Ukrainian forces must go away key japanese metropolis, Luhansk governor says; retired Russian main captured

A Russian pilot shot down and captured by Ukrainian forces confessed to being a retired main of his nation’s air power, Britain’s Ministry of Defense wrote in its every day intelligence replace. The pilot had joined Russia’s army contracting group Wagner and flown a number of missions in Ukraine, the replace stated, citing Ukrainian forces.

“The use of retired personnel, now working as Wagner contractors, to conduct close air support missions indicates that the Russian air force likely is struggling to support the invasion of Ukraine with sufficient aircrew,” stated the intelligence replace, printed in a collection of tweets.

“This is likely due to a combination of Russia’s insufficient numbers of suitably trained personnel and its combat losses.”

The Russian pilot “reportedly used commercial GPS devices rather than Russian military navigation equipment” whereas flying his missions, the Ministry of Defense added.

— Natasha Turak

Ukrainian troops preventing a brutal battle for the strategically essential metropolis of Severodonetsk in japanese Ukraine “will have to be withdrawn,” Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Haidai stated on Ukrainian TV.

“Remaining in positions smashed to pieces over many months just for the sake of staying there does not make sense,” he stated. Ukrainian forces have misplaced large numbers of troops, as have Russian forces, in devastating preventing over a key territory that’s one among two remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities in Luhansk, which is a part of the japanese Donbas area that Russia has known as an “unconditional priority” in its army pursuit.

Haidai added that Ukrainian troops have, nevertheless, pushed again an offensive on the outskirts of Lysychansk, the opposite remaining Ukrainian-controlled metropolis in Luhansk.

— Natasha Turak

The Biden administration introduced a thirteenth safety help bundle for Ukraine price $450 million.

“This package contains weapons and equipment including new high mobility artillery rocket systems, tens of thousands of additional rounds of ammunition for the artillery systems that have already been provided, as well as patrol boats to help Ukraine defend its coast and its waterways,” stated National Security Council spokesman John Kirby at a every day White House press briefing.

The help bundle consists of the next, in response to a Pentagon launch:

• 4 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HMARS
• 36,000 rounds of 105 mm ammunition
• 18 tactical automobiles to tow 155 mm artillery
• 1,200 grenade launchers
• 2,000 machine weapons
• 18 coastal and riverine patrol boats
• Spare elements and different tools

The newest safety bundle brings the U.S. dedication to $6.1 billion since Russia invaded Ukraine.

 — Amanda Macias

European Union leaders granted the nations of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia candidate standing to affix the bloc, a major step on the lengthy street to EU membership. The three nations utilized for European Union membership in early March.

“Your countries are part of our European family. And today’s historic decision by leaders confirms that,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated in a tweet.

Ukrainian President Voldomyry Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter that he was grateful for the assist from European Union leaders.

Meanwhile, Kosovo and North Macedonia, amongst others, await their membership functions to progress.

 — Amanda Macias