Attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk. AFP
Attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk. AFP
Attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk. AFP
Attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk. AFP

Russia 'on brink of victory' in key eastern city of Severodonetsk


Laura O'Callaghan
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Russia’s army has captured most of Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine, British intelligence suggests.

The key city in the Luhansk region, which had a prewar population of 106,000, has been the scene of street battles, which caused evacuation efforts to stall.

Defensive lines held by Ukrainian troops in the region for years have been breached by Russian forces as part of Moscow’s attempt to bring another city under its control.

Russia will probably turn its attention to gaining more territory in the neighbouring Donetsk region after they have fully secured Severodonetsk, Britain said.

“Russia has taken control of most of Severodonetsk,” the Ministry of Defence said on Twitter.

“The main road into the Severodonetsk pocket likely remains under Ukrainian control but Russia continues to make steady local gains, enabled by a heavy concentration of artillery.

"This has not been without cost, and Russian forces have sustained losses in the process.

“Crossing the Siverskyy Donets River, which is a natural barrier to its axes of advance, is vital for Russian forces as they secure Luhansk Oblast and prepare to switch focus to Donetsk Oblast.

“Potential crossing sites include between Severodonetsk and the neighbouring town of Lysychansk; and near recently captured Lyman. In both locations, the river line is probably still controlled by Ukrainian forces, who have destroyed existing bridges.”

Russia will probably require a “short tactical pause to re-set” before attempting to cross rivers to carry out attacks in the Donetsk Oblast, where Ukrainian soldiers are entrenched in defensive positions, the UK said.

While this tactic may seem necessary, any temporary pause in operations would mean the Russian army “risks losing some of the momentum they have built over the last week”, the ministry said.

On Wednesday, forces loyal to Kyiv appeared close to losing control of Severodonetsk.

The regional governor of Luhansk said Russian forces occupied about 70 per cent of the city.

"If in two or three days the Russians take control of Severodonetsk, they will install artillery and mortars there and will bombard more intensely Lysychansk," Sergiy Gaiday wrote on Telegram.

Mr Gaiday said Ukrainian forces were prepared to fight "until the end" in Severodonetsk, and that "street fighting continues".

Luhansk is one of two regions, with Donetsk, that make up Ukraine's industrial heartland, Donbas, which Russia has vowed to "liberate".

Earlier this week, Mr Gaiday suggested Ukrainian troops could make a tactical retreat from the city to reduce casualties and take up defensive positions on the outskirts to repel further Russian advances.

French cameraman Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff, 32, was shot dead on Monday while travelling in a lorry marked “humanitarian aid” near Severodonetsk. France has demanded an investigation into the incident.

LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

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Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

THE BIO

Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13 

Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier

Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife 

What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents. 

Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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What is Diwali?

The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.

According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.

In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.  

 

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Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

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Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

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Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

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Updated: June 02, 2022, 2:24 PM`