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Russian forces miss precision-guided missiles and bomb indiscriminately
In the latest intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine, the British Ministry of Defense said that the eastern city of Severodonetsk is still witnessing fierce street fighting, and it is likely that the Ukrainian and Russian sides will suffer a large number of casualties.
Defense Ministry reports indicated that Russian forces have not yet made progress in the south of the city. She added that Russia is using heavy artillery fire and air strikes, in an attempt to overcome the Ukrainian defenses.
The British Ministry of Defense revealed that Russia suffers from a shortage of modern, more accurate missiles, and is resorting to the use of heavy anti-ship missiles to strike land targets in Ukraine, and these missiles are primarily designed to destroy enemy aircraft carriers using a nuclear warhead.
When used in a ground attack with a conventional warhead, these missiles are highly inaccurate and can therefore cause significant collateral damage and civilian casualties.
The future of the global system
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed that the outcome of the war in his country will affect not only Ukraine, but the future of the international system.
“The future rules for managing the world on the battlefields currently underway in Ukraine are being defined,” Zelensky said.
Speaking via a video link at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, he added that his country is seeking to expel the Russians from the areas it controlled since the beginning of the war.
He stressed that the Ukrainian forces are defending strongly to repel the fierce Russian attacks in the east of the country, especially around the city of Severodonetsk.
Referring to the support provided so far from the West and allies in Asia, Zelensky said it was critical that countries sending aid not be late.
Zelensky also noted that Russia is still closing ports in the Black and Azov seas, preventing Ukrainian food exports to the world market,
“If we are not able to export our food, the world will face an acute and severe food crisis and famine in many countries, especially countries in Asia and Africa,” he added.
Express admission into the union
Despite the intense fighting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Ukraine on Saturday to talk with President Zelensky about his country’s bid for EU candidate status.
Kyiv is pressing the EU countries for quick admission, but there are warnings from EU officials and leaders that the road to membership is long, and may take years or decades.
picture released, Getty Images
Russia is focusing its heavy bombardment on the city of Severodonetsk in the east of the country
Ukraine sees the prospect of joining the European Union as a way to reduce its geopolitical vulnerability, which was exposed by the Russian war within its borders.
“We will assess with the president the joint work required for reconstruction and Ukraine’s progress on its European path,” von der Leyen tweeted upon her arrival in Kyiv.
She told a group of journalists traveling with her that the discussions “will feed into our assessment” of Ukraine’s willingness to be a candidate country to begin protracted negotiations, including the required reforms.
She said she would reveal “soon” the assessment prepared by her committee.
European Union commissioners and officials are expected to consider Ukraine’s offer next week, ahead of the June 23-24 summit that is likely to address the matter.