Severodonetsk has fallen, the city is entirely in the hands of the Russians announced the mayor. Moscow troops have "total control" of the city, he said as pro-Russian separatists confirmed they had also occupied the Azot chemical plant, where the last Ukrainian soldiers remained.

And the capitulation of the entire Lugansk is approaching , in Lysychansk, the twin city of Severodonetsk and a strategic objective to conquer the entire region, "we are fighting in the streets".

Kiev plays down the Russian advance, intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov says that the Ukrainian retreat was " tactical and organized ", that "our command has decided to regroup on new positions." And assures: " Ukraine will return to the its borders in 1991. There will be no other scenarios and we are not considering others. Before the end of the year, active fighting will decrease to practically zero. We will regain control of our territories in the near future. From August, events will occur that will demonstrate to the world that the turning point begins to take place ".

In the next few weeks, the Italian government will approve a new decree to guarantee the further delivery of weapons to the Ukrainian army , the type of weapons to be supplied should be similar to those sent by Germany. The provision, the text of which will be anticipated to Copasir, will have to obtain the ok from Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini.

And if the West arms Kiev, Putin arms Belarus . The Russian president met with his Belarusian counterpart Lukashenko and announced that he will supply Minsk with " Iskander-M short-range missiles, among the most modern in Moscow's arsenal and capable of carrying nuclear warheads ".

European countries and the US, Putin underlined, have "200 tactical nuclear weapons with 257 aircraft ready for their potential use". And "if they exercise, it means they are thinking of something," added Lukashenko.

( HERE all the news about the war)

( HERE all the videos)

The day by the hour:

G7 leader towards the ban on Russian gold

G7 leaders agreed to announce an import ban on Russian gold. Informed sources report this to CNN. Gold is the second largest source of export income for Moscow, after energy.

***

Putin: "Europe and the US have 200 nuclear weapons ready"

European countries and the US have "200 tactical nuclear weapons with 257 aircraft ready for their potential use". This was stated by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, quoted by the Tass agency, after meeting his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko in St. Petersburg. The latter said that the US and European NATO countries are carrying out exercise flights with planes "preparing to carry nuclear warheads". "If they exercise, it means they are thinking of something," added Lukashenko, asking Putin for help in modernizing Belarusian planes to enable them to carry nuclear warheads.

***

Putin: "We will arm Belarus"

Russia will supply Belarus with Iskander-M short-range missiles, among the most modern in Moscow's arsenal and also capable of carrying nuclear warheads. This was announced by President Vladimir Putin, quoted by Russian agencies, after a meeting in St. Petersburg with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

"In the coming months - Putin said - we will send Iskander-M tactical missile systems to Belarus, which can employ both ballistic and cruise missiles, a conventional or nuclear version". Putin also proposed to Belarus to upgrade Sukhoi SU-25 fighter jets supplied to the Minsk armed forces at its Russian plants.

***

Azot plant in Russian hands

The mayor of Severdonetsk, Oleksandre Striouk, announced that the Russians have "total control" of the city. The mayor spoke on Ukrainian television, while pro-Moscow separatists confirmed that they also occupied the Azot chemical plant, where the last Ukrainian soldiers remained. And that over 800 civilians hiding inside have been "evacuated".

***

Curfew returns in the Kiev region

In the Kiev region, the curfew has been re-imposed, from 11 pm to 5 am. This was announced on Telegram by Oleksiy Kuleba, head of the military administration of the capital's oblast.

"We remind you that the curfew prohibits staying on the street, visiting other public places, moving around the city by public transport or on foot. With the exception of specific authorizations. I ask residents to adhere to the temporary restrictions for their safety. Our goal is to allow the return of residents "who have fled since the beginning of the war as soon as possible," he explained.

***

Kiev: "We will return to the borders of 1991"

The retreat from Severodonetsk was "tactical and organized, our command decided to regroup on new positions". This was stated by Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov in an interview with ITV News. Assuring that "Ukraine will return to its 1991 borders. There will be no other scenarios and we are not considering others. Before the end of the year, active fighting will decrease to practically zero. We will regain control of our territories in the near future". And he added: "Starting in August there will be events that will show the world that the turning point is starting to take place."

***

In Lysychansk "fighting in the streets"

Clashes between Russians and Ukrainians intensify in Lugansk. The pro-Moscow separatists have announced that in Lysychansk there is "fighting in the streets". The twin city of Severodonetsk on the opposite bank of the Donetsk River is considered by the Russians as a strategic goal to conquer the entire region.

***

Conte: "An extra shotgun from Italy helps little"

"A new decree for arms for Ukraine? I believe that Italy should be the protagonist in international fora in bringing about a diplomatic escalation. Italy has a great capacity for dialogue. With the great effort of the US and the GB, some An extra shotgun from Italy does little to help the common cause. Instead, within the alliance, our added value may be "that of diplomacy. This was stated by the M5s leader, Giuseppe Conte, on the occasion of his speech at the conference of young industrialists.

***

In the coming weeks, a new arms decree from the Italian government

A new decree will be presented in the coming weeks to ensure the further dispatch of weapons to the Ukrainian army in the war conflict. This is what is learned from government sources, according to which the type of weapons sent should be similar to those sent from Germany. The provision, the text of which will be anticipated to Copasir, will have to obtain the ok from Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini.

***

Moscow: "80 Polish mercenaries killed"

Russia reported killing "up to 80" Polish fighters in a bombing raid in eastern Ukraine. "Up to 80 Polish mercenaries, 20 armored combat vehicles and eight Grad multiple rocket launchers were destroyed in attacks with high-precision weapons against the Megatex (battery manufacturer, ed) plant in Konstantinovka", in the Donetsk region ( east), the Russian defense ministry said in a statement.

***

Kiev, from Belarus launched missiles against Chernihiv

Some missiles were launched from Belarus in the direction of the Chernihiv border region. This was announced by the Ukrainian army.

***

48 missiles targeting civilian targets in Ukraine in the night

"48 Russian cruise missiles. At night. All over Ukraine. Exclusively on civilian targets ... Russia is still trying to intimidate Ukraine, cause panic and make people fear Z monsters ... Ukraine knows everything and she is ready for anything. And she will punish for all evil ... "Mikhailo Podolyak, advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, writes on Twitter.

***

Kiev, 34,700 Russian soldiers killed since the beginning of the war

About 34,700 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began, according to the Kiev army. In its update on Moscow's losses so far, the Ukrainian military indicates that 217 fighters, 184 helicopters and 626 drones have also been shot down. In addition, the Kiev forces claim to have destroyed 1,511 Russian tanks, 764 pieces of artillery, 3,645 armored vehicles for transporting troops and 14 ships.

***

Ukraine: at least 339 children killed since the beginning of the war

The death toll of children killed in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion has risen to 339, the country's attorney general's office said. At least 611 minors were injured. This was announced by the country's Attorney General's office, according to Ukrinform.

(Unioneonline / L)

© Riproduzione riservata