(Kyiv) President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted on Monday that the Ukrainian army was facing an “extremely difficult” situation facing Russian forces, who according to him are taking advantage of Western delays in providing their military aid.
“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 aid to Ukraine,” Mr. Zelensky said in his daily message, adding that his country lacked artillery and needed front-line anti-aircraft defense as much as weapons. longer range.
Russian forces are on the offensive in eastern and southern Ukraine and have just captured the disputed town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, achieving their first major gain since the capture of Bakhmut in May 2023.
On Monday, the Ukrainian army said it was facing “heavy fire” from offensive Russian forces in the Zaporizhia region in the south of the country.
Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Tarnavsky said Moscow’s troops were launching multiple attacks, including near the village of Robotyne, one of the few places where Ukraine had managed to regain ground during the Ukrainian counter-offensive. last summer.
The Russian army is trying to advance “small assault groups supported by armored units,” he said on Telegram.
“These offensive attempts were stopped, the enemy was eliminated on the outskirts of Robotyne,” said Commander Tarnavsky, who commands Ukrainian forces in the region.
Like many towns in eastern Ukraine, Robotyne was completely razed after months of artillery exchanges.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the capture of Avdiivka as an “important victory” for his troops, days before the second anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.
Zelensky says blockade on Polish border reflects “erosion of solidarity”
PHOTO JAKUN ORZECHOWSKI/AGENCJA WYBORC PROVIDED BY REUTERS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that the blockade of the Polish border by Polish truckers and farmers demonstrated the “erosion of solidarity” towards his country.
“What is happening on our western border, the border with Poland, cannot be considered normal or ordinary,” he said. This demonstrates “the erosion of everyday solidarity”.
For weeks, Polish farmers have been trying to prevent imports of cargo from Ukraine, to protest what they say is unfair competition.
This quarrel has strained relations between Kyiv and Warsaw, which has been one of Ukraine’s most fervent supporters since the start of the Russian invasion.
Road traffic with Poland has been crucial since the start of this war to allow Ukrainian companies to continue to export. But this has angered Polish farmers and transport companies, who complain about Ukrainian tariffs, with which they cannot compete.
“In reality, it is not a question of cereals, but rather of politics,” said President Zelensky, assuring that only 5% of his country’s agricultural exports crossed the Polish border.