While Ukraine Requests Faster Military Aid, Russia Declares Battlefield Gains

Pavel Polityuk

KYIV (Reuters – Russia claimed Wednesday that it had breached two of Ukraine’s eastern defense lines. Kyiv also spoke out about Russian relentless attacks on the country. “difficult for us”Western allies have announced increased military aid to Kyiv, including artillery shells.

Russia, bolstered in part by the tens of thousands reservists that were drafted in December following months of humiliating battlefield reversals, has intensified its attack on southern and east Ukraine in recent weeks. Widely anticipated, a major new offensive will be launched as the first anniversary for its invasion draws nears.

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces had retreated against Russian attacks in Luhansk, but it didn’t give details. Reuters couldn’t independently verify this report and other battlefield reports.

“During the offensive … the Ukrainian troops randomly retreated to a distance of up to 3 km (2 miles) from the previously occupied lines,” Telegram is a messaging app that allows for the sharing of information.

“Even the more fortified second line of defence of the enemy could not hold the breakthrough of the Russian military.”

The ministry didn’t specify where the offensive occurred in the Luhansk Region.

Later in the day Hanna Malyar, Ukraine’s deputy defence minister, said that Russian forces were growing. “round-the-clock” Attacks on government positions without naming where.

“The situation is tense. Yes, it is difficult for us. But our fighters are not allowing the enemy to achieve their goals and are inflicting very serious losses,” Maltyar wrote a Telegram message app.

Serhiy Haidai (Luhansk Regional Governor) stated that Russia was sending heavy equipment and troops into Luhansk.

“The attacks are coming in waves from different directions. (But) those who spread the information that allegedly our defence forces have pulled back beyond the line of the administrative boundary (of Luhansk) – this does not correspond to reality.”

Kyiv’s military administration stated that six Russian balloons, possibly carrying reconnaissance equipment, were destroyed by air raid sirens on Wednesday.

“The purpose of launching the balloons was possibly to detect and exhaust our air defences,” It stated this via the Telegram messaging app. Russia didn’t immediately respond.

RUSSIAN ONSLAUGHT ABOUT BAKHMUT

Russia is also conducting an artillery attack and ground assault on Bakhmut, Donetsk Province adjacent to Luhansk.

Serhiy Cherevatyi spoke on Wednesday for Ukraine’s eastern military command. He said that there were fierce battles in Bakhmut after it was flattened by months-long bombardment, which has made it a ghost town.

Russia’s capture of Bakhmut would provide a springboard to its efforts to take on Kramatorsk in the west and Sloviansk further west. This would allow Moscow to regain momentum ahead of the Feb. 24, 2001, anniversary of the invasion.

Zelenskiy claimed that Russia was in a hurry with its latest push to Ukraine. Russia, equipped with longer-range and heavier firepower from the West gathers strength for what many anticipate to be a spring counteroffensive.

The Ukrainian government claims that it is using more shells than the West can produce and needs fighter jets as well as long-range missiles and fighter jets to stop the Russian offensive and retake territory lost.

“GRINDING WAR OF ATTTRITION”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg claimed that the alliance members were increasing their production of 155mm rounds of artillery and needed to continue this increase to help Ukraine. It was “obvious” He said that NATO countries had to spend more money on defense.

“So yes, things are happening but we need to continue, we need to step up even more. This is now becoming a grinding war of attrition and (this) is a war of logistics,” He spoke out after the meeting of NATO defence Ministers in Brussels.

Josep Borrell, European Union chief for foreign policy, encouraged countries to join Germany in sending a message. “as many tanks as possible, and as quickly as possible” Ukraine following media reports that the Netherlands and Denmark had said they wouldn’t deliver Leopard 2 battle tank like Berlin to Ukraine

“It would be very disappointing if, after so long of pointing the finger at Germany for not doing anything, these countries now don’t follow suit,” Borrell spoke to Germany’s Phoenix broadcaster.

“I know there are hundreds of tanks in EU armies, some of them need to be refurbished, but then you have to do it, and do it quickly, because in the spring it will be too late.”

After the Brussels talks, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that Ukraine had a good chance of taking over. “exploiting” This year, take the initiative on the battlefield

Austin stated that every NATO system Kyiv receives will be used to train its troops. “We’re laser-focused on making sure that we provide a capability and not just the platform.”

Britain announced that it and other European countries would supply military equipment, including spare parts for tanks and artillery ammunition, to Ukraine through an international trust. An initial package of more than $241million was provided.

A senior U.S. official stated that Washington had advised Ukraine not to launch a major offensive before the U.S. has provided training and its latest weaponry.

Russia declares invasion a “special military operation” NATO has been expressing concern over security threats and says it is showing hostility towards Russia every day and is becoming more involved with the conflict. Kyiv, along with its allies, consider Russia’s actions a unprovoked land grab.

Russia controls large swathes of Ukraine’s south, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, as well as its nuclear power plant. This includes nearly all of Luhansk, and more than half of Donetsk. Russia annexed four areas in Ukraine last year in a move that was condemned by many United Nations members.

(Reporting done by Caleb Davis. Additional reporting provided by Sabine Siebold. Aleksandar Vaovic, Ron Popeski. Lydia Kelly. Tassilohummel. Steve Holland. Doina. Chiacu. Ron Popeski. David Ljunggren. Written by Stephen Coates. William Maclean. Edited by Lisa Shumaker. Nick Macfie.

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