KYIV/LVIV – Russian forces destroyed Kharkiv (Ukraine’s second-largest city) and several other towns in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, sanctions were imposed by the European Union on Russian oil sales, after Germany indicated it would support an embargo.

Russia began a major offensive against eastern Ukraine, focusing on Donetsk/Luhansk. This was after it abandoned an attack on Kyiv in March. Before President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of February 24, Russian-backed separatists held parts of these provinces.

Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s First Lady, asked for continued support from the West.

“Ukraine needs weapons so that Ukrainian refugees can return home and rebuild the economy. Therefore, we ask you not to stop, to accelerate the pace of heavy weapons provision,” she told told British morning television.

According to the Ukrainian military, Kharkiv, a northeastern Ukrainian city, was being bombarded as it had been since the beginning of the invasion.

The general staff of Ukraine stated that its troops were protecting Kharkiv’s approach from Izyum. This is a small town located on the Donets River, 120km (75 mi) southeast.

The Ukrainian military claimed that Russian forces wanted to take Rubizhne, a town in the Luhansk region’s frontline, and set up an attack on Sievierodonetsk nearby.

Popasna was further south, where the most violent clashes took place. According to Serhiy Gaidai, the intensity of shelling made it impossible for bodies to be collected.

​”I don’t even want to speak about what’s happening with the people living in Popasna, Rubizhne and Novotoshkivske right now. These cities are gone. These cities have been completely demolished.”

Russian troops have begun to attack a significant Ukrainian force from all directions, using massive bombardment and a three-front approach.

According to the Ukrainian presidency’s office, at least three civilians died in Russian bombardment of Vuhledar city in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk on Tuesday.

Other areas in Donetsk are under constant attack, and the regional authorities try to evacuate civilians.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the authenticity of Ukraine’s military accounts.

EU SET TO SHUN RUSSIAN OIL

Brussels: The European Commission expects to present a sixth round of EU sanctions on Russia this week, which could include an imposition of an oil embargo.

Kyiv claims that Russia’s energy exports from Europe to date have been largely exempted from all international sanctions and are now funding the Kremlin’s war efforts with millions of Euros every day.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian President, stated in his nightly video address that “This package must include clear steps to stop Russia’s revenue from energy resources.”

Germany indicated Monday that it is ready to support an EU immediate embargo against Russian oil.

Robert Habeck, German Economy Minister said that Germany was now able to withstand an oil embargo.

Olaf Scholz is under increasing pressure from the West to adopt a more assertive stance.

Scholz said that sanctions won’t be lifted until Russian President Vladimir Putin agrees to a peaceful settlement with Ukraine, which Kyiv could support.

On Wednesday, the EU’s ambassadors will meet to discuss proposed sanctions against oil.

EVACUATION FROM MARIUPOL

After an overnight journey over the front line, the first civilians evacuated from the giant Mariupol steel plant arrived in Zaporizhzhia on Monday.

Ukraine has claimed that many civilians are trapped at Azovstal along with last remaining Ukrainian defenders.

Sviatoslav Palamar (39), a deputy commander in Ukraine’s Azov Regiment told Reuters that he could hear the voices of children, women and old people below the ground and that they didn’t have the tools to extract them.

We were going to destroy the bunkers but the entry was blocked. However, naval artillery fired all night and into Monday. Palamar, a Zoom reporter said that aviation had been dropping bombs all day.

PUTIN KEEP POPE WAITING

In a Tuesday interview, Pope Francis stated that he had asked Putin for a meeting to end the conflict in Ukraine. However, he has yet to receive a reply.

According to the Corriere Della Sera in Italy, the pope stated that Kirill, the Russian Orthodox Church’s Patriarch Kirill, cannot become Putin’s altar-boy.

According to the pope, Viktor Orban, Hungary’s Prime Minister had informed him that Russia intended to end the conflict on May 9. This date is celebrated by Russia as Victory Day. It marks the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945.

Sergei Lavrov (Russian Foreign Minister) stated that Moscow will not hurry to stop its “special militarily operated” in Ukraine. This symbolic date was set earlier this week.