Kyiv, Moscow In Massive Battles As Flooding Crisis Continues (Worthy News Radio)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BAKHMUT/MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Kyiv says Russia has unleashed new air strikes on Ukraine overnight, killing at least one person in a combined assault of cruise missiles and attack drones. Friday’s confirmed attacks come as Ukrainian troops reportedly target Russian forces in the east and south of the war-torn nation. The fighting overshadowed ongoing evacuations of people from Ukraine’s southern areas, where officials say at least five people were killed in flooding caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.
Ukrainian forces are on the offensive. Soldiers of Ukraine’s 3rd Separate Assault Battalion jump out of a military vehicle near the devastated city of Bakhmut, shows footage monitored by Worthy News.
Soon after a firefight breaks out with Russian troops apparently retreating, Russian authorities have admitted the situation in the Bakhmut area is difficult.
Not all leave. One Russian soldier surrenders to Ukrainian forces. The visibly exhausted man is questioned while being taken captive.
Ukraine’s military says it has gained more ground near the devastated city of Bakhmut that Russia claimed to have taken.
The Ukrainian East military command said Friday that Ukrainian forces had advanced 1.2 kilometers or 0.75 miles near Bakhmut over the past 24 hours.
MORE CLASHES
Fighting has also been reported elsewhere in the eastern region of Donetsk.
Additionally, Russian officials say Ukraine’s military has launched attacks on occupying Russian forces in the critical southern Zaporizhzhia region.
Observers say Kyiv’s advance south of the city of Zaporizhzhia might block the land corridor between mainland Russia and the occupied Crimea peninsula. That would cut off Russian military supply lines.
However, Russia also attacked Ukraine overnight using cruise missiles and attack drones in strikes that authorities said killed at least one person.
Yet the fighting came as much of southern Ukraine still copes with the aftermath of flooding caused by the damage to the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant and dam.
Evacuations continued Friday as thousands of residents living along the Dnipro River have been impacted by the flooding in the Kherson region, where several deaths were reported.
SHELLING RESCUERS
Yet rescues have been hampered by what officials say is Russians shelling on the flooded city of Kherson. Footage shows water flying in the air as people seek cover in boats or on higher ground.
Russia had earlier accused Ukraine of shelling an evacuation point, killing two rescue workers.
Despite the growing death toll, there were no signs Russia would end its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
And President Vladimir Putin made clear Friday that Europe’s most significant armed conflict in decades could further escalate.
He told his visiting Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko that Russia would start deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus after the facilities are ready on July 7-8.
Moscow had previously announced these nuclear plans with its ally Belarus saying they are in response to similar moves by the U.S.-led NATO military alliance.
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