It is the 46th day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It begins a week that, according to the Ukrainian president, Volodomir Zelenski, will be difficult due to the preparations of the Russian Army to attack the east of the country (Donestk and Lugansk).
Next week will be “tense” in the east of the country because “Russian troops will move there to continue their operations,” Zelensky said in his televised message this morning.
The last part of the Ukrainian Army states that “the enemy continues to create an offensive group of troops to act in the direction of Slobozhansky (Dnipro region) and” probably in the coming days the occupiers will try to resume the offensive.
Ukrainian Army prepares for the “final battle” in the besieged port of Mariupol; April 11, 5:30 a.m.
The Ukrainian army said on Monday that it is preparing for the “final battle” in the devastated port of Mariupol, a town in the southeast of the country that it has been besieged by Russian troops for more than 40 days.
“Today is probably going to be the final battle as our ammunition runs out (…) This means death for some of us and captivity for others,” the 36th Marine Brigade, which is part of the Ukrainian armed forces, wrote on Facebook.
Zelenski asks the South Korean Parliament to send weapons to Ukraine; April 11, 5:15 a.m.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today called on South Korea to send weapons to his country’s army to fight the Russian invasion in a speech broadcast by video before the National Assembly (Parliament) of the Asian country.
“The Republic of Korea can help Ukraine. The country has the military assets that can help stop Russian planes and missiles.”Zelensky said in a speech in Ukrainian that was simultaneously translated into Korean.
Zelensky welcomed the material aid received so far from South Korea, but insisted his country needs weapons, including planes and tanks, to resist the invasion.
“If Ukraine receives such weapons, they will not only save the lives of ordinary people; will represent an opportunity to save Ukraine, and not only Ukraine, but also ensure that other countries are not attacked by Russia”added the Ukrainian president in a speech that lasted regarding fifteen minutes.
The president insisted that Russia “does not only plan to occupy Ukraine” and that “following Ukraine, Russia will surely attack other countries.”
Zelensky’s words come hours following South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook once more insisted that Seoul has no intention of sending lethal weapons, arguing the “security situation” of South Koreawhich has so far shipped some $800 million in non-lethal military supplies, including bulletproof vests, helmets, blankets and medical supplies.
Pro-Russian Donetsk Leader Announces Stepping Up Offensive In Donbas; April 11, 5 a.m.
The leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin, announced today that the offensive in Donbas, in eastern Ukraine, will intensify. “We consider it necessary to intensify the progress of the liberation operation,” the pro-Russian leader told state television channel Rossia 24.
He argued this need with the “complex situation of people”, as well as with the “provocative actions of the kyiv regime”, which he blamed for last Friday’s missile attack once morest the Kramatorsk railway station, a city controlled by Ukraine, in which 57 people died, according to the latest data. “I can’t give details. Very soon we will see everything in real time,” Pushilin said.
On the situation in Mariupol, in the south of the Donetsk region, where since fierce fighting has been going on for several weeksthe pro-Russian leader pointed out that “several thousand” of Ukrainian nationalists remain in the area of the Azovstal steelworks, on the outskirts of the city.
“According to our calculations, next to Azovstal there are still nationalists, several thousand. The figure that most often appears in the parts ranges between 1,500 and 3,000 people, ”he added.
Eleven dead in new bombings in the Kharkov region (east), according to kyiv; April 11, 4:40 a.m.
The Kharkov region, in eastern Ukraine and one of the hardest hit by the Russian Army, has been bombed 66 times in the last 24 hours in attacks that have caused at least eleven deaths and fourteen injuries.
This was reported by the head of the Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, on his Telegram account, who added that the attacks have included shelling with Russian artillery, mortars and multiple rocket launch systems.
“During the last day, Russian troops launched around 66 attacks with artillery, mortar and multiple rocket launcher systems. (The districts of) Saltivka, Piatykhatky, Kholodna Hora, Pisochyn, Zolochiv, Balakliia and Derhachi were damaged,” the military official said.
“The rescuers had to extinguish house fires, warehouses and other civil infrastructure facilities. In the shelling of Russian troops, eleven civilians were killed (including a seven-year-old boy) and fourteen civilians were injured,” confirmed Syniehubov.
As he underlined, the russians used unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance purposes throughout this area.
