Firepower threat defence

Ukrainian servicemen walk amidst rubble at a damaged area, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine continues, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, May 14, 2022. REUTERS KYIV — A Ukrainian counteroffensive was underway near the Russian-held town of Izium, but its military reported on Sunday that Russian forces were advancing elsewhere in the Donbas region, which has become the main theater of war over the past month. Having resisted fiercely since Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24, Ukraine’s military has notched a string of successes, first forcing Russia’s commanders to abandon an advance on the capital Kyiv, and then making rapid gains in the northeast in recent week to drive the enemy away from the second biggest city of Kharkiv. Since mid-April, Russian forces have focussed much of their firepower on the east for what has become known as the “Battle of the Donbas”. Delivering an update on Sunday morning, Ukraine’s military said: “Despite losses, Russian forces continue to advance in the Lyman, … [Read more...] about Frontlines moving in ‘Battle of the Donbas,’ Ukraine mounts counter-offensive

The remains of a destroyed school in which Ukrainian official say 60 people sheltering in a basement died following a Russian military strike on the village of Bilogorivka in Lugansk region of eastern Ukraine. (AFP Photo) KYIV: Intense fighting raged in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region where Russia has been concentrating its forces without making significant progress, while "very difficult negotiations" were under way over the fate of the last besieged defenders in the city of Mariupol. Europe on Friday pledged another $500 million in military support for Ukraine as it resists the Russian invasion that began on Feb 24, while Sweden and Finland's moves towards joining NATO hit multiple obstacles. At the end of March, after failing to take the capital Kyiv in the face of determined resistance, Russia turned its focus to eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian forces repulsed Russian attempts to cross a river and encircle the city of Severodonetsk, said Serhiy Gaidai, governor of the eastern … [Read more...] about Intense fighting in eastern Ukraine

China’s vice-president has told South Korea ’s new leader that Beijing hopes for more strategic communication and high-level exchanges, a message delivered after he attended Yoon Suk-yeol’s inauguration in Seoul on Tuesday. Wang Qishan said South Korea and China “are important cooperation partners as well as close neighbours” with common interests, and should strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional affairs, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. “The two sides should ... work together to safeguard multilateralism and the free-trade system, and promote regional and global development and prosperity,” Wang told Yoon after delivering a congratulatory message as special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge , our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our … [Read more...] about China urges cooperation as South Korea’s new president takes office