Volodymyr Zelensky pleads for arms as Russian forces lay siege to Severodonetsk
June 14, 2022, 9:27 am

Volodymyr Zelensky pleads for arms as Russian forces lay siege to Severodonetsk

One of the soldiers of the Prince Kostiantyn Ostrozky 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade deployed somewhere in Donetsk Oblast - Euromaidan Press

The Arabnews reported, citing the AFP, Ukraine’s president has made an impassioned plea to Western allies to speed arms deliveries and help stem “terrifying” casualties as Russian forces lay siege to the eastern city of Severodonetsk, destroying the last bridges into the industrial hub.

The cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk have been targeted for weeks as the last areas in the eastern Donbas region of Lugansk still under Ukrainian control.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday (June 13) the human cost of the battle for the region was “simply terrifying.”

Zelensky expressed confidence in Ukraine’s ability to reclaim territory, calling on the nation’s allies to send more weapons.

On Sunday (May 29), president Volodymyr Zelensky made his first trip outside Kyiv since the beginning of the Russian invasion. He visited Ukrainian troops on the frontlines in the northeastern Kharkiv region - Photo: President Zelensky Facebook account

“We just need enough weapons to ensure all of this. Our partners have them.”

Presidential adviser Mikhaylo Podolyak on Monday listed items he said the Ukrainian army requires, including hundreds of howitzers, tanks and armored vehicles.

Volodymyr Zelensky slams Emmanuel Macron's comments on Russia

He tweeted: “Being straightforward — to end the war we need heavy weapons.”

Regional governor Sergiy Gaiday said Monday that Ukraine’s forces had been pushed back from Severodonetsk’s center after a weeks-long Russian offensive.

He told Radio Free Europe: “They destroyed all the bridges, and getting into the city is no longer possible. Evacuation is also not possible.”

He said Russian forces control 70 to 80 percent of the city but had not captured or encircled it.

Volodymyr Zelensky denies Russian breakthrough in Donbass

Last week, Ukraine’s defense minister said up to 100 of his troops were dying daily and 500 sustaining injuries. Previously, Zelensky had estimated 60-100 Ukrainian soldiers were dying daily.

Eduard Basurin, a representative for pro-Russian separatists, said that with the screws tightening on the Lugansk region, Ukrainian forces have two choices: “to surrender or die."

The capture of Severodonetsk would open the road to Sloviansk and another major city, Kramatorsk, in Moscow’s push to conquer Donbas, a mainly Russian-speaking region partly held by pro-Kremlin separatists since 2014.

Source: arabnews

Bahrain's king orders cabinet reshuffle and names new oil minister France begins military withdrawal from Mali

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”