Russia is urging soldiers to lay down their weapons at the Nitrogen Plant
A leading NATO official told CNN that the war in Ukraine has already reached a critical point
Russian forces control much of Severodonetsk, despite fierce Ukrainian resistance. Western countries are expected to announce additional arms shipments to Kiev.
On June 15, Russia called on Ukrainian forces at the Nitrogen Chemical Plant in Severodonetsk to lay down their arms and promised a “humanitarian corridor” to civilians taking refuge at the plant. Ukraine has not yet responded to Moscow’s offer.
British military intelligence said in a June 15 diary that there were now hundreds of civilians and Ukrainian fighters in the underground bunkers of the Nitrogen plant.
Destruction by intensive artillery
The British Ministry of Defense notes that Moscow “probably” did not expect such a strong resistance from the Ukrainians when planning the occupation.
Seeing the determination of the Ukrainians, Russia resorted to urban military tactics and intensive use of artillery, which led to large-scale destruction in the city.
President Volodymyr Zelenski He said in a speech on the night of June 14 that Ukraine now needs modern anti-missile weapons, and there is no reason to delay the delivery of partner countries.
“We constantly tell our partners that Ukraine needs modern anti-missile weapons. The number of such weapons in our country is not enough, but Ukraine is in great need of such weapons now. It is impossible to justify delaying their extradition. “ – Zelensky said.
The president said that “losses, unfortunately, are painful” in the Donbas region, which has been fighting for weeks.
Promise of a humanitarian corridor
Mikhail Mizintsev, head of Russia’s National Defense Management Center, said a humanitarian corridor would be opened at 8 a.m. Moscow time on June 15 to evacuate civilians from the Nitrogen plant. According to him, the evacuees will be taken to the city of Svatovo, 60 km north of the territory controlled by Russia and separatist forces.
Kyiv accuses Mizintsev, who led the siege of Mariupol, of human rights abuses. This port city on the shores of the Sea of Azov is also in Russian hands.
Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar Earlier, he said that his country had received only 10 percent of the weapons it wanted from the West in the fight against the Russian occupation.
“Regardless of Ukraine’s efforts and the professionalism of our army, we will not be able to win this war without the help of our Western partners.” – The painter said at a briefing on television. He also stressed that the West should speed up the delivery of weapons.
Although Western countries promise Ukraine modern weapons and missiles, their delivery takes time.
There is a meeting in Brussels
On June 15, dozens of Ukrainian defense ministers from the Contact Group of Defense Defense will discuss the supply of weapons to Ukraine. A two-day meeting of NATO defense ministers will begin today.
According to US defense officials, the discussions were attended by the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will lead.
NATO does not participate in the talks in order not to appear to be militarily involved in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
The capture of the city of Severodonetsk means that the entire Luhansk region will fall into Russian hands. A leading NATO official told CNN that the war in Ukraine has already reached a critical point.
“We have already reached the point where one side or the other will succeed.” – said the official.
“Either the Russians (in the Donetsk region adjacent to Luhansk) will reach Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, or the Ukrainians will stop them. “If the Ukrainians can keep the front line there in front of so many forces, it will play a decisive role.” He said.