Ukraine’s Military Gains Raise Kyiv’s War Aims as Russia Shells Eastern Cities; US reopens Ukraine embassy as tide turns against Russian invasion; Ukraine mounts effort to rescue last fighters at steel mill; The EU will not let Ukraine run out of equipment, LIVE UPDATES and MORE

Ukraine’s Military Gains Raise Kyiv’s War Aims as Russia Shells Eastern Cities”

As Ukraine’s military continues to take back Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine, outperforming expectations among leaders globally about its abilities before Russia’s invasion, ambitions are growing in Kyiv about what would define victory.

Meanwhile, the Kyiv government declared the end of its combat mission in Mariupol, concluding months of bloody battle that ended with a dramatic siege against fighters and civilians taking refuge at an abandoned steel plant. Evacuations from the steel factory had begun following a Russian government announcement Monday that it had agreed with Ukraine on the evacuation of wounded fighters.

Ukrainian forces in the northeastern region of Kharkiv have regained territory at the Russian border, the regional governor, Oleh Sinegubov, said Monday. Russian forces continued to shell cities in the eastern Donbas area and carried out a rare missile strike in western Ukraine.

Mr. Sinegubov said that even as Ukraine wins back territory seized by Russia in recent months, the situation across the region remains volatile. He warned civilians not to become complacent, adding that Russia is focusing on holding its positions and is preparing an offensive in the area of Izyum, a town southeast of the city of Kharkiv where it has established forward headquarters of its operations to conquer the Donbas.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has made clear in recent days that his country’s aim is to retake territory seized by Russian forces in 2014, including the Crimean Peninsula. Ukraine currently also controls less of Donbas than it did before Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials, but its recent battlefield gains have raised questions about how Russia might respond if Kyiv is able to regain territory once firmly under Moscow’s control. —>READ MORE HERE

US reopens Ukraine embassy as tide turns against Russian invasion:

The State Department reopened the US embassy in Kyiv on Wednesday — more than three months after shutting down operations ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that Ukraine’s stunning initial success in fighting off Moscow’s drive at the capital allowed for the embassy to reopen.

“Today we are officially resuming operations at the US Embassy in Kyiv,” Blinken said. “The Ukrainian people, with our security assistance, have defended their homeland in the face of Russia’s unconscionable invasion, and, as a result, the Stars and Stripes are flying over the Embassy once again.”

A State Department official told The Post that the US Marine Corps does not currently have members deployed to protect embassy staff — as is standard at US embassies elsewhere in the world.

“There is not [a Marine Security Guard] detachment presently in Kyiv, but the Department does plan to assign an MSG detachment at a later date,” the official said. —>READ MORE HERE

Follow links below to +++++relevant+++++ and related stories:

+++++Russia-Ukraine News LATEST UPDATES: (REUTERS) (AP) (NY POST) and (WSJ)+++++

+++++Ukraine mounts effort to rescue last fighters at steel mill+++++

+++++The EU will not let Ukraine run out of equipment, Borrell says+++++

Russia reportedly moves nuclear-capable missiles to Finland border

Ukraine Aid Bill Advances in Senate

Russia Holds 3,000 Civilians in Town Where Mariupol Fighters Were Taken, Kyiv Says

EU top diplomat says if verified, Russia has suffered “impressive losses”

Russia launches missiles in ‘heavy attack’ on western Ukraine: Reports



Azovstal fighters who surrendered will be treated in line with international norms – Kremlin

Russia says it hit U.S. and European arms shipments in western Ukraine

Ukraine hails Mariupol defenders as heroes who changed course of war

Sweden, Finland push ahead with NATO bids as Turkey objects

Peace Talks Are Suspended, Russia and Ukraine Say

France to Step Up Its Weapons Deliveries to Ukraine, Macron Says

International Criminal Court Sends Forensic, Investigative Team to Ukraine

How Germany Is Racing to Sever Dependence on Russian Energy

Poland Seeks to Secure More Arms From U.S. Defense Firms

If you like what you see, please “Like” and/or Follow us on FACEBOOK here, GETTR here, and TWITTER here.

Source