The battle for Sieverodonetsk continues. For President Zelensky, the battle for the eastern Ukrainian city is crucial for the struggle for Donbass. Meanwhile, Poland's President has criticized Scholz and Macron for their phone calls with Kremlin chief Putin.
Large part of Sieverodonetsk in Russian hands
President Zelenskyj described the battle for Sievjerodonetsk as a landmark for the struggle in the east of the country. "Syeverodonetsk remains the epicenter of the clashes in Donbass," he said in a video message. The Ukrainian military is inflicting noticeable losses on the enemy there. "This is a very brutal and difficult battle. Perhaps one of the most difficult of this war (...) In many ways the fate of our Donbass will be decided there."
After heavy fighting, the Russian army controls most of Sievarodonetsk. This was announced by the governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Hajday, in his Telegram channel. "As for the industrial zone, that's where our defenders are. But the fighting doesn't just go on in the industrial zone - the fighting is happening in the city." However, the situation in the industrial zone is not like in the city of Mariupol, where the fighting took place directly in the Azovstal plant. "As of today, there is no danger of encirclement," said Hajdaj.
Poland's President criticizes Scholz and Macron
Meanwhile, Polish President Duda criticized Chancellor Scholz and French President Macron for continuing talks with Putin. "These talks are useless," said Duda in a "Bild" interview. The situation is similar to that of Adolf Hitler in World War II. "And did anyone talk to Adolf Hitler that way during World War II?" Duda asked. "Did someone say that he has to save face? That one has to do it in such a way that it is not humiliating for Adolf Hitler?" He doesn't know such voices.
Ukraine and Russia trade more bodies
According to authorities in Kyiv, Ukraine and Russia handed over the bodies of 50 soldiers to the other side. According to the Ukrainian Ministry for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories in Kyiv, 37 "heroes" who took part in the defense of the Azovstal plant were among the Ukrainians killed. The fighters held the fort at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol until Kyiv gave up the city in May. According to Ukrainian sources, the exchange took place along the front line in the Zaporizhia region in the south of the country.
Authorities report killed civilians in Donetsk
According to the authorities, several civilians were killed or wounded in attacks on Ukrainian locations. Donetsk Oblast Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko blamed Russia for four dead and five injured in the government-held part of the region in the east of the country. "The situation remains difficult. The front line is under constant fire," said Kyrylenko. The Ukrainian army spoke of seven repelled Russian attacks in the Donbass. 31 fighters were killed and several armored vehicles were destroyed. The Russian military destroyed about 20 houses as well as two schools and a train station when shelling Ukrainian locations. The information is not independently verifiable.
Ukrainian envoy expects EU candidate status
After talks in Berlin, Zelenskyy's special envoy for EU accession prospects expressed confidence that his country will receive candidate status for the European Union. If the EU Commission makes a corresponding recommendation in the coming week, he assumes that the 27 member states will agree at their summit meeting on June 23rd and 24th in Brussels, said the Minister for Regional Development, Oleksiy Tschernyschow. He also expects approval from Germany. The federal government has so far been reluctant. It usually takes many years from candidate status to EU membership.
Moscow criticizes members of the Arctic Council
Because of the war, Russia remains isolated in the Arctic Council. "We intend a limited resumption of our work in the Arctic Council on projects that do not involve the participation of the Russian Federation," said the remaining members Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Canada, Norway and the US. At the beginning of March, the governments of the countries announced that they were suspending their participation in Council activities. Russia currently chairs the Arctic Council. The body is considered the most important forum for cooperation in the region around the North Pole. Germany has observer status. "Decisions made on behalf of the Arctic Council that are adopted without our country are illegitimate and violate the intended principle of consensus," criticized Russia's Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov.
That brings the day
You can read all further developments in our live ticker on the Ukraine war.
