Ukraine, Slovyansk-Russia withdrew its troops from its strategically located Black Sea island on Thursday. The last breakwater ofUkraineresistance in the eastern province of Luhansk.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said it had withdrawn its troops from Zmiinyi Island off the port of Odesa in the Black Sea of Ukraine, as described as a "good faith gesture." Ukrainian troops said the Russians fled the island on two speedboats following the barrage of Ukrainian cannons and missile strikes.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the withdrawal "did not hinder the United Nations' efforts to establish a humanitarian corridor for the Russian Federation to steal agricultural products from its territory.
Ukraine and Western nations have accused Russians of blocking Ukrainian ports to prevent grain exports and contributed to the global food crisis. Russia denied the accusations and accused Ukraine of needing to remove mines from the Black Sea to enable safe voyages.
Turkey sought to mediate a deal to lift the block on grain exports from Ukraine, but expressed concern that Russia could use the deal to launch an attack on Odesa. Negotiations were prolonged without signs of rapid progress with Kieu.
Russia wanted to control an island on a busy route on the first day of the war, use it to control the region, and use it as a stage for an attack on Odesa.
The island has become a symbol of Ukraine's resistance to the Russian invasion when requested by Russian warships to surrender or face bombardment. The answer was "Russian warship", "I (curse) myself".
Ukrainian defenders on the island were captured by the Russians, but later released as part of a prisoner exchange.
Since the occupation of the island, Ukrainian troops have relentlessly bombarded the small Russian garrison and air defense assets stationed there.
On Thursday, east of Ukraine, Moscow continued its push to control the entire Donbus region. It focuses on the city of Lysychansik, the last remaining Ukrainian fortress in Luhansk Oblast. Russian troops and their separatist allies control 95% of Luhansk and about half of Donetsk. Donetsk is the two states that make up the most Russian-speaking Donbas.
The Ukrainian General Staff said Russian troops had bombarded Lysychans'k and clashed with Ukrainian defenders around an oil refinery on the edge of the city.
Governor Luhansk, Serhii Haidai, said Russian reconnaissance forces attempted to enter Lysychansik on Wednesday but were repulsed by Ukrainian troops. He said the Russians were blocking the highways used to deliver supplies and trying to completely surround the city.
"Russians have put virtually all their efforts into occupying the city," Haidai said.
Regarding his visit to Turkmenistan early Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his goals in Ukraine have not changed since the beginning of the war. He said they were "the liberation of Donbus, the protection of these people, and the creation of conditions that would guarantee the security of Russia itself." He did not mention his original goals of "demilitarizing" and "de-najfying" Ukraine.
He denied that Russia had adjusted its strategy after failing to seize Kyiv in the early stages of the conflict. "As you can see, the troops are moving and have reached the marks set at certain stages of this combat effort. President Putin said at a press conference in Turkmenistan.
Central Ukraine A funeral was to be held on Thursday for some of the 18 people confirmed to have been killed in a Russian missile attack on Monday at Putinchuk's bustling shopping mall. Svitlana Rybalko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian State Emergency Ministry, told AP news agency with 18 bodies, along with investigators, in search of another 20 who remained unknown. He said he had found eight more fragments of the body. It was not immediately clear whether that meant more victims. Many survivors suffered from limb amputation.
After the attack on Mole, Ukrainian President Vladimir Putinsky accused Russia of becoming a "terrorist" nation. On Wednesday, he accused NATO of not accepting or equipping his embarrassed country more fully.
He demands a more modern artillery system and other weapons and provides NATO leaders with the support they need to defeat Russia, or "Russia and yourself. Face the delay in the war between. "
In southern Ukraine, the death toll from a Russian missile strike on Wednesday at Mykolaiv's apartment has risen to six, Governor Vitaliy Kim said. Six more were injured. Mykolaiv is a major port and its occupation, and further west of Odesa, will be key to Russia's purpose to separate Ukraine from the Black Sea coast.
———
Follow AP's coverage of the war athttps://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.