Bombed...rescuers are there’
the city would be a “big prize” in Putin’s war.
He said: “You would expect to see, based on the success in Kherson, that the Russian forces that are on the coast would now be prone to move further west and it is entirely plausible they would then put an amphibious landing somewhere around Odesa and conduct a link-up operation.” Putin has insisted his country’s military operations in Ukraine are going according to plan, praising his soldiers as heroes.
During a televised address, he set are being successfully resolved.”
The despot’s comments were a bid to counter reports by Western government’s and intelligence agencies that his campaign has stumbled in the face of logistical problems, tactical mistakes and fiercer-than-expected resistance from Ukraine.
The native army continues to fight back in cities across the country and the defence ministry confirmed it had shot down a number of Russian jets.
Meanwhile, the invaders yesterday began pushing into the outskirts of Mykolaiv, another city on the Black Sea which is located just a short distance from Kherson, which was captured on Thursday.
If Mykolaiv falls, it opens up the road to Odesa – which could give Russia a “chokehold” on Ukraine’s economy. It has been likened to the UK losing Dover.
Just down the coast, Ukrainian military said Russia was also preparing to land marines in Zatoka.A heavy missile bombardment continued to besiege the southern port city of Mariupol yesterday.
But British intelligence confirmed it remains in Ukrainian hands despite having no power or water and fully surrounded by Russian forces launching intense strikes.
A UK Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “Mariupol remains under Ukrainian control but has likely been encircled by the Russian forces.
“The city’s civilian infrastructure has been subjected to intense Russian strikes.”
Elsewhere, heavy losses continued on both sides.
At least 47 people were killed by Russian air strikes, believed to have been using illegal cluster bombs, in the northern city of Chernihiv.
While in Kyiv, the tension is rising with potentially the biggest battle yet to begin. of life