China News Service, April 20 (Xinhua) According to a comprehensive report, on the 19th local time, Russia launched a new offensive in eastern Ukraine, attacking many targets in the Donbass, and the Ukrainian side claimed to have repelled some of its initial attacks.
At the same time, military aid from the United States and other countries is arriving in Ukraine one after another, and Canada has also announced an increase in the sanctions list against Russia.
Russia announced the expulsion of 36 European diplomats in response to similar moves by those countries against Russian diplomats.
Data map: On March 2, local time, the vicinity of the police station building in Kharkiv, Ukraine was attacked by artillery fire, and a fire broke out on the roof of the police station building.
Win the next city: the Russian army starts a new offensive in the east of Uzbekistan
According to the latest battle situation reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on the 19th, the Russian army launched an offensive on a 480-kilometer front in eastern Ukraine as part of a major Russian military operation that Ukraine called a "new phase of the war".
On the same day, Sergei Gede, a Ukrainian official in Luhansk, said at a press conference that Kreminna is currently under Russian control and that Russian troops have entered the city.
Singapore's "Lianhe Zaobao" said that the city of Crimena is located about 574 kilometers southeast of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, with a population of 18,000.
According to Reuters, the city appears to be the first to be captured by Russia in a new offensive in the east of Uzbekistan.
As the Russians attacked multiple targets in the Donbass, Ukraine said it had repelled seven different Russian attacks in several battles, destroying 10 tanks and 18 armored vehicles.
In addition, Russia continues to demand the "surrender" of Ukrainian forces holding on to the Azov steel plant in Mariupol.
However, the new deadline set by the Russian army has passed, and there is no news of the "surrender" of the Ukrainian army.
Data map: On March 6, local time, residents of Mariupol, Donbas region, were evacuated from the humanitarian corridor.
Pressure on Russia: US, UK and Canada will provide Ukraine with a new round of military aid
On the 19th local time, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada said that they would provide Ukraine with more artillery weapons.
On the same day, US President Biden held a video conference with British Prime Minister Johnson, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and other leaders to discuss how to deal with the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Several people familiar with the matter also said that Biden is expected to announce a new round of military aid to Ukraine in the next few days, which will be comparable to last week's $800 million in military aid.
At present, part of a batch of $800 million in military aid approved by Biden last week has arrived in Ukraine.
These include 11 MI-17 helicopters, more than 300 Switchblade drones, 155mm howitzers and other heavy equipment.
A U.S. defense official said more planes would land in Ukraine in the next 24 hours with weapons.
Data map: On March 8, local time, US President Biden signed an executive order at the White House announcing that the United States banned the import of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas and coal due to the Ukraine issue.
The picture shows Biden at the White House on the 8th.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Chen Mengtong
Reciprocal response: Russia expels 36 European diplomats
While the situation in Russia and Ukraine is anxious, the "diplomatic war" between the United States, Europe and other countries and Russia is also continuing.
On the 19th local time, Canada announced to increase the sanctions list against Russia. Among the 14 newly added sanctions targets, the two daughters of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the wife and daughter of Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov.
Meanwhile, Russia announced the expulsion of 36 European diplomats in response to similar moves by those countries to Russian diplomats.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that the Russian side declared 21 staff members of the Belgian Embassy in Russia "persona non grata" and asked them to leave Russia before May 3.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also declared 14 staff members of the Dutch embassy in Russia and a staff member of the Dutch consulate general in St. Petersburg "persona non grata" and asked them to leave Russia within two weeks.
In addition, Russia summoned Luxembourg's envoy and warned that it could take reciprocal measures against the country's expulsion of the Moscow ambassador.