The first reactions from Russia to the Russian oil embargo decided by European leaders are beginning to arrive. The country led by Vladimir Putin devalues ​​and says it will look for alternatives to export.

But on the battlefield, the last hours were one of advances and retreats for the Ukrainian troops. On the one hand, Ukraine has announced that it has regained control of a town near Kherson, a region that is almost entirely under Russian control. On the other hand, Russian troops are advancing slowly towards the center of the city of Sievierodonetsk, in the eastern region of the Lugansk country.

It is, in fact, in the east of the country where the clashes are concentrated. In Donetsk, more specifically in Sloviansk, an airstrike killed three people and injured six.

Here is a snapshot of the situation, to be aware of everything that happened in the last hours of the war in Ukraine. You can also read the Observer’s liveblog, where all the latest news on the conflict is updated up to the minute.

What happened during the morning?

• After EU leaders imposed a partial embargo on Russian oil, Russia has already gone so far as to say that it will find “other importers”. The EU had decided on Monday night to implement sanctions that will cut Russian oil imports by the end of the year by around 90%.
• This Tuesday ends the meeting of heads of state and government of the EU member states, chaired by Charles Michel, president of the European Council. Following the decision on the embargo, the last day of the summit will be marked by issues related to defence, energy and food security.
• It happens for the first time since Russia took Mariupol: a ship sailed from the city port (and headed east). The news is reported by the Russian Interfax news agency, citing the pro-Russian separatist leader from Donetsk.
• A study by the Kyiv School of Economics concluded that at least 1,037 western companies left Russia since the beginning of the invasion on February 24. Even so, there are many Western companies that have not changed their activity in the country: if 50.2% announced their departure, another 21.2% reduced operations or suspended investments, but about 28.6% remained in the country as before of the invasion, without altering the activity.
• Ukraine has announced that it has regained control of a town near Kherson. “The enemy abandoned the village of Mykolaivka.in the north of the Kherson region,” the Ukrainian military said in a bulletin published late Monday, referring to the “panic” withdrawal of Russian soldiers.
• On the other hand, the Russian troops are advancing slowly towards the center of the city of sivierodonetskin the eastern Luhansk region, according to Governor Serhiy Gaidai, quoted by Reuters.
• Three people died and six were injured. in an air raid on Sloviansk, in the Donetsk region. The information was revealed on Tuesday by the governor of the region, Pavlo Kyrylenko, according to The Kyiv Independent.
• Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the Ukrainian president, indicated that there are no ongoing negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. in the political and diplomatic fieldsolely on a humanitarian level, for the evacuation of civilians or the exchange of prisoners.