The Russian Defense Ministry announced the launch of massive missile and artillery strikes on the positions of the Ukrainian forces in several provinces, while the Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (NATO) said that Kyiv's allies provided it with unprecedented capabilities that made a difference on the battlefield.
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that more than 500 Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded, with intensive strikes on their positions in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, in addition to the destruction of their military equipment, in addition to large-scale attacks on Kharkiv and Donetsk.
Meanwhile, pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk (eastern Ukraine) announced that they had captured the strategic town of Mayorsk, south of the province's Bakhmut city, with the support of the Russian army.
The separatists also broadcast pictures that they said were to reinforce the positions in the city of Lyman, which is under the control of Russian forces, after it was subjected to storming attempts by the Ukrainian army.
On the other hand, Yury Sak, an advisor to the Ukrainian Defense Minister and a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, described the progress of Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv as a major setback for Russia.
Sak added - in a previous publication to the island - that the progress showed the possibility of defeating the Russian army, and that their goal was to liberate all Ukrainian cities and villages.
In the same context, Moscow warned Washington that providing Ukraine with long-range missiles would cross Russia's red lines.
In her weekly press briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that if the step was taken, it would approach the dangerous line of a direct military confrontation between Russia and NATO countries.
Meanwhile, CNN quoted US officials that the United States is not inclined to provide Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missile systems.
For his part, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that Ukraine's progress is due to support the allies and provide them with unprecedented capabilities that made a difference on the battlefield.
Stoltenberg added - during a video interview with the American magazine "Foreign Policy" - that the recent gains made by the Ukrainians prove that they have the ability to liberate their lands.
He pointed out that Russia still controls about 20% of the territory of Ukraine, and that it possesses a large military force and can mobilize more;
Therefore, we must continue to provide support to Ukraine and prepare for a long battle, as he put it.
In another context, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Ukraine's accession process to the European Union is well on its way.