Kyiv: RussiaThe Defense Ministry on Thursday denied reports that Ukrainian troops had entered several places along the frontline, saying the military situation was under control.
Moscow reacted after Russian military bloggers wrote on the Telegram messaging app, reporting what they said were Ukrainian advances north and south of the eastern Ukrainian city. BakhmutWith some suggestion a long-awaited counter-offensive by pro-Kiev forces had begun.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Said earlier that the offensive is yet to begin.
“Statements circulated by different Telegram channels about ‘defense successes’ in various areas along the line of military contact do not correspond to reality,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a Telegram post.
“The overall situation in the area of the special military operation is under control,” it said in a statement, using the Kremlin’s description of the war in Ukraine.
The fact that the Russian ministry felt obliged to issue the statement indicates that Moscow is facing a “very difficult” military operation.
Ukraine says it has pushed back Russian forces near Bakhmut over the past several days, while a full counteroffensive involving tens of thousands of troops and hundreds of Western tanks is still being prepared.
“We still need a little more time,” Zelensky said in an interview with European broadcasters.
Reuters was not able to verify the reports and it was not clear whether Ukrainian forces were attacking in force or were simply mounting armed reconnaissance raids.
Ukrainian military analyst Oleksandr Musienko said that Kiev’s supporters understand that a counteroffensive “could not result in the complete expulsion of Russian troops and Russia’s definite defeat in all occupied territories.”
“We have to be ready for the war to continue next year – or it could end this year,” Musienko told Ukrainian NV radio. “It all depends on how the battle develops. We cannot guarantee how the counter-offensive will develop.”
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia’s Wagner private army leading the fighting at Bakhmut, said on Thursday that the Ukrainian operations were “unfortunately, partially successful”. He called Zelensky’s claim that the counteroffensive had not yet begun “misleading”.
Britain will send cruise missiles to Ukraine
Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had already received enough equipment from Western allies for their campaign, but were waiting for the full complement of armored vehicles to arrive.
In a major step forward in Western military support for Ukraine, Britain said it was sending Storm Shadow cruise missiles that would give Kiev the ability to strike deep behind the Russian border.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told parliament in London, “The missiles are now going, or are in the country itself,” adding that the missiles were being supplied so they could be used within Ukraine.
Western countries, including the US, had previously held back from providing long-range weapons for fear of provoking Russian retaliation. Wallace said Britain had weighed the risks.
The Kremlin previously said it would require an “adequate response from our military” if Britain provided the missiles.
In an evening address on Thursday, Zelensky said he would soon be able to report very important defense news.
“Foreign flags will never rule our land, and our people will never be enslaved,” he said.
The war in Ukraine is at a turning point, with Kiev preparing to launch its counteroffensive after six months of putting its forces on the defensive while Russia launches a massive winter offensive that fails to capture vital territory Stayed.
Bakhmut has been Moscow’s main target for months, which it has yet to fully capture despite the bloodiest ground battle in Europe since World War II.
Zelensky expected to meet with Pope Francis
There are no signs of peace talks between the two countries to end the war, which began in February 2022 with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. Zelensky is expected to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, diplomatic sources said, with the pope saying the Vatican was involved in a peace mission. The Pope gave no further details on such an initiative.
The war worsened the global food crisis – Ukraine and Russia are major agricultural exporters – and while an agreement last July safely reopened some Black Sea grain shipment channels, negotiations to extend the deal have been difficult. .
Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations on Thursday discussed UN proposals to keep the treaty alive. Moscow has threatened to quit on May 18 over barriers to its grain and fertilizer exports.
Meanwhile in South Africa, a key Russian ally on a continent torn apart by war, the US ambassador told reporters that Washington believed a Russian ship had loaded arms and ammunition from South Africa in December, in the conflict. Possible violation of Pretoria’s declared neutrality.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement that the government was launching an independent investigation led by a retired judge into the allegations. The president’s office said no evidence has yet been provided by Washington to support its allegation.
Washington has repeatedly warned countries against providing material support to Russia, saying those who do so could be subject to economic sanctions imposed on Moscow.
Moscow reacted after Russian military bloggers wrote on the Telegram messaging app, reporting what they said were Ukrainian advances north and south of the eastern Ukrainian city. BakhmutWith some suggestion a long-awaited counter-offensive by pro-Kiev forces had begun.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Said earlier that the offensive is yet to begin.
“Statements circulated by different Telegram channels about ‘defense successes’ in various areas along the line of military contact do not correspond to reality,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a Telegram post.
“The overall situation in the area of the special military operation is under control,” it said in a statement, using the Kremlin’s description of the war in Ukraine.
The fact that the Russian ministry felt obliged to issue the statement indicates that Moscow is facing a “very difficult” military operation.
Ukraine says it has pushed back Russian forces near Bakhmut over the past several days, while a full counteroffensive involving tens of thousands of troops and hundreds of Western tanks is still being prepared.
“We still need a little more time,” Zelensky said in an interview with European broadcasters.
Reuters was not able to verify the reports and it was not clear whether Ukrainian forces were attacking in force or were simply mounting armed reconnaissance raids.
Ukrainian military analyst Oleksandr Musienko said that Kiev’s supporters understand that a counteroffensive “could not result in the complete expulsion of Russian troops and Russia’s definite defeat in all occupied territories.”
“We have to be ready for the war to continue next year – or it could end this year,” Musienko told Ukrainian NV radio. “It all depends on how the battle develops. We cannot guarantee how the counter-offensive will develop.”
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia’s Wagner private army leading the fighting at Bakhmut, said on Thursday that the Ukrainian operations were “unfortunately, partially successful”. He called Zelensky’s claim that the counteroffensive had not yet begun “misleading”.
Britain will send cruise missiles to Ukraine
Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had already received enough equipment from Western allies for their campaign, but were waiting for the full complement of armored vehicles to arrive.
In a major step forward in Western military support for Ukraine, Britain said it was sending Storm Shadow cruise missiles that would give Kiev the ability to strike deep behind the Russian border.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told parliament in London, “The missiles are now going, or are in the country itself,” adding that the missiles were being supplied so they could be used within Ukraine.
Western countries, including the US, had previously held back from providing long-range weapons for fear of provoking Russian retaliation. Wallace said Britain had weighed the risks.
The Kremlin previously said it would require an “adequate response from our military” if Britain provided the missiles.
In an evening address on Thursday, Zelensky said he would soon be able to report very important defense news.
“Foreign flags will never rule our land, and our people will never be enslaved,” he said.
The war in Ukraine is at a turning point, with Kiev preparing to launch its counteroffensive after six months of putting its forces on the defensive while Russia launches a massive winter offensive that fails to capture vital territory Stayed.
Bakhmut has been Moscow’s main target for months, which it has yet to fully capture despite the bloodiest ground battle in Europe since World War II.
Zelensky expected to meet with Pope Francis
There are no signs of peace talks between the two countries to end the war, which began in February 2022 with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. Zelensky is expected to meet Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, diplomatic sources said, with the pope saying the Vatican was involved in a peace mission. The Pope gave no further details on such an initiative.
The war worsened the global food crisis – Ukraine and Russia are major agricultural exporters – and while an agreement last July safely reopened some Black Sea grain shipment channels, negotiations to extend the deal have been difficult. .
Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations on Thursday discussed UN proposals to keep the treaty alive. Moscow has threatened to quit on May 18 over barriers to its grain and fertilizer exports.
Meanwhile in South Africa, a key Russian ally on a continent torn apart by war, the US ambassador told reporters that Washington believed a Russian ship had loaded arms and ammunition from South Africa in December, in the conflict. Possible violation of Pretoria’s declared neutrality.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement that the government was launching an independent investigation led by a retired judge into the allegations. The president’s office said no evidence has yet been provided by Washington to support its allegation.
Washington has repeatedly warned countries against providing material support to Russia, saying those who do so could be subject to economic sanctions imposed on Moscow.