Shelling and strikes in Donbas increasing but Russians hampered by logistical problems, Ministry of Defence claims
Russia has increased the intensity of its eastern offensive but has been repeatedly repelled by Ukrainian forces, the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said, as western governments pledged to send more artillery, and a new deadline for surrender in Mariupol approached.
The MoD said late on Tuesday that shelling and strikes were increasing over the line of control in Donbas but that Russian forces continued to be hampered by logistical and technological problems. It also noted an “inability to stamp out resistance” in Mariupol as a sign of failure to achieve Moscow’s objectives.
Russia has deployed up to 20,000 mercenaries from Syria, Libya and elsewhere in the Donbas region, sent into battle with no heavy equipment or armoured vehicles, according to a European official. The mercenaries are being sent in as part of what western defence officials have described as a rush to have a victory that Vladimir Putin can announce at the 9 May military parade in Moscow commemorating the second world war.
Russian tycoon Oleg Tinkov, one of Russia’s best-known entrepreneurs and founder of the Tinkoff bank, has urged the west to help end “this insane war”. Tinkoff, who now lives outside Russia, claimed online that 90% of Russians were “against this war” and called Russia’s forces a “shit army”.
Western nations are preparing to stage coordinated walk-outs and other diplomatic snubs at Wednesday’s meeting of G20 finance ministers in Washington to protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. US Treasury secretary Janet Yellen will boycott some sessions if Russian officials are present, one senior US official said, a stance other countries have said they will follow.
Kyiv and Moscow have not held face-to-face talks since 29 March. Each side blames the other for their breakdown. “Obviously, against the backdrop of the Mariupol tragedy, the negotiation process has become even more complicated,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Podolyak told Reuters.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres called for a four-day humanitarian pause in the fighting this weekend, when Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter, to allow civilians to escape and humanitarian aid to be delivered.
