirds of Danish voters cast ballots on Wednesday in support of joining the European Union’s common defense policy, the Associated Press reported. The referendum would see Denmark, already an EU member, abandon a 30-year waiver that allowed it to opt-out of the policy.

Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said Thursday that there are still “a series of formal steps before Denmark can be admitted” to the defense agreement, including approval by the Danish Parliament. Still, the minister appears confident that the referendum will be ratified, saying he expects Denmark to be able to join the common defense policy by July 1.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the vote’s results send “a clear signal” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

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