Russian gas began flowing to Europe via a major pipeline on Thursday after a 10-day pause but fears of broader supply cuts remained and Russian forces in Ukraine were seen eyeing the capture of the country's second biggest power plant.
Russian troops shelled cities across eastern and southern Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said, and hit two schools as Moscow's forces carried out limited ground operations in preparation for what is seen as a wider offensive.
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| Russian gas flows to Germany again, Moscow eyes giant Ukrainian power plant |
Reuters was unable to immediately verify Ukrainian assertions about Russian shelling, which they say has been intense for several weeks, and it was not immediately clear if anyone had been hurt in the strikes on the schools.
The resumption of gas flows via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany ended a nerve-jangling 10 days for Europe in which politicians expressed concern Russia might not restart them at a time when alternative energy supplies are tight and prices high. read more
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The pipeline has traditionally carried more than one third of Russia's gas exports to Europe but was operating at only 40% of its capacity after Kremlin-controlled Gazprom cut gas exports in a row over the repair of a turbine.
"In view of the missing 60% (capacity) and the political instability, there is no reason yet to give the all-clear," Klaus Mueller, president of Germany's network regulator, wrote on Twitter.
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European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has accused Russia of trying to blackmail Europe by using energy as a weapon, something Moscow, which is unable to swiftly redirect all of its gas to other markets, has denied. read more
Moscow has criticised EU and U.S. sanctions on Russia over its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine and military help to Kyiv, saying it had to undertake what it calls a "special military operation" to prevent NATO using Ukraine to threaten Russia.
Ukraine says it needs the weapons to defend itself against what it and the West cast as an unprovoked imperial-style war of aggression designed to steal its land and erase its national identity.
INTENSE SHELLING
The Ukrainian military reported heavy and sometimes fatal Russian shelling in the east and south of the country amid what its said were largely failed attempts by Russian ground forces to advance in the eastern Donetsk region.
Donetsk regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian missile strikes had destroyed two schools in the cities of Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka and had also hit the city of Bakhmut but there was no information yet on casualties.
Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kramatorsk
Pipes at the landfall facilities of the 'Nord Stream 1' gas pipline in Lubmin
Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kramatorsk
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Pipes at the landfall facilities of the 'Nord Stream 1' gas pipeline are pictured in Lubmin, Germany, March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke//File Photo
"Russia is intentionally destroying our cities and towns. Do not expose yourself to danger - evacuate," he wrote on Telegram.
Russia says it does not deliberately target civilians and uses high precision weapons to degrade Ukrainian military targets, but the war has flattened cities, particularly in Russian-speaking areas in the east and southeast of Ukraine.
The mayor of Kharkiv, Igor Terekhov, in his Telegram channel said that one of the most densely populated areas of the city was being shelled and asked people not to leave shelters. Oleh Synehubov, governor of the Kharkiv region, said two people had been killed and 19 wounded, four of them seriously.
Vitaly Kim, governor of the southern Mykolaiv region, said the region had been targeted with seven S-300 missiles. One person had been wounded, he said, and infrastructure, energy facilities and storage facilities damaged.
Multiple blasts were also heard in the Russian-controlled southern region of Kherson overnight and into Thursday, Russian news agency TASS reported.
Reuters could not independently verify the reports.
HEAVY LOSSES
CIA Director William Burns said on Wednesday that the United States estimated that Russian casualties in Ukraine had so far reached around 15,000 killed and perhaps 45,000 wounded and that Ukraine has suffered what he called significant losses too.
Russia classifies military deaths as state secrets even in times of peace and has not updated its official casualty figures frequently during the war. read more
Scotching persistent speculation that Putin may be suffering from health problems, Burns also said that the Kremlin chief was healthy as far as he knew.
British military intelligence said on Thursday that Russian forces were likely closing in on Ukraine's second biggest power plant at Vuhlehirska, 50 km (31 miles) north-east of Donetsk.
"Russia is prioritising the capture of critical national infrastructure, such as power plants," the ministry, which supports Ukrainian forces, said in a regular bulletin.
It said taking the power plant, a Soviet-era coal-fired facility, was also probably part of Russia's attempt to regain momentum as it tried to advance towards the key cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine.
Russian gas started streaming to Europe by means of a significant pipeline on Thursday following a 10-day stop yet fears of more extensive stockpile cuts remained and Russian powers in Ukraine were seen looking at the catch of the nation's second greatest power plant.
Russian soldiers shelled urban communities across eastern and southern Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities said, and hit two schools as Moscow's powers did restricted ground tasks in anticipation of what is viewed as a more extensive hostile.
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Reuters couldn't promptly confirm Ukrainian attestations about Russian shelling, which they say has been extreme for a long time, and it was not quickly clear in the event that anybody had been harmed in the strikes on the schools.
The resumption of gas streams by means of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany finished a nerve-clanking 10 days for Europe in which legislators communicated concern Russia probably won't restart them when elective energy supplies are tight and costs high. understand more
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The pipeline has generally conveyed more than 33% of Russia's gas commodities to Europe yet was working at just 40% of its ability after Kremlin-controlled Gazprom cut gas sends out in succession over the maintenance of a turbine.
"Considering the missing 60% (limit) and the political unsteadiness, there is no great explanation yet to give the all-unmistakable," Klaus Mueller, leader of Germany's organization controller, composed on Twitter.
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All european Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has blamed Russia for attempting to extort Europe by involving energy as a weapon, something Moscow, which can't quickly divert its gas to different business sectors, has denied. understand more
Moscow has scrutinized EU and U.S. sanctions on Russia over its Feb. 24 intrusion of Ukraine and military assistance to Kyiv, saying it needed to embrace what it calls a "unique military activity" to forestall NATO utilizing Ukraine to undermine Russia.
Ukraine says it needs the weapons to guard itself against what it and the West given a role as an unmerited magnificent style battle of hostility intended to take its property and eradicate its public personality.
Serious SHELLING
The Ukrainian military detailed weighty and in some cases deadly Russian shelling in the east and south of the country in the midst of what its said were to a great extent bombed endeavors by Russian ground powers to progress in the eastern Donetsk locale.
Donetsk provincial lead representative Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian rocket strikes had obliterated two schools in the urban communities of Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka and had additionally raised a ruckus around town of Bakhmut yet there was no data at this point on setbacks.
Russia's assault on Ukraine proceeds, in Kramatorsk
Pipes at the landfall offices of the 'Nord Stream 1' gas pipline in Lubmin
Russia's assault on Ukraine proceeds, in Kramatorsk
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Pipes at the landfall offices of the 'Nord Stream 1' gas pipeline are envisioned in Lubmin, Germany, March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke//File Photo
"Russia is deliberately annihilating our urban communities and towns. Try not to open yourself to risk - empty," he composed on Telegram.
Russia says it doesn't purposely target regular folks and uses high accuracy weapons to corrupt Ukrainian military targets, yet the conflict has leveled urban communities, especially in Russian-talking regions in the east and southeast of Ukraine.
The chairman of Kharkiv, Igor Terekhov, in his Telegram station said that one of the most thickly populated region of the city was being shelled and asked individuals not to leave covers. Oleh Synehubov, legislative head of the Kharkiv locale, said two individuals had been killed and 19 injured, four of them genuinely.
Vitaly Kim, legislative head of the southern Mykolaiv area, said the locale had been designated with seven S-300 rockets. One individual had been injured, he said, and framework, energy offices and storerooms harmed.
Numerous impacts were additionally heard in the Russian-controlled southern area of Kherson short-term and into Thursday, Russian news organization TASS revealed.
Reuters couldn't freely confirm the reports.
Weighty LOSSES
CIA Director William Burns said on Wednesday that the United States assessed that Russian setbacks in Ukraine had up to this point stretched around 15,000 killed and maybe 45,000 injured and that Ukraine has endured what he called huge misfortunes as well.
Russia orders military passings as state mysteries even in the midst of harmony and has not refreshed its true loss figures much of the time during the conflict. understand more
Scotching persevering hypothesis that Putin might be experiencing medical conditions, Burns additionally said that the Kremlin boss was solid apparently.
English military knowledge said on Thursday that Russian powers were probable surrounding Ukraine's second greatest power plant at Vuhlehirska, 50 km (31 miles) north-east of Donetsk.
"Russia is focusing on the catch of basic public foundation, for example, power plants," the service, which upholds Ukrainian powers, said in a customary notice.
It said taking the power plant, a Soviet-period coal-terminated office, was likewise presumably part of Russia's endeavor to recapture force as it attempted to progress towards the vital urban communities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine.
