On the 127th day of the conflict, the American president announced new military aid while the Russian army abandoned a strategic island.
In the Donbass in the East, Russia closes its pincers on the Ukrainian forces in Lisichansk and also announces that it is holding "
more than 6,000
" Ukrainian prisoners of war.
To discover
Follow information on the war in Ukraine with the Figaro application
$800 million announced by Joe Biden
US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday at the conclusion of a NATO summit in Madrid that the United States would deliver to Ukraine new military aid representing "
more than 800 million dollars
" in anti-aircraft defense , artillery and other equipment.
This new aid will be detailed “
in the coming days
”, explained Joe Biden in a speech.
Read alsoJoe Biden promises missiles to the Ukrainian army
Joe Biden also assured that the United States will support Ukraine "
as long as it takes
".
"
We will stand by Ukraine and the whole Alliance will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes to ensure they are not defeated by Russia
," he said.
Russian army withdraws from Serpents' Island
Earlier in the day, the Russian army announced that it had withdrawn from Serpents' Island, a strategic position in the Black Sea conquered by Moscow and which has been under Ukrainian bombardment in recent weeks.
She claims to have done so "
as a sign of goodwill
", the "
objectives set
" on the spot having been "
accomplished
" according to her.
This gesture should facilitate the export of cereals from Ukraine by the Black Sea, had also justified the spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Igor Konashenkov.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: the Russian withdrawal from Serpents' Island, a Ukrainian victory with uncertain military consequences
The Ukrainian army, for its part, congratulated itself on having forced the Russians, "
unable to resist the fire of our artillery
", to withdraw from Snake Island, a "
strategic
" territory in the Black Sea, occupied since the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
For the head of Ukrainian diplomacy, Dmytro Kouleba, the Russians are trying to "
minimize their defeat, as usual
", he reacted on Twitter.
Russian forces press Lisichansk to the east
On June 25, in the Donbass, the Russians took the town of Sieverdonetsk and it is today in the adjacent town of Lisichansk that the Ukrainian forces risk being surrounded in a “
cauldron
”.
If this city fell in turn, the Russians would control the entire oblast (region, Ed) of Lugansk.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, the fighting in the city of Lisichansk is concentrated around its oil refinery, 10km south-west of the city center.
The ground counter-attacks launched by Ukraine in recent weeks have so far failed to put Russian forces in real danger.
North of the Donbass, the Ukrainians maintain constant pressure in the Kharkiv region above the Russian device, but without being able to maneuver in depth against the opposing forces.
The same is true in southern Ukraine in the Kherson region, despite the recovery of some territories.
Read alsoMap of the war in Ukraine: on the 127th day, Russia presses Lisichansk in the East and abandons Serpents' Island in the West
Russia claims to hold "
more than 6,000 prisoners
"
Russia claims to hold “
more than 6,000
” Ukrainian prisoners of war and confirms that it has exchanged 144 Ukrainian fighters for as many Russians and pro-Russian separatists.
Figures that cannot be independently verified.
“
Almost all (Russian and pro-Russian fighters) who have been released are injured or seriously injured.
They are already receiving the necessary medical care,
” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.
