Grimm's enthusiasm is gai from residents. Locals tried to block armored vehicles, and people waved Ukrainian flags as Russian troops rolled in to occupy the city. When the troops started to crack down on the protestors, the resistance movement evolved and new groups emerged. derailed. l, says these attacks were organized by partisan groups. "It's the job of our partisans, our secret services and our soldiers. They do this job together," he tells the BBC. In response, the Russians are desperately trying to crush all resistance.
Searching houses and detaining people, residents say, often at random. Russia is increasing the intensity of its operations in Ukraine's eastern Donbas Executive List region, the UK Ministry of Defense says in its daily intelligence update. Russian forces are seeking to encircle Severodonetsk, Lyschansk, and Rubbishness, the MOD says. There has been strong Ukrainian resistance with forces occupying well dug-in defensive positions, it adds. "Russia has, however, achieved some localized successes, due in part to concentrating.
Artillery units," it adds. Russia’s capture of Severodonetsk would see the whole of the Luhansk region placed under Russian occupation, according to the ministry. Germany has said the EU is close to a deal on banning Russian oil imports - the bloc had said earlier that it planned to ban all oil imports. Russia by the end of this year. But how reliant is it on Russian oil and gas? Russia is the world's third biggest oil producer - after the US and Saudi Arabia. Before it was sanctioned, about half of its crude oil exports went to Europe. It sent far.