kyiv points to an “extremely difficult” military situation and an “erosion of solidarity”
The Ukrainian army is currently in an “
extremely difficult
” situation facing Russian forces who are on the offensive in eastern and southern Ukraine after seizing the town of Avdiivka this weekend, recognized Monday Kiev.
A Ukrainian soldier loads shells into a tank, in the Luhansk region, February 18, 2024. REUTERS - STRINGER
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“
The situation is extremely difficult at several points on the front line, where Russian troops have concentrated maximum reserves. They are taking advantage of the delay in
Western aid to
Ukraine
, declared Monday, February 19, President
Volodymyr Zelensky
in his daily message. He added that his country lacked artillery and needed anti-aircraft defense as much as longer-range weapons.
The Ukrainian head of state also believes that
the blockade of the border with Poland
by Polish truckers and farmers demonstrates the “
erosion of solidarity
” towards his country.
On the battlefield, Russian soldiers, who have just obtained their first major territorial gain since the capture of Bakhmut in May 2023 by conquering Avdiïvka, in the eastern region of Donetsk, went on the attack in the east and the south, explained the Ukrainian army.
Also read Avdiïvka: a “strategic setback” for Ukraine, a “symbolic victory” for Russia
In the southern part of the front, “
the enemy made ten unsuccessful attempts against the positions of the (Ukrainian) defense forces in the area (of the village) of Robotyne. Here, the situation is changeable, the enemy is inflicting heavy fire
,” said Dmytro Lykhovy, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian military in this area.
Multiple Russian attacks
According to him, the Ukrainians repelled assaults launched "
with a significant number of armored vehicles
" but the Russians are now attacking with "
small groups
" supported by armored vehicles and an air force which is "
actively operating
".
“
These offensive attempts have been stopped, the enemy has been eliminated on the outskirts of Robotyne
,” assured General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, the commander of Ukrainian troops in the region. The Telegram channel DeepState, close to the Ukrainian army, reported on Sunday evening that the Russians had managed to break through the Ukrainian defenses a few kilometers east of Robotyne.
This village, now like many other localities completely razed by artillery fire, was recaptured from the Russians in August, which was described as an important success by Ukraine in the counter-offensive it had launched in summer.
Russian attacks on this part of the southern front began this weekend as
the Russian army captured Avdiïvka
, some 150 km northeast of Robotyne, after four months of repeated assaults.
Also read At the Munich conference, Volodymyr Zelensky calls for the responsibility of his allies
(with AFP)
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