There situation on the front line in Ukraine is difficult, said President Volodymyr Zelensky, although he is confident that Kiev will emerge victorious, also thanks to Western military aid, from the war started by Russia almost a year ago. “The enemy keeps sending new forces to break through our defences. Now it is very difficult in Bakhmut, in Vuhledar and towards Lyman,” Zelensky said. But he believes the “steadfastness” of the Ukrainians will eventually win the day, impeding Russian plans for conquest, he said.
The Russian military earlier said it had driven Ukrainian forces out of the village of Dvoritshne, in the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine. “In the direction of Kupyansk, the enemy has been driven away from the western edge of the village of Dvoritshne, Kharkiv region,” said Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov. The information cannot be independently verified.
Amid the fierce fighting, Zelensky has repeatedly called on Ukraine’s allies to send in heavier weapons to repel Russian attacks. On Saturday, he welcomed the start of training Ukrainian soldiers in the use of the British Challenger 2 tanks. “This is a good vehicle and will be used to fight off Russian attacks,” the Ukrainian president said, thanking Britain in his nightly video talk. Training started this week, according to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and the defense ministry tweeted photos of initial driving instruction at a military facility.
Meanwhile, there are fears that Berlin is still waiting for partners to supply Ukraine with Leopard tanks, after Germany pledged to do so together with partners. While some countries have announced their intention to supply the older Leopard model 2A4, few have offered to supply the newer tanks of the 2A6 type, according to government circles in Berlin.
Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa promised a delivery, but left the exact number open. His country is currently in contact with Germany over the overhaul of its Leopard tanks, Portuguese state news agency Lusa reported.
Poland, on the other hand, has already started training Ukrainian personnel to use the German-made Leopard 2 tanks, Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak was told by the media, in response to reports from Germany.
Zelensky also welcomed the fact that Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners, stating that 1,762 Ukrainian citizens have been freed since the start of the war and promising that Kiev is working to secure the release of all Ukrainians. Russia and Ukraine yesterday completed the largest prisoner exchange by numbers since the beginning of the year, according to Moscow. “During a difficult negotiation process, 63 Russian servicemen were recaptured from regime-controlled territory in Kiev,” the Russian Defense Ministry announced on its Telegram channel. Ukraine later confirmed the exchange and return of 116 prisoners. Among those released are some “sensitive category” prisoners, whose release was arranged by the United Arab Emirates, the statement said, without providing further details.
The head of the presidential office in Kiev, Andriy Yermak, said that 114 Ukrainian soldiers and sergeants and two officers were released. Most served in the military, but some belonged to the National Guard, police, border guards and reportedly the Civil Defense Force. According to Yermak, Ukrainians had been imprisoned in Mariupol, Kherson and Bakhmut.
Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree giving governors the ability to declare a terror alert for an unlimited period of time. Higher alert levels allow officials to limit public freedoms, for example by imposing curfews or monitoring vehicles and personnel.
