MOSCOW: Russia announced on Tuesday that its military forces had achieved progress in eastern Ukraine, amplifying recent gains against Ukrainian forces who are desperately awaiting Western military aid amid a challenging situation on the front lines.
In response to the dire conditions, Kyiv has intensified its activities, launching more incursions and attacks on Russian territory along the Ukrainian border. Some of these actions have been attributed to Russians who volunteered to fight in pro-Ukrainian units, a move President Vladimir Putin has vowed to “punish.”
According to the Russian defense ministry, units of the ‘Center’ grouping of troops have liberated the village of Orlivka on the Avdiivka front, marking another advancement for Moscow following the capture of Avdiivka a month earlier.
The Ukrainian military has not officially commented on the potential loss of Orlivka, but it has acknowledged the challenging circumstances on the battlefield and has appealed to the West to fulfill its promises of support.
Meanwhile, European deliveries of aid to Ukraine have fallen behind schedule, and Kyiv’s industrial capabilities remain limited. President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the US Congress to expedite a $60 billion aid package, which has been stalled due to political disagreements.
Ukraine Seeks Western Military Aid Against Russia
In response to Zelensky’s plea, US Senator Lindsey Graham emphasized the critical nature of the moment for the conflict’s future, underlining the urgency for the US to make a prompt decision.
Meanwhile, Kyiv has intensified its attacks on Russian territory, with recent shelling and incursions reported in the regions of Belgorod and Kursk. These assaults have resulted in casualties, with 16 people killed and nearly a hundred wounded in the Belgorod region alone, according to governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
Meanwhile, President Putin, who recently secured his fifth term in office, addressed the border assaults during a meeting with the FSB security services, vowing to punish those responsible, whom he labeled as “traitors” and “scum.”
In response to Putin’s remarks, the head of staff of the Russian Volunteer Corps, identified as Aleksandr, downplayed the losses claimed by Putin and the defense ministry, stating that while there were casualties, they were not as significant as reported.
