The Ukrainian president recognizes an “extremely difficult” situation at certain points on the front.
President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted on Monday that the Ukrainian army was in an “extremely difficult” situation faced by Russian forces, which he said were taking advantage of the West's delays in providing military assistance.
“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,” the president said in his daily message.
He added that his country lacks artillery and needs front-line anti-aircraft defenses as urgently as longer-range weapons.
“Heavy shooting” in Zaporizhia
Russian forces are on the offensive in eastern and southern Ukraine and have just captured the disputed town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, making their first major gain since taking Bakhmout in May 2023.
On Monday, the Ukrainian army said it was facing “heavy fire” from Russian forces during the offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region in the south of the country.
Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Tarnavsky said Moscow troops had launched several attacks, particularly near the village of Robotyne, one of the few places where Ukraine gained ground in last summer's counteroffensive.
Avdiivka, an “important victory” for Russia
The Russian army is trying to advance “small attack groups with the support of tank units,” he said in 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 cities in eastern Ukraine, Robotyne was completely destroyed after months of artillery battles.
Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed the capture of Avdiivka as an “important victory” by his troops, days before the second anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.