The city of Sievjerodonetsk in eastern Ukraine, which has been in fighting for weeks, has been almost completely surrounded by Russian forces after the third and final bridge over the Siwerskyi Donetsk River was destroyed. “Unfortunately, it is now totally impossible to drive into the city or deliver anything to the city,” Governor Serhiy Gaidai said Monday. Meanwhile, Kiev said it has already lost 25 percent of its usable space to Russia.
The Battle of Sievjerodonetsk is one of the decisive factors in determining control of the Donbass in the east of the country. The situation of Ukrainian troops is “difficult but under control”, although 70 percent of the city is controlled by Russia, he told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. “They have the ability to take the injured to hospitals,” Gaidai said.
“It is difficult to supply weapons or reserves. Difficult, but not impossible.” According to Ukrainian sources, hundreds of civilians are staying in bunkers at the Asot chemical plant in the city.
More than seven million displaced persons
According to estimates by the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Refugee Agency, more than seven million people have been displaced in Ukraine as a result of the war. Another 7.3 million have left the country, most of them in neighboring Poland.
“Ukrainian farmers were relatively well prepared for sowing before the start of the war,” Vysotskyi said. By February, Ukraine had already imported about 70 percent of the fertilizers needed, 60 percent of the pesticides and about a third of the fuel needed for sowing.
Grain export blocked again
However, the invasion of Russian troops and the continued blockade of Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea prevent grain exports. According to the United Nations, this poses a threat to the food supply in many other, especially poorer, countries.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 20 to 25 million tons of grain are stored in Ukrainian ports and cannot currently be exported. By the fall, the amount could rise to 70 to 75 million tons. Before the war, Ukraine was the fourth largest supplier of wheat and maize in the world. Together, Russia and Ukraine produce 30 percent of the world’s wheat supply.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
