[way]

https://sg.yahoo.com/style/ukraine-launc...34382.html

[/url][url=https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Ukraine%20launches%20counterattacks%20to%20cut%20off%20Russian%20supply%20lines%20in%20the%20east&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsg.style.yahoo.com%2Fukraine-launches-counterattacks-cut-off-181334382.html%3Fsoc_src%3Dsocial-sh%26soc_trk%3Dtw%26tsrc%3Dtwtr&via=yahoosg]
Joe Barnes
Tue, 19 April 2022, 2:13 am



Ukrainian soldiers - ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP
Ukrainian soldiers have “liberated” at least three towns in a counter-offensive aimed at stifling an anticipated Russian attack on the east of the country.
The towns, located around Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city, were seen as key strategic points in starving battle-stricken Russian forces of supplies.
Analysts said the minor victory could deal a serious blow to Russian efforts to re-equip troops ahead of a renewed offensive to capture Luhansk and Donetsk, two regions within the eastern Donbas region.
Bazaliyaka, one of the towns won back by Ukrainian troops, is on a road crucial to Moscow’s efforts to re-equip its stricken forces in the east of Ukraine.
Russia has used Belgorod, which is just inside its borders, as a key logistics hub for its war efforts. There is a direct road from the town to Izyum, which is considered the gateway to the Donbas.
Ukrainian fighters also managed to recapture the settlements of Lebyazhe and Kutuzivka from retreating Russian troops.
Moscow continued to pour tanks, troops and its air force into Ukraine in the direction of Izyum, according to Ukrainian military officials.

Tanks of pro-Russian troops near the southern port city of Mariupol - REUTERS
They said helicopters had recently arrived in the Belgorod region of Russia in order to join its invasion forces.
In his overnight address, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, warned Moscow had stepped up its offensive to capture the eastern Donbas region.
Earlier this month, Moscow withdrew its troops from around Kyiv and the north of Ukraine in order to regroup ahead of the renewed offensive, which is expected to be the biggest tank battle since the second world war.
“The main efforts of the opponent are focused on establishing complete control over the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and retaining the previously occupied territory,” the general staff of Ukraine’s military said on Monday.
“Signs of the beginning of an offensive operation in the Eastern operating zone are fixed.”
Mr Zelensky urged Western leaders to accelerate their deliveries of weapons, which he has complained have been too slow, to enable his forces to keep repelling Russian troops.

“Every delay in weapons, every political delay, is a permission for Russia to take the lives of Ukrainians,” he said.
He also urged allies to ramp up their economic sanctions on Moscow to further cripple its war machine.
Ukraine’s military, in recent weeks, has focused on disrupting the Kremlin’s preparations for the attack, blowing up bridges and roads.
Last week troops destroyed a bridge while Russian troops were crossing it, taking out an entire column of Russian tanks headed for the city of Izyum to join the operation.

Ukrainian armed forces used a drone to blow up a bridge carrying Russian forces heading to Izyum