Mariupol "pan of fire" is hot, Ukraine regains some areas near Kherson

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 Ukraine has regained control over several settlements around Mykolayiv and Kherson in the south of the country.


According to the latest intelligence report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, due to the successful counter-attacks by Ukrainian forces, Russian forces "lost control over a number of border settlements" Mykolayiv and Kherson regions".


Russian forces have been heavily engaged in the southern Kherson region, seeking to create a corridor on the junction of the Crimean peninsula and the eastern Donbass region. Kherson is the first major Ukrainian city to fall under Russian control, after Moscow launched a military operation in the neighboring country in late February.


Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry on April 26 announced that Russian forces had liberated all of Kherson - an area in the south of Ukraine. Russian forces are said to have chosen a new "mayor" of Kherson and the Ukrainian flag has been lowered from Kherson City Council.


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the people of Kherson not to provide any personal information to Russian forces, fearing that Russia was planning to hold a referendum in Kherson. Zelensky warned that "any plan to establish a 'Kherson People's Republic' will not succeed".


Meanwhile, fierce fighting continues in the city of Mariupol, southeastern Ukraine. Russia announced the liberation of Mariupol on April 21 after weeks of siege and shelling of the city. However, the fierce resistance of Ukrainian forces entrenched inside the Azovstal iron and steel factory prevented Russia from taking complete control of Mariupol.


Controlling Mariupol is a major goal of Russia's military campaign as the city is seen as key in Moscow's efforts to separate Ukraine from the Black Sea, a region vital for grain and metal exports. categories - and links the territories controlled by Russia.


The United Nations and the Red Cross evacuated hundreds of people from Mariupol and other areas this week. However, about 200 civilians, as well as Ukrainian soldiers, are still trapped in the Azovstal factory.


Russia announced it would suspend military operations in Azovstal on May 5 and two days after to allow the evacuation of civilians. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is ready to guarantee a ceasefire in Mariupol.


"It takes time to get people out of those basements, out of underground shelters. In the current conditions, we can't use heavy equipment to clear the rubble. It's all there. must be done by hand," Zelensky said.


The Ukrainian president also called on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to help rescue those still trapped inside the Azovstal factory.


Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Azov Battalion entrenched inside the Azovstal factory, on May 4 said that fierce fighting is still taking place at the Azovstal plant. Mr. Prokopenko said that Russian forces had "infiltrated" inside the factory and that "bloody" fighting was taking place.

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