Russia-Ukraine war: US, Germany sending weapons to Ukraine as Russia advances

Russia-Ukraine conflict information replaces: The Russian navy mentioned it used long-range missiles on Wednesday (June 15) to destroy a depot within the western Lviv area of Ukraine the place ammunition for NATO-supplied weapons was saved, and the governor of a key jap metropolis acknowledged Russian forces are advancing in heavy combating.

The battle for Sievierodonetsk in Ukraine’s jap Donbas space has change into the main target of Russia’s offensive in latest weeks.

Russia-backed separatists accused Ukrainian forces of sabotaging an evacuation of civilians from the town’s besieged Azot chemical plant, the place about 500 civilians and an unknown variety of Ukrainian fighters are believed to be sheltering from missile assaults. It wasn’t attainable to confirm that declare.

Russian officers had introduced a humanitarian hall from the Azot plant a day earlier, however mentioned they might take civilians to areas managed by Russian, not Ukrainian, forces.

The Ukrainian governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai, instructed information company The Related Press that “heavy combating in Sievierodonetsk continues at the moment as properly.” The Luhansk and Donetsk areas make up the Donbas.

The scenario within the metropolis is getting worse, Haidai mentioned, as a result of Russian forces have extra manpower and weapons. “However our navy is holding again the enemy from three sides without delay,” he added.

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Within the Lviv area close to the border with NATO member Poland, Russian forces used high-precision Kalibr missiles to destroy the depot close to the city of Zolochiv, Russian Protection Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov mentioned. Konashenkov mentioned shells for M777 howitzers, a sort provided by the USA, have been saved there. He mentioned 4 howitzers have been destroyed elsewhere and that Russian airstrikes additionally destroyed Ukrainian “aviation gear” at a navy aerodrome within the southern Mykolaiv area.

Ukrainian officers didn’t instantly touch upon the Zolochiv strike.

Whereas focusing most of their assaults on jap Ukraine, the place they’re attempting to seize massive swaths of territory, Russian forces have additionally been hitting extra particular targets elsewhere, utilizing high-precision missiles to disrupt the worldwide provide of weapons and destroy navy infrastructure. Civilian infrastructure has been bombarded as properly, despite the fact that Russian officers have claimed they’re solely concentrating on navy services.

Within the northeastern Sumy area, the governor mentioned two helicopters flying in from close by Russian territory fired 5 missiles late Wednesday across the metropolis of Hlukhiv. A residential constructing was hit, killing one particular person and wounding six, and different infrastructure was broken, Gov. Dmytro Zhyvytskyy mentioned on Telegram.

Early Thursday, loud explosions have been heard within the metropolis of Sumy whereas air raid sirens have been going off, and the mayor urged residents to stay in bomb shelters and to not publicize any details about what was hit.

NATO members are pledging to ship extra and longer-range weapons to Ukraine.

President Joe Biden mentioned Wednesday the U.S. will ship an extra $1 billion in navy support, the most important single tranche of weapons and gear because the conflict started. The help will embody anti-ship missile launchers, howitzers and extra rounds for the Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Methods — all key weapons techniques that Ukrainian leaders have urgently requested.

Germany is offering Ukraine with three a number of launch rocket techniques of the type that Kyiv has mentioned it urgently must defend itself in opposition to Russia’s invasion. Protection Minister Christine Lambrecht mentioned Wednesday that Germany will switch three M270 medium-range artillery rocket techniques together with ammunition.

Germany mentioned the switch, which echoes comparable strikes by Britain and the USA, might be accompanied by coaching and can have “a swift and important battlefield impression.”

In latest days, Ukrainian officers have spoken of the heavy human value of the conflict, with Kyiv’s forces outgunned and outnumbered within the east.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Biden for the brand new support package deal.

“The safety help of the USA is unprecedented,” he mentioned, reporting on a cellphone name the 2 leaders held earlier Wednesday. “It brings us nearer to a standard victory over the Russian aggressor.”

Zelensky mentioned he has accepted invites to talk on the NATO and Group of Seven summits on the finish of the month.

“Throughout the 112 days of this conflict, the Ukrainian military has proved that braveness and knowledge on the battlefield, along with the power to tactically outmaneuver the enemy, can have a major outcome, even regardless of the Russian military’s important benefit n variety of troopers and gear,” he mentioned in his nightly video tackle.

“After all we’re doing the whole lot we are able to to beat this benefit. Each day I battle for Ukraine to obtain the weapons and gear we want.”

In the meantime, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of Russia’s Safety Council, ominously instructed that Russia is intent on not simply claiming territory however eliminating Ukraine as a nation. In a Telegram publish, he wrote that he noticed Ukraine desires to obtain liquefied pure gasoline from its “abroad masters” with fee due in two years.

He added: “However there’s a query. Who mentioned that in two years, Ukraine will even exist on the map?”

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, responded on Twitter: “Ukraine has been and might be. The place will Medvedev be in two years? That’s the query.”

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