The Russian army on Tuesday announced “massive strikes” on all fronts in response to the meteoric counter-offensive by Ukrainian troops, which the United States called a “change of momentum” by announcing new military aid “in the next days “.
“I leave President Zelensky […] decide whether he feels like he’s reached a turning point militarily, but obviously, at least in Donbass (eastern Ukraine), there’s momentum,” said John Kirby, a National Security Council spokesperson attached to US President Joe Biden.
“You are going to see another (military assistance component) in the next few days,” he promised.
On the ground, Russian bombardments have left at least 8 dead and 19 injured in 24 hours in the regions of Kharkiv (north-east) and Donetsk (east), according to the Ukrainian presidency. 200 war crimes committed every day by the Russians” on its soil, further assured the Ukrainian general staff, adding that “more than 70,000 km2 in 10 Ukrainian regions were mined” by the occupiers.
The general staff reported the continuation of “looting” by the Russian army, stating that some 300 cars were stolen in the Kharkiv region.
For its part, Russia has claimed that the Ukrainian military has been carrying out harsh reprisals against civilians in the places they have taken over in recent days.
“According to our information, there are many punitive actions against the inhabitants of the Kharkiv region, people are being tortured, mistreated,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding: “It’s appalling.”
On Tuesday, during a meeting of the General Staff, Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky argued that “more than 4000 km2 and more than 300 localities have been liberated. Stabilization measures are in place, and the offensive continues”.
“Russian air, ballistic and artillery forces are carrying out massive strikes against Ukrainian armed forces units in all operational areas,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
He referred in particular to shelling near Sloviansk, Konstantinivka and Bakhmout in eastern Ukraine, as well as in the southern regions of Mykolaiv and Zaporizhya and in that of Kharkiv, from where Russian soldiers have almost completely withdrawn in the face of Ukrainian advances.
The Russian offensive launched on February 24 will continue “until the objectives are achieved”, the Kremlin had repeated the day before, according to which there are currently “no prospects for negotiations” between the two belligerents.
Ukraine on Monday reported new military successes, saying it had reached the Russian border and restored control over the equivalent of seven times the area of kyiv in a month.
“The liberation of the localities occupied by the Russian invaders continues in the regions of Kharkiv and Donetsk,” the Ukrainian army said on Tuesday.
According to the deputy head of the presidential administration, Kiril Tymoshenko, “the electricity supply to the city of Kharkiv and the entire region has been restored”.
Call for Russian “withdrawal”
On the diplomatic front, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to order the “complete withdrawal” of Russian forces from Ukraine.
During a 90-minute telephone interview, the German leader “urged the Russian President that a diplomatic solution be found as soon as possible, based on a ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Russian troops and the respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” according to a statement from the German Chancellery.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda also called on French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday to increase military aid to Ukraine, in a Paris-initiated phone conversation.