Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an exclusive interview with AFP on Friday that he expected Russia to step up its offensive in the northeast, adding that Kiev had only a quarter of the air defenses needed to hold the front line. I warned you.
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After making only modest advances in recent months, Russian forces launched a surprise attack in the Kharkov region on May 10, marking their biggest territorial gains in the past year and a half.
President Zelenskiy said Russian forces were able to advance 5 to 10 kilometers (3 to 6 miles) along the northeastern border before being stopped by Ukrainian forces, but said the area was the “primary point” for a broader offensive. It added that there was a possibility of “waves”.
“I wouldn't say it's a huge success (for Russia), but we need to calm down and understand that they are moving deeper and deeper into our territory,” he said in his first interview with foreign media since the offensive began. Speaking from Kiev in an interview.
President Zelenskiy said the situation in the Kharkiv region was “under control” but “has not stabilized.”
As the war enters its third year, it appeals to its allies to send more air defense planes and fighter jets to contest Russia's air superiority.
“Currently we have about 25% of what we need for the defense of Ukraine. I'm talking about air defense,” he said.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine needs “120 to 130” F-16 jets or other advanced aircraft to achieve aviation “parity” with Russia.
Kharkov raid
Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a visit to China this week that the strikes in the northeast were in retaliation for Ukraine's shelling of border areas and that Russia was seeking to create a “security zone.”
Russian forces captured 278 square kilometers (107 square miles) between May 9 and May 15, their largest acquisition since the end of 2022, AFP calculated using data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Ta.
Governor Oleg Sinegubov said Saturday that Ukrainian forces had repelled two attempts to breach defenses overnight and the situation was “under control.”
read moreBuffer or ruse: Russia's new offensive in northeastern Ukraine is 'not an open road to Kharkov'
Ukrainian authorities accused Russian soldiers in Vovtyansk of capturing dozens of civilians as “human shields” to protect their headquarters, but AFP could not immediately confirm this claim.
“In the area of \u200b\u200bthe city of Vovtyansk, the Ukrainian army is reinforcing its defenses to improve the tactical situation,” Sinegubov said.
Ukraine has evacuated around 10,000 people from its northeastern border region since Russia began its offensive.
President Putin said that at this stage he had no intention of occupying Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, which is about 30 kilometers from the border. More than 1 million people still live there.
Military analysts say the northeast offensive could aim to further expand Ukraine's forces and resources as Russia squeezes its manpower and ammunition advantage.
Ukrainian military commander Oleksandr Shirsky said Russia was trying to force Ukraine to withdraw more troops from its reserves.
“We know there will be intense fighting ahead, and our enemies are preparing for it,” he said.
“Nonsense situation”
President Zelenskiy has predicted an escalation of Russian offensives and acknowledged problems with staffing and “morale” within Ukraine's often-outgunned and outmanned military.
“We need to staff the reserves…Many (brigades) are empty,” Zelenskiy told AFP.
With no end to the war in sight, Ukraine's military is struggling to attract new recruits, while its fighters are exhausted and angry over a lack of rotation.
Many Ukrainian soldiers have been fighting for more than two years without the possibility of discharge.
Under a controversial mobilization law that comes into force on Saturday, Kiev has lowered the age of military conscription for men from 27 to 25 and stiffened penalties for those who evade muster.
But lawmakers withdrew a proposal to give soldiers the option of leaving the military after 36 months of service.
While Western allies called for an early end to the war, President Zelenskiy insisted that Ukraine was still in a long war.
“Western countries want the war to end. As soon as possible. And for them, this is a just peace,” he said.
“We are in a nonsense situation where the Western countries are afraid that Russia will lose the war, and they don't want Ukraine to lose the war,” Zelenskiy said.
(AFP)
