[LIVE] Russian artillery shells Ukrainian positions in the Donbass
In the Donbass near the front line, in Ukraine.
AFP - RONALDO SCHEMIDT
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
On the 87th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this Saturday, May 21, follow live the latest information on the conflict.
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► Moscow has blocked the RFI website, which broadcasts information in fifteen languages including Russian. An alternative URL allows access to the site
in French
and
Russian
.
RFI in Russian is also available on Telegram:
https://t.me/RFI_Ru
via a VPN and in Russia in French via satellite on Hotbird.
► RFI's Russian editorial site broadcasts Ukrainian public radio (in the Ukrainian language) from the
home page.
The main points
:
► Fighting intensifies in Donbass, eastern Ukraine, with the Russian Defense Minister saying
the conquest of the Luhansk region is almost complete
.
In this region,
Sievierodonetsk and Lyssytchansk
, now encircled by Russian forces, constitute the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance.
► The Russian army claims to have "
completely liberated " the
Azovstal
steel plant
in the strategic city of
Mariupol
, after the surrender of the last Ukrainian soldiers present there.
► "
I am sincerely sorry
," said Vadim Chichimarine, the 21-year-old Russian soldier who has been appearing in a Ukrainian court since Wednesday for
killing a civilian
.
On Thursday, the prosecution had requested life imprisonment.
The verdict is expected on Monday.
Times are given in Universal Time (UT), click
here
to refresh
4:10 am: The Pentagon spokesperson joins the White House
The most familiar face of the Pentagon, its spokesman John Kirby, will join the National Security Council (NSC), within the White House, announced Friday evening the American presidency.
He will hold the position of strategic communications coordinator.
"
John understands well the complexities of United States foreign and defense policies, and he will ably represent the government on important national security issues
," President Joe Biden said in the White House statement.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, John Kirby has gained momentum within the Biden administration thanks to his daily press briefings, broadcast live on television.
"
There just isn't another communicator like him anywhere
," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a separate statement.
By joining the National Security Council, this former career sailor, promoted to the rank of rear admiral, will work in a highly strategic cell for the United States.
Within the White House, the NSC is the group that assists the President with international affairs.
04:00: "Intense fire" on the Donbass
After failing to take kyiv and Kharkiv, the second Ukrainian city (northeast), Russia is concentrating its military efforts in the east and south.
Moscow seeks in particular to completely conquer the Donbass, partially controlled since 2014 by pro-Russian separatists.
"
The Russian occupation forces are conducting intense fire along the entire front line
," Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motouzianyk said, adding that the situation "
showed signs of worsening
."
“
The enemy is constantly carrying out offensive operations in the eastern operational zone in order to establish full control of the territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and to maintain the land corridor with temporarily occupied Crimea
,” the state said. -major of the Ukrainian forces on Facebook on Saturday morning.
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Day to day war in Ukraine
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On the same subject
WAR IN UKRAINE - DAY 86
The day Russia 'fully liberated' the Mariupol Azovstal plant