While Ukrainian media reports on the complicated situation in eastern Ukraine, the Russian Defence Ministry claims a suspected chemical weapons laboratory found near Avdiivka.
Fierce fighting continues near Vovchansk. Russia’s Sever (North) group of troops is repelling Ukrainian counterattacks, disrupting three attempts to force the Vovcha River.
Ukrainian media also reported that Russia bombed a Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) deployment point in Bilyi Kolodiaz, the main point for sending soldiers to Vovchansk, Kharkiv region.
Battles also continue in Lyptsi and Kupiansk area. According to Ukrainian and Russian media, both sides are actively using First Person View (FPV) drones there.
The AFU General Staff reported that the tensest situation developed in Toretsk area. Recently, media reported that the key city of Chasiv Yar on the Donbas front line had allegedly lost its importance amid the breakthrough of Russian troops at other locations.
Avdiivka area
According to Ukrainian media, Russian troops are continuing an active offensive in the Avdiivka area. Late last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Lieutenant General Yuriy Sodol as commander of the Joint Forces of the AFU against the backdrop of public criticism over excessive casualties and accusations of incompetence.
Battles continue in the Prohres neighbourhood and on the Vuhledar-Kostiantynivka Road.
Local media report that a group of Ukrainian soldiers surrendered near Avdiivka. It is reported that they allegedly followed the lead of Maxim Likhachev, who hijacked a tank and defected to Russia. According to media reports, all four of them went to the front as part of the forced mobilisation.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry reported evidence of a Ukrainian chemical weapons laboratory near Avdiivka. Chief of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops of the Russian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, noted that gas masks, including US-made ones, and a Polish-made protective suit were found in the alleged laboratory.
“In the course of engineering reconnaissance in one of the settlements near Avdiivka, a laboratory with chemical equipment was found in an industrial zone on the ground floor of a destroyed building. A mobile diagnostic team was sent to the site.”
According to Kirillov, analysis of container contents revealed the presence of sulphuric acid and sodium cyanide.
The presence of these chemicals unambiguously indicates that the production of toxic substances of general toxic effect was carried out in the laboratory discovered.
Kirillov reported that Ukrainian forces allegedly dropped munitions from a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the village of Semenivka, Donetsk region, in May. According to eyewitnesses, affected villagers suffered symptoms typical of hydrocyanic acid: respiratory distress, vomiting, and an aftertaste of bitter almonds.
