Russia has repeatedly attacked residential buildings. (archived image)Image: trapezoid
The Russian military launched large-scale air strikes on Ukrainian targets. This morning, multiple explosions caused by anti-aircraft defenses were heard in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.
Two residential buildings caught fire, according to authorities. Explosions were also reported in Zaporozhye, Dnipro, Krivoy Rog and Odessa. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, dozens of cruise and ballistic missiles were launched at targets across the country, including strategic bombers. Russia has previously used dozens of combat drones.
Power was shut down in several areas as a precaution to prevent possible overloading of the grid if energy facilities were attacked. The responsible minister, Herman Halushchenko, reported on Facebook the massive attack on Ukraine's energy system.
Ukraine’s armed forces face a difficult task in the coming days and weeks. As Moscow mounts a counteroffensive against the Ukrainian-occupied Kursk region in western Russia, Ukrainian soldiers on the fringes of Donbass in eastern Ukraine have had to accept further setbacks in the form of territorial losses. .
Report: North Korea delivers heavy artillery to Russia
In addition to thousands of troops, North Korea has now supplied its ally Russia with its heaviest artillery to fight Ukraine, according to media reports. Nearly 50 North Korean-produced heavy self-propelled howitzers and nearly 20 multiple rocket launchers are said to have arrived in Russia in the past few weeks, the Financial Times reported, citing reliable sources. North Korea's longest-range artillery has now arrived near Kursk to support Russia's counteroffensive against invading Ukrainian forces. The “Koksan” howitzer discovered at a Russian train station a few days ago has a range of up to 50 kilometers.
According to Western and Ukrainian military experts, Russia has assembled nearly 50,000 soldiers for a counterattack near Kursk, including more than 10,000 North Korean armed personnel. They have recently received further training in Russia and are equipped with Russian uniforms and weapons. Near Kursk, Russian forces hope to retake territory that Ukrainian forces have held since this summer following border raids.
Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has lasted nearly a thousand days, occupying nearly 20% of the neighboring country's territory. These territorial gains sometimes come at the expense of heavy losses in soldiers and weapons systems. Moscow has recently received significant support from North Korea.
Zelensky defends eastern withdrawal strategy
Under tremendous pressure from the Russian army, the Ukrainian army had to slowly withdraw from the vicinity of Kurakhov in eastern Ukraine. In a radio interview, President Zelensky tried to put a positive spin on the withdrawal strategy. “Some of the boys on the front line have to take time off work to recover,” he said. “But the other brigades that were supposed to be moving forward were not well equipped – should they now be thrown to the front lines to be slaughtered like the Russians?” That was impossible.
But the soldiers on the front lines are under heavy pressure and desperately need a break after bombs and artillery attacks. “Then they asked if they could withdraw their troops, and the military leadership allowed it,” Zelensky said, explaining the reasons for the withdrawal. “Because our position is clear – people first, then country.”
The War Institute analyzes the situation on the frontline
The Institute for War Studies, headquartered in Washington, the capital of the United States, analyzed the current situation on the Ukrainian frontline and confirmed that both warring parties are at a disadvantage. George Barros, a representative of the institute responsible for the region, confirmed that Russian troops had successfully advanced in eastern Ukraine, preventing Ukrainian counterattacks. “When you're constantly on the defensive, you lose the war,” he told CNN. “You're stuck in a corner and then you just have a terrible menu of options.”
However, Barros also confirmed the inefficiency of the Russian army. Since the beginning of this year, the Russian army has only advanced nearly 40 kilometers in eastern Ukraine, and the cost of personnel and materials is high. According to calculations by the institute near Pokrovsk, Moscow lost roughly the equivalent of five armored divisions, or hundreds of tanks and armored personnel carriers. Barros said: “To lose five divisions of tanks and armored personnel carriers in one year and only advance 40 kilometers, you have to compare it with the major battles of the 21st century, and probably the major battles of World War II. “. “This is simply a very bad performance.” (Sudanese Development Authority/Department of Political Affairs)
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