Update from Ukraine | Ruzzia missed drones close to Moscow

ARTICLE

Ukraine says the partial evacuation from Kupiansk was ordered due to “constant” Russian shelling
BBC
Oliver Slow
3-3-2023 6:30 a.m. EST
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64833750

Ukraine has ordered some residents to leave Kupiansk, as Russia seeks to re-take the city it left last year.

Kharkiv’s regional authorities said families with children and people “with limited mobility” must leave due to “constant” shelling by Russian forces.

Russia seized the north-eastern city early in the full-scale invasion, with Ukraine recapturing it last September.

Meanwhile, Russian mercenaries say they have “practically encircled” the key city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.

The comments were made by Yevgeniy Prigozhin, who heads the paramilitary Wagner group.

In its latest news bulletin, Ukraine’s military said Russian troops continued their offensive on Bakhmut - but the attacks were “repelled”.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted the situation in Bakhmut - about 130km (80 miles) south-east of Kupiansk - was becoming “more and more difficult”.

In Kupiansk, the Kharkiv regional military administration said on Thursday the evacuation order was due to the “unstable security situation” caused by Russian shelling.

It said those evacuated would be provided with assistance, including accommodation, food, humanitarian aid and medical support.

Other citizens were also permitted to leave the region, it added. The city had a pre-war population of around 25,000.

The military said 812 children are currently registered in Kupiansk and the surrounding district, as well as 724 disabled people.

The Institute for the Study of War said this week that Russian forces were continuing “limited ground attacks” north-east of Kupiansk, as well as offensive operations around Kreminna, about 80km south-east.

Kupiansk - home to an important railway junction - has witnessed fierce fighting since the war began, with Russia taking control in a matter of days, and occupying the city for several months.

However, in September Ukrainian forces took back control amid a rapid counter-attack in the country’s north-east that saw almost entire of the Kharkiv region brought under Kyiv’s control.

Those advances - and the liberation of the southern city of Kherson - were the most significant front-line changes since Russia withdrew from areas around Kyiv in April.

Last month, Ukraine warned that Russia was preparing a major new offensive, with officials saying Moscow has amassed thousands of troops on Ukraine’s eastern flank.

And Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov warned a month ago that Russia could “try something” to mark the anniversary of the full-scale invasion on 24 February.

But that apparent escalation has not translated into major successes on the battlefield, despite apparent advances around Kupiansk and Bakhmut.

In a video posted on Telegram, Mr Prigozhin, head of the paramilitary group Wagner, on Friday said that “pincers are closing in” around Bakhmut.

And in a direct message to President Zelensky, he said Wagner units had “practically encircled” the city, with only one road remaining. He called on the Ukrainian president to abandon the city.

In a separate development on Friday, Vladimir Putin is chairing a meeting with the country’s top security officials.

ARTICLE REPORT from: Генеральний штаб ЗСУ / General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
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-Operational information as of 18.00 03.03.2023 on the Russian invasion

-Glory to Ukraine! Three hundred seventy-third era of Russian wide-scale invasion is ongoing.

-During the day, the enemy fired 30 air and 6 missile strikes, fired more than 20 shelling from battalion-fire jet systems, including civilian infrastructure.

-The threat of the task of the Russian Federation of Missile Strikes remains high throughout Ukraine.

-The enemy focuses the main efforts on the offensive in the Kupyan, Limansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdiiv and Shakhtar directions.

In Volyn, Polísʹkomu, síversʹkomu and slobožansʹkomu directions operational environment without significant changes. The opponent continues to hold designated units in the border areas with Ukraine. During the past day, the enemy carried out mortar and artillery shelling at settlements of Medvedivka, Chernihiv region; Sobki, Bachivsk, Ulanove, Starikove, Athenske, Pavlivka, Ryasne Sumy region and districts of about 10 settlements in Kharkiv region. Among them are Strelecha, Starytsya, Vovchansk, Budarki, Ambarne.

In the Kupyan and Limansky directions, the opponent continued to lead offensive actions in the areas of the settlements of Belogorivka Luhansk region and Spirne Donetsk region, without success. He carried out artillery shelling of settlements near the line of collision. Among them are Dvorichna, Kupiansk, Krokhmalne of Kharkiv region; Makiyivka, Kreminna, Dibrova and Bílogorivka - Luhansk and Siversk and Rozdolivka of Donetsk region.

In the Bakhmutsʹkomu direction, the opponent does not leave an attempt to surround the city of Bakhmut. During the day, our defenders were repelled by numerous attacks in the areas of the settlements of Vasyukívka, Dubovo-Vasilivka and Bakhmut Donetsk region. Enemy shellings were suffered by the areas of settlements that are next to the area of combat, including Fedorivka, Orikhovo-Vasilivka, Dubovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Ivanívske, Stupočki, Klí облаvka, Kurdyumivka, Ozaryanivka, Dilievka, Majorsk and Northern Donetsk region.

In the Avdiivka and Shakhtar directions, the opponent unsuccessfully attacked the positions of our troops near the settlements of Krasnogorívka, Kamyanka, Avdiivka, Maryinka and Pobeda. He carried out artillery and mortar shelling in the areas of almost 20 settlements. Among them are Vesele, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Victory, Novomikhailivka, Vodâne, Vugledar and Great Novosilka of Donetsk region.

In Zaporizhzhya and Kherson directions, the opponent leads defense, trying to improve the tactical position to recover the offense. He carried out artillery shelling of 15 settlements. In particular, this is Vremivka, Novosílka, Green Field of Donetsk region; Gulyajpole, Railway and Kamiansʹke Zaporizhzhia region; Berislav, Cossack, Bilozerka and Dniprovsk of Kherson region and the city of Kherson, as well as the city of Ochakov in Mykolaiv region. There are dead and wounded among the civilians.

In Luhansk region, the so-called occupation authorities continue to put pressure on the local population, including the least protected communities. In the settlements of the Svativ district, immigrants deprived people of the opportunity to receive pensions and other social payments by shutting down ATMs. Pensioners and other categories of the population in need of social security are offered to receive cash payments on selected days. However, because of such an organization, people mostly physically cannot receive money.

The Defense Forces aviation struck 5 strikes in the areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment of the occupiers in a day. Also our defenders shot down the enemy plane su-34 and bpla type “Zala”.

Missile troops and artillery units during the day hit the control point, 3 enemy focus areas, ammunition warehouse, 2 PMM warehouses and the enemy REB station.

Support the armed forces! Bringing victory closer together!

Glory to Ukraine!

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