KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officers on Wednesday expressed thanks for a recent batch of U.S. navy help that threw Kyiv’s armed forces a lifeline of their greater than two-year struggle with Russia, despite the fact that the brand new provides aren’t anticipated to have a right away impression on the battlefield.
Ukrainian troops have confronted acute shortages of shells and air protection programs as political quarrels in Washington held up the help for months, permitting the Kremlin’s forces to edge ahead in some components of japanese Ukraine by sheer weight of troop numbers and firepower in what has largely turn into a struggle of attrition.
The U.S. determination got here because the Kremlin’s military prolonged its bombardment of the northeastern Kharkiv area and Ukrainian long-range drones struck extra gasoline and power amenities inside Russia.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the U.S. Senate for approving the $61 billion help bundle late Tuesday.
“Ukraine’s long-range capabilities, artillery and air protection are extraordinarily essential instruments for the fast restoration of a simply peace,” Zelenskyy stated on the social platform X. He urged fast deployment of the {hardware} that Kyiv expects to obtain within the coming weeks and months.
“The important thing now could be pace,” he stated in a later submit.
Two Russian S-300 missiles struck Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis close to the border with Russia, throughout the evening, injuring six folks, and one other two hit the Kharkiv area city of Zolochiv the place no casualties have been reported, native officers stated.
One other missile hit the southern metropolis of Odesa, injuring one lady, Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov stated.
Ukrainian drones, in the meantime, focused Russian infrastructure, setting ablaze two power amenities within the western Smolensk area. Regional head Vasily Anokhin stated the assault struck “civilian gasoline and power amenities” however offered no additional particulars.
Russia’s protection ministry stated that eight drones have been shot down in a single day within the Belgorod, Smolensk, Kursk and Voronezh areas.
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Observe AP’s protection of the struggle in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine