The city of Lysychansk has fallen and the Ukrainian soldiers are withdrawing. Both warring factions report that Ukrainian military are bombing positions in the occupied city of Melitopol. While a Russian freighter with possibly stolen grain is stuck in Turkey, the Kremlin accuses the West of warmongering. The 129th day of the war at a glance.
Kyiv reports withdrawal from Lysychansk
According to their own statements, the Ukrainian armed forces had to withdraw from the city of Lysychansk. A further defense of the city would have had fatal consequences, the military leadership of Ukraine said. In order to save the lives of the Ukrainian soldiers, the decision to withdraw was made. Lysychansk was the last Ukrainian fortress in Luhansk province. In its statement, the General Staff referred to the numerical and material superiority of the Russian army. The Russian Defense Ministry had previously stated that the capture of the strategically important city had "liberated" the entire Donbass region of Luhansk. The Ukrainian army initially denied this.
Ukraine attacks Russian positions in Melitopol
Ukrainian attacks were reported from the Russian-held city of Melitopol in southern Ukraine. Exiled mayor Ivan Fyodorov said in a video address distributed on his Telegram channel that Ukrainian troops had hit a Russian base in the city more than 30 times. The city's Russian military administration confirmed the attack on Melitopol. According to them, several houses were damaged by rocket launcher fire. In addition, a train that brought food from Crimea to the city was shot at.
Turkey seizes Russian grain carrier
According to Ukraine, Turkey detained a Russian-flagged ship carrying Ukrainian grain. The Turkish authorities are fully cooperating with the Ukrainian side, Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar said on Twitter. Reuters reporters saw the freighter "Zhibek Zholy" drop anchor about a kilometer off the Turkish port of Karasu.
Bodnar wrote that the authorities want to decide on their course of action on Monday. Statements from Turkey and Russia were initially not available. Ukraine suspects the illegal export of grain stolen by Russian occupiers and has therefore asked the Turkish authorities to investigate the freighter.
Moscow: Ukraine shells Russian border area
The government in Moscow accused Ukraine of using rockets to attack the Russian border town of Belgorod. The Russian missile defense intercepted "three missiles fired by Ukrainian nationalists at Belgorod," said a spokesman for the Defense Ministry in Moscow. "After the destruction of the Ukrainian missiles, debris from one of them fell on a house." The death toll is said to have risen to four, the governor of the region said. Four other people were injured.
70 diplomats have to leave Bulgaria
Meanwhile, 70 expelled Russian diplomats left the Bulgarian capital Sofia with their families in two special planes. They had been declared "undesirable persons" by the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry. Russia therefore threatened to completely close its embassy in Sofia, which would be unique within the European Union.
Peskow: West prevents peace negotiations
The Kremlin accused the West of preventing peace negotiations with Ukraine and thus prolonging the war. "Now is the moment when Western countries are doing everything they can to continue the war," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on state television. Under the leadership of the United States, the West does not allow the Ukrainians "to think about, talk about, or discuss peace." This is Peskov's reaction to statements by Western politicians that they do not want to press Ukraine into negotiations. At the moment there is apparently no need to calm the situation, the spokesman for President Vladimir Putin suspected.
Steinmeier: No coercion on Ukraine
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke out against urging Ukraine to negotiate an end to the Russian war of aggression. Steinmeier says on ZDF: "Ukraine must regain its sovereignty, its territorial integrity, its independence." The question remains as to how this war and the bloodshed can be ended. At the moment it looks like the decision will be made on the battlefield. However, experience shows that every war ends at the negotiating table. The bottom line is: "We need to put Ukraine in a position where they have something to negotiate by making them strong before negotiations begin."
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