by Tom Balmford
ON THE ROAD TO BALAKLIIA, Ukraine (Reuters) – The Ukrainian army, after the territorial gains of the last days in the Kharkiv region (northeast), is aiming for the total reconquest of the country, for which Kyiv asks the West for rapid deliveries of armaments and equipment.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky said Monday that national forces had recaptured 6,000 km2 of territory from the occupying Russian army since the launch of their counter-offensive in early September.
After more than 200 days of conflict, Moscow concedes military setbacks, with thousands of Russian soldiers retreating, leaving behind large stocks of ammunition and equipment.
“The goal is to liberate the Kharkiv region and beyond, all territories occupied by the Russian Federation,” Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar told Reuters on the road to Balakliia.
Balakiliia, a strategic military supply center 74 km southeast of Kharkiv, was taken over by Ukrainian forces late last week.
“Our strength lies in the fact that we are very motivated and that we plan our operations carefully,” said Hanna Maliar.
Fighting continued on Tuesday.
Russia, which still controls about a fifth of the country since its February 24 invasion, has been bombing power plants and other key infrastructure since the weekend, causing power cuts in and around Kharkiv.
Volodimir Zelensky said in a video address released late Monday that the West must speed up arms deliveries, calling on Ukraine’s allies to “strengthen cooperation to defeat Russian terror”.
DOMINO EFFECT
The Ukrainian general staff said on Tuesday that the army continued to repel attacks by Russian forces in the Donetsk region (south).
Denis Pushilin, head of the pro-Russian administration of the province, said for his part that the Russians were repelling the Ukrainian offensives, and that the situation would improve.
Serhi Gaïdaï, governor (Ukrainian) of the neighboring region of Luhansk, which Moscow has seized, said that a major Ukrainian offensive could intervene Tuesday in this area.
Reuters could not immediately verify this information.
“The liberation of Luhansk/Donetsk will cause a domino effect, collapse Russia’s frontline and lead to political destabilization. It is possible. Weapons required,” Volodimir Zelensky’s adviser wrote on Twitter. , Mikhailo Podoliak.
Ukraine’s foreign minister on Tuesday accused Germany of ignoring Kyiv’s requests for Leopard tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles, saying Berlin offered only “abstract fears and excuses”.
“Disappointing signals from Germany as Ukraine needs Leopard and Marder now – to liberate the population and save them from genocide,” Dmitro Kouleba wrote on Twitter.
“Not a single rational argument why these weapons cannot be supplied, only abstract fears and excuses. What is Berlin afraid of and not Kyiv?” he throws.
(Reporting Pavel Polityuk, Olzhas Auyezov, Aleksandar Vasovic, Reuters offices; Writing by Philippa Fletcher; French version Alizée Degorce, editing by Sophie Louet)