Destruction of fuel storage facilities for the Ukrainian army in Donbass

Russian forces target an aircraft repair factory in the Zaporizhia region

Ukrainian soldiers during the fighting in the Donetsk region.

À Reuters

The Russian Defense Ministry announced that its air forces targeted workshops at a factory belonging to the "Motor Sitch" company, where helicopters are being repaired in the Zaporizhia region of Ukraine. .

In addition, the British Ministry of Defense said yesterday that it is not yet clear how Russia will achieve its announced significant increase in the number of its soldiers in the army, but it is unlikely that these reinforcements will lead to a significant increase in its fighting power in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the number of armed forces personnel to 2.04 million from 1.9 million as the war in Ukraine entered its seventh month.

Britain's Ministry of Defense said in a regular briefing on the war that it was not clear whether this would be achieved through the recruitment of more volunteers or a mandatory increase in the number of conscripts.

In either case, the ministry added, this would likely not have a significant impact on the war in Ukraine, since those subject to conscription are technically not obligated to serve outside Russian territory.

German Foreign Minister Annalina Birbock assured Ukraine that Germany would support it in the war against Russia for years to come if necessary.

"Unfortunately, we have to assume that Ukraine will still need new heavy weapons from its friends until next summer," Bierbock told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.

"Ukraine also defends our freedom and peace.

We support them financially and militarily and for as long as necessary.”

Berbock warned that the war could go on for years, and defended Ukraine's claim to Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. "Crimea also belongs to Ukraine," she said.

Bierbock flatly rejected demands by some German politicians for their government to agree to allow more Russian gas shipments to flow through the Nord Stream 2 pipeline on the Baltic Sea to avoid a gas crisis in Germany later this year.

On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree facilitating the residence and work of hundreds of thousands of people who left Ukraine for Russia since the start of the war. located in southeastern Ukraine, to stay in Russia for an indefinite period.

So far, these people have only been allowed to stay in Russia for 90 days out of a 180-day period.

It was also necessary to obtain a work permit or a special permit, in order to stay longer.

The persons concerned have the right to carry out professional activity in Russia without a work permit, according to the decree.

The decree also prohibits the expulsion of Ukrainian citizens from Russia, except for those who have been released from prison or who pose a threat to Russia's security.

Putin, by a separate decree, ordered the granting of social assistance to the most needy people (pensioners, people with disabilities, pregnant women) who had to leave Ukraine and the separatist territories.

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