Russia has destroyed a bridge over the Siverskyi Donets River linking Sievierodonetsk with its twin city of Lysychansk, cutting off a key escape route for those remaining in the besieged city.
Russia continues to symbolically solidify its rule in occupied southern Ukraine, while the EU edges closer to a decision on Ukraine's candidate status.
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Kremlin-installed officials in occupied southern Ukraine celebrated Russia Day on Sunday and began issuing Russian passports to residents, as Moscow sought to solidify its rule over captured parts of the country.
In one of the central squares in Kherson, Russian bands played a concert to celebrate Russia Day, the holiday that marks Russia’s emergence as a sovereign state after the collapse of the Soviet Union, according to Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti.
In the neighbouring Zaporizhzhia region, Moscow-installed officials raised a Russian flag in Melitopol’s city centre.
Ukrainian media reported that few, if any, local residents attended the Russia Day festivities in the two cities.
Russia Day was also celebrated in other occupied parts of Ukraine, including the ravaged southern port of Mariupol, where a new city sign painted in the colours of the Russian flag was unveiled on the outskirts and Russian flags were flown on a highway leading into the city.
The Russia-aligned administration in Melitopol, meanwhile, started handing out Russian passports to those who applied for Russian citizenship.
RIA Novosti posted video of a Moscow-backed official congratulating new Russian citizens and telling them: “Russia will not go anywhere. We are here for good.”
(AP)
In its latest Defence Intelligence update, the
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