Eurovision win boosts morale
UKRAINE: NEW FIGHTING AS WINNING BAND CALLS FOR HELP
‘A whole Russian battalion has refused to attack’ because of heavy losses.
Ukraine’s forces were fighting off a fierce Russian onslaught on the east of the country yesterday, after a Eurovision victory gave the country a much-needed boost of morale.
President Volodymr Zelensky warned on Saturday that the war in his country risked triggering global food shortages, adding that the situation in Ukraine’s Donbas is “very difficult”.
Russia, which invaded Ukraine on 24 February, has increasingly turned its attention to the country’s east since the end of March, after failing to take the capital Kyiv.
Western analysts believe President Vladimir Putin has his sights on annexing southern and eastern Ukraine in the months ahead but his troops have appeared to be encountering stiff resistance.
But as a conflict that has displaced millions dragged towards its third month, Ukrainians were offered a much-needed boost of optimism as a rap lullaby combining folk and modern hip-hop rhythms won the Eurovision song contest.
Stefania, which beat out a host of over-the-top acts at the quirky annual musical event, was written by frontman Oleh Psiuk as a tribute to his mother before the war – but its nostalgic lyrics have taken on outsized meaning because of the conflict.
“Please help Ukraine and Mariupol. Help Azovstal right now,” Psiuk said in English from the stage, referring to the port city’s underground steelworks where Ukrainian soldiers are surrounded by Russian forces.
There was also optimism from Kyiv’s head of military intelligence, who told the UK’s Sky News on Saturday that the war could reach a “breaking point” by August and end in defeat for Russia before the end of the year.
Major General Kyrylo Budanov told the news network that he was “optimistic”.
On the ground, the governor of the eastern Lugansk region, Serhiy Gaidai, said Ukrainian forces had prevented Russian attempts to cross a river and encircle the city of Severodonetsk.
“There’s heavy fighting on the border with Donetsk region,” Gaidai said, reporting major Russian losses of equipment and personnel. “From interceptions (of phone calls), we understand that a whole (Russian) battalion has refused to attack, because they see what’s happening.”
Aerial images showed dozens of destroyed armoured vehicles on the river bank and wrecked pontoon bridges.
UK military intelligence also said Russian forces had sustained heavy losses.