Warring parties complain about a lack of ammunition in the east
In the fighting in Ukraine, the warring factions Kiev and Moscow complain about a lack of ammunition – especially in the fierce fighting for the city of Bakhmut in the east. According to official information, Ukrainian Supreme Commander Valeriy Zalushnyi called US Chief of Staff Mark Milley to draw attention to the necessary supply of ammunition and technology. In addition, the country’s anti-aircraft defenses must be strengthened, he said. According to its chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian private army Wagner also continues to complain about a lack of artillery shells and cartridges (see below).
Kuleba wants more German weapons
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the “Bild am Sonntag” that a lack of ammunition was the “number one” problem in the fight against the Russian occupiers. “Germany could really help more with ammunition. With artillery ammunition,’ he said. Western experts assume that Russian reserves have also shrunk considerably.
Prigozhin renewed the demand for ammunition
The Russian mercenary force Wagner alone needs 10,000 tons of ammunition per month for the battle for Bakhmut, Prigozhin said in a video. He urged the Russian leadership to deliver. The video reportedly shows him on the roof of a house in the largely destroyed city of Bakhmut – about 1.2 kilometers from the administrative center held by Ukrainian forces. The video showed many destroyed houses and streets – relatively rare footage from the city, which once had a population of 70,000. Today only a few thousand live there. “We will win,” said Prigozhin.
According to Foreign Minister Kuleba, Ukraine will resolutely defend Bakhmut despite heavy losses. The longer the city is defended, the greater the chance “that other cities will not suffer the same fate”.
The strategically important town of Bachmut has been under dispute since late summer. It is the main part of the defense line between Siwersk and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region built after the Russian conquest of Sieverodonetsk and Lysychansk. If they succeeded, the road to the major cities of Slowyansk and Kramatorsk would open for the Russian troops. This could bring a complete conquest of the Donetsk region closer.
Selenskyj: Russia is a “synonym for terror”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also complained about new “brutal terrorist attacks” by Russia in other regions. These attacks on cities and communities are happening day and night, he said in his video message distributed every evening in Kiev. “Missiles and artillery, drones and mortars – the evil state uses a variety of weapons with the sole purpose of destroying life and leaving nothing human behind,” Zelenskyy said.
“Ruins, rubble, holes in the ground are Russia’s self-portrait, painting it where there is life without Russia,” the head of state said. The land represents evil. “It has become synonymous with terror and will be an example of defeat and just punishment for its terror.”
Zelenskyy named several cities and regions particularly affected by new Russian attacks. There have been 40 rocket attacks in the Kharkov region alone since the beginning of the year. In the city of Kherson, three Ukrainians were killed on Saturday by Russian fire on their way to groceries.
In his video message, Zelenskyi also informed about a new decree he signed on sanctions against more than 280 companies and 120 people. With the help of gambling companies, they damaged Ukraine and extracted money from the state, which then flowed into Russian structures. The channels through which billions had flown had been closed off. Zelenskyj gave no details. The decree contains the names of bookmakers operating in the post-Soviet space.
Russia has been waging an offensive war against Ukraine since February 24 last year. In an annexation internationally criticized as a violation of international law, Russia last year occupied the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia. Moscow is not in full control of any region. Zelenskyi has announced that he will liberate all areas, including the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.
Russian reservists demand military aid from Putin
In a new video call, Russian reservists in the eastern Ukraine war zone have complained about abuses in the troops and enlisted the help of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. As commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Putin must ensure that the commanders do their job, a hooded spokesman said in the message recorded and distributed by Telegram on Saturday. The video shows a total of a dozen uniformed men – also without recognizable faces.
The group’s spokesman complained of a lack of equipment, including night vision goggles, and a lack of leadership from commanders. The commanders would simply ignore the presidential decree and deploy unprepared units in the strike squads, the man complained. “We do not refuse to fulfill the tasks of territorial defense. We refuse to take unjustified risks – with machine guns against tanks, against mortars and snipers.”
What will be important on Sunday
The center of gravity of the fighting is still in the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. There, both warring parties announced that they would not give up despite heavy losses. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
