Now Russian President Vladimir Putin has also confirmed the launch of Ukraine’s counter-offensive. Although the Ukrainian armed forces are not achieving successes, Ukraine still has offensive potential, according to Putin.
Ukrainian soldiers failed to reach their targets in any sector,” Putin said Friday at a conference in Sochi, excerpts of which were published on the Telegram short message service.
Earlier, some international media, citing Ukrainian military representatives, suspected that the operation to liberate Russian-held territories had been going on for a few days.
Heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine
Both sides had previously reported heavy fighting, particularly in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian deputy defense minister Hanna Maljar spoke of repulsing Russian attacks.
Putin said there has been “heavy fighting” over the past five days. He also claimed that the Ukrainians had failed to achieve their objectives in any sector of the front. However, this could not be independently verified. Since the beginning of the war, the Russian side in particular has repeatedly made false military statements.
He also said, referring to the Russian army, which has suffered repeated military defeats since the beginning of the war: “Yes, we don’t have enough of these modern weapons, but the industry (…) is developing rapidly, and I am convinced that all the tasks facing the arms industry can undoubtedly be solved.”
Russia will begin laying nuclear weapons in Belarus in July
According to Putin, Russia will start transferring nuclear weapons to Belarus in July. The weapons deployment planning “will be completed by July 7 or 8,” Putin said Friday during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi. The deployment of nuclear weapons will then begin. “Everything is going according to plan,” the Kremlin chief said.
Another multi-billion US military package for Kiev
Meanwhile, the US government is providing Ukraine with more billions in military aid to fend off Russia’s offensive war. The US Department of Defense announced a new $2.1 billion military equipment package in Washington on Friday. According to the Pentagon, this includes ammunition for various weapons systems that the United States has already supplied to Ukraine.
Specifically, the package includes ammunition for Patriot and Raytheon’s HAWK air defense systems, AeroVironment’s Puma unmanned aerial systems and other equipment, as well as aid for repair training, the statement said.
The United States is considered Ukraine’s main ally in the fight against the Russian invasion and has been delivering massive packages of military equipment at a rapid pace in recent months. Since the start of the war in late February 2022, the United States has provided or pledged more than $39.7 billion in military aid to Kiev, according to the Pentagon.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
