The metropolis of Avdiivka now constitutes a Russian trophy in a state of wreck.
The logistics hub – or what’s left of it – was exhibited by uniformed Russian officers after months of intensive combating on the entrance line.
It is their newest conquest within the invasion of Ukraine and the most recent setback for his or her hard-pressed neighbour.
It was with studies of additional Russian advances in villages surrounding Avdiivka that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy convened an all-day convention alongside together with his ministers and generals, in a wise Kyiv resort.
The gathering might have been designed as a present of confidence – or reassurance – however his tackle started with one thing that appeared like an admission – the primary time he has spoken in regards to the variety of Ukrainian troopers who’ve died for the reason that starting of the full-scale invasion.
“I’m not sure if I have the right. It’s a very serious moment. Let’s start from the beginning. Recently, there were voices in a radical part of some American political circles that were not on our side. They said, ‘How many more casualties do you want? Ukraine has lost 300,000 lives…’ This is all nonsense, this is all rubbish. Every person lost is a great loss for us, and it’s a very big loss for us – 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers died in this war.”
Critics will argue that the quantity is simply too low with Western officers saying the full is nearer to 70,000, though the president had felt the necessity to give a determine.
There was one other try at candour after I requested the Ukrainian chief whether or not he was ready to cede territory to the Russians because the nation makes an attempt to rearm its depleted army.
President Zelenskyy responded by referring to the scarcity of artillery shells now confronted by his forces – a ratio he estimated at one Ukrainian shell for each 12 Russian munitions fired.
“When we are at 1 to 1.5 [shells] or 1 to 3 [shells] then we can push back the Russians. Until we reach such numbers, we either hold our positions – or we lose them – 100 metres, 50 metres. Unfortunately, this is it.”
The prospect that Ukrainian forces will lose floor to the Russians appeared all too actual to our staff after we travelled to the town of Kupyansk on the north-eastern part of the entrance.
Soldiers instructed us they have been underneath extreme strain with Russian troops mounting steady assaults. An anti-tank commander stated he solely had sufficient grenades to fireplace for about quarter-hour.
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This was one thing we have been in a position to elevate with the nation’s highly effective head of army intelligence, General Kyrylo Budanov, who additionally attended the convention.
“It’s been a really tough period at the front [for Ukraine], what message are you trying to send now?” I requested after we spoke outdoors the primary corridor.
“Listen, don’t dramatise the situation, that’s what I want to say. The situation is hardly different from yesterday, the day before, or a month ago,” he responded with evident frustration.
“But your soldiers are under pressure,” I responded, “we have been to Kupyansk,” I stated earlier than the overall minimize me off.
“There are no problems in the Kupyansk direction. There are issues in Avdiivka direction,” he stated.
“What do you want from the West? What do you need?”
“We need weapons, and the sooner the better.”
The Ukrainians used this convention to promote the nationwide story of resilience and heroic wrestle – but it surely was General Budanov who appeared to get to the purpose.
Survival is not going to be achieved with out pressing Western assist.
Source: information.sky.com”