Ukraine starts exporting electricity to the EU – troops in Lysychansk threatened by encirclement

Created: 07/01/2022, 07:55

While Ukraine is celebrating the recapture of Snake Island, the noose in Lysychansk is tightening for the soldiers.

The events of the night.

Kyiv - While Russia continues to play off its military superiority in the Ukraine war in the east, Kyiv is celebrating the recapture of Snake Island in the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the start of exports of Ukrainian electricity to the EU grid.

At least 14 people were killed when a rocket hit an apartment building in the Odessa area.

Zelenskyy: Recapture of Snake Island "significantly changes situation in Black Sea"

Russia's withdrawal from Snake Island puts Ukraine in a better position, Zelensky said.

"Snake Island is a strategic point and that significantly changes the situation in the Black Sea," he said in his daily video speech on Friday night.

This significantly restricts the freedom of action of the Russian military in the Ukraine conflict - even if this does not guarantee security.

Russia occupied Snake Island shortly after attacking Ukraine on February 24.

The fact that the few Ukrainian soldiers in front of it obscenely recommended the later sunk Russian cruiser "Moskva" to go to hell made the small island famous and boosted the morale of the Ukrainians.

The reconquest of the island is also a symbolic success for them.

Ukraine war: 14 dead in rocket attack near Odessa

According to the Ukrainian military, Snake Island allows control over parts of Ukraine's coast and shipping lanes.

With the Russians withdrawing from the island, the area around the port city of Odessa need not fear a landing by Russian units from the sea.

However, air strikes remain possible, as the Russian military demonstrated a few hours after withdrawing from Snake Island.

At least 14 people were killed in an apartment building in a rocket attack in the Odessa region, according to Ukrainian sources.

30 were injured, including children.

The rocket destroyed part of the nine-storey building, said the head of the local military administration, Serhiy Brachuk.

A fire broke out after the attack.

The missile was fired from a Russian military aircraft over the Black Sea.

The information could not be independently verified.

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Ukraine-News: Fighting for Lysychansk continues

A tank of the Ukrainian Armed Forces drives in Lysychansk.

© IMAGO/Alex Chan Tsz Yuk

In the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk, the pro-government troops in Lysychansk say they are under acute threat of being surrounded.

The refinery, located almost seven kilometers west of the city, was fought over, the general staff said.

According to reports, Russian troops were able to take control of parts of it.

At the same time, armed forces from the south were advancing on the city, and fighting was also going on on the western and southern city limits.

The refinery has already been portrayed as completely conquered in the Russian media.

Lysychansk is the last major town in the Luhansk region under Ukrainian control.

In the end, he could only be supplied with supplies via a few supply routes from the west.

In the neighboring Donetsk region, Russian advances near Sloviansk and Bakhmut had been repelled, the general staff said.

Along the entire front line, Ukrainian positions would be continuously shelled with artillery and bombarded from the air.

"The superiority of the occupiers in terms of firepower is extremely noticeable," said Zelenskyj on the situation in the east.

Russia draws on its reserves for this.

Ukraine feeds electricity into the EU grid

According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine has started to export electricity to the EU.

"An important stage in our rapprochement with the European Union has been reached," said Zelenskyy in a video message on Thursday evening.

Ukraine "has started to export electricity to the territory of the EU via Romania in a significant way." This is "only the first stage.

We are preparing an increase in deliveries.”

"Ukrainian electricity can replace a significant part of the Russian gas consumed by Europeans," said the President.

"It's not just about export earnings for us, it's a question of security for all of Europe."

War in Ukraine: Steinmeier calls Selenskyj again

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called Selenskyj again.

The conversation lasted about an hour, according to the Federal President's Office.

Among other things, Steinmeier congratulated Ukraine on its EU accession candidate status.

Zelenskyj said he thanked for the support already given.

At the same time he "re-described our priorities - the types of weapons that we need".

Selenskyj and Steinmeier spoke on the phone for the first time at the beginning of May and cleared up previous irritations.

These arose after the Ukrainian side had uninvited Steinmeier as foreign minister in mid-April, referring to his previous Russia policy.

The start of the Russian train connection between Crimea and occupied territories has been postponed

Russia postponed the start of a train service announced for Friday between the Crimean Peninsula, annexed in 2014, and the war-occupied Ukrainian cities of Cherson and Melitopol.

The pro-Russian Crimean authorities referred to security concerns.

However, bus connections should be available as announced.

Russia is attempting, among other things, to cement its control over the areas occupied during the war by issuing Russian passports and introducing the ruble as its currency.