In his latest post on his personal Telegram page, Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) need at least 7 more Patriot air defense systems or similar weapons, one million artillery shells, long-range weapons and modern fighter aircraft.
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| Ukraine says it needs seven more Patriot air defense missile systems to protect its airspace. Photo: Reuters |
The air defense system could save lives and “really make a difference” on the battlefield, the Ukrainian president said, calling on allies to quickly deliver long-range missiles and artillery to the Ukrainian military.
“It is absurd for our partners to be afraid of our power. The more long-range weapons are in the hands of AFU soldiers, the closer peace is,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Volodymir Zelensky also pointed out to his partners the need to deploy a sufficient number of combat aircraft to “really overcome the superiority that the Russian air force” is creating on the front.
“And it is entirely your choice. It is your choice whether life really has the same value everywhere, whether you treat all partners equally. The choice is whether we are really allies,” the Ukrainian President stressed.
Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that NATO partners would provide Ukraine with six more Patriot air defense missile systems: “We heard that seven such air defense systems will be needed. One of them is ours, we hope that six similar systems will be delivered soon.”
Regarding the war situation, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency quoted a Russian Army artillery commander as saying that many AFU soldiers are deliberately disguising themselves as civilians while fighting in the Kharkov region.
“The enemy used tactics of disguise as civilians, traveling in civilian vehicles and wearing civilian clothes. However, we identified them through their body armor and the infantry weapons they carried,” the Russian artillery commander said.
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| Russian troops are advancing strongly in the direction of Bakhmut and Avdeevka. Photo: Rian |
The officer clarified that such tactics are mainly used by UAV operators, who disguise themselves as civilians to find favorable locations and launch attack drones. Russian soldiers later discovered this disguise when tracking the landing UAVs.
Earlier, former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter said that the best and most well-trained UAV brigades were leaving their positions near Chasov Yar. According to him, the 25th Brigade had essentially surrendered, while the 67th Brigade refused to participate in the battle due to the fierceness of the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the city of Zaporozhye is under attack from Russian fire. The AFU Air Force Command has warned residents of the threat of air strikes. An air strike alert has been put in effect in the area.
According to the online map of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, air defense warning signals also sounded in the regions of Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, Cherkassy, Kirovograd, Kharkov and Dnipropetrovsk.
Earlier, explosions were recorded in Konotop, Sumy region. An air strike alert was announced in Kiev, as well as in 14 regions in northern, western and central Ukraine.
On the Bakhmut front, the Russian Army continues to advance and gain control of the southern part of Bohdanivka, driving Ukrainian forces out of the last strongholds in this settlement. Thus, the direction of the Russian attack from the northeast of Chasov Yar is wide open.
Currently, fierce battles continue in the eastern suburb of Chasov Yar, as well as in the suburb of Bohdanivka and the Kleshcheevka area.
After the visit of the President of Ukraine to Chasov Yar on April 19, it was only a matter of time before the AFU units defending here were pushed out. In addition, the Russian army organized regular attacks on a series of strategic targets of the Ukrainian army in the rear, causing many losses and affecting the logistics resources to the front line.
On the Avdeevka front, Moscow’s forces are consolidating on the outskirts of Ocheretine to block the Ukrainian counterattack and hold the Russians back as long as possible. The peculiarity of Russia’s tactics has surprised some analysts as the Russian spearheads have actively penetrated very deep without any flank protection. This only happens when the Russian spearhead stops to consolidate and resupply.
Russian troops have taken full control of the Zarya settlement, advancing 2.5 km north, closing in on the outskirts of Ocheretine. This effective attack was facilitated by a surprise attack on the positions of the 115th Brigade. With continued advances in Ocheretine and Novokalinovo, the Russian Army is now close to Novobakhmutovka.
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