Ukraine Faces ‘Difficult Situation’ in East as US Aid Pending; Russia Gathers Troops

According to reports, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that his country’s army is currently facing a “really difficult situation” in the eastern regions where troops are attempting to repel an intense Russian push along various sections of the front line. Zelenskyy explained that Russia has taken advantage of Ukraine’s shortages of ammunition and manpower following the decrease in Western supplies since the outbreak of the conflict, enabling Moscow to gather vast numbers of troops in both the eastern and northern zones and seize the upper hand on the battlefield. However, a substantial new military aid package from the United States is expected to change the game, allowing Ukraine to halt Russian advances in the east. The Russian military is pushing hard in several locations within the Donetsk region, part of which is already occupied by Moscow. Ukrainian forces are struggling to construct fortifications and engage in fierce fighting. A Ukrainian brigade recently deployed near Pokrovsk, a town previously approximately two hours’ drive from the front line, to assist in preventing Russian advances. The Russian objective, according to Ukrainian intelligence, is to capture the damaged small town of Ocheretyne and cut off a major Ukrainian line of communication between other front-line settlements. In response to this threat, Russian troops have intensified their efforts to advance in areas near Ocheretyne, mounting 45 ground attacks over the past 24 hours alone, compared to an average of 20-35 per day in recent days. The Russian army has suffered considerable losses despite the significant number of assaults, according to the British Ministry of Defense. Additionally, Ukraine’s parliament has authorized a bill permitting convicts to become eligible for parole provided they enroll in military service. This measure is intended to address Ukraine’s depleted ranks. Furthermore, Zelenskyy officially designated Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s former army commander, as the nation’s envoy to the UK. In a different incident, a drone strike set fire to a chemical facility in Salavat, a Russian city roughly 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) from the closest frontier point with Ukraine. Kyiv officials have failed to comment on the incident. Follow AP’s coverage of the conflict in Ukraine via apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.