Ukrainian President Zelensky warns Russia’s assault on Kharkiv may very well be first wave of wider assault

“They’ve launched their operation, and it may encompass a number of waves. That is the primary wave. However the scenario is beneath management after this primary wave,” stated Zelensky, at a time when Russia has simply made its largest territorial good points since then. finish of 2022.

Under are the principle issues Zelensky stated within the interview:

• Ukraine has solely 1 / 4 of the air defenses it wants.
• Ukraine wants 120 to 130 F-16 plane to attain air parity with Russia.
• There are shortages of Ukrainian forces and issues associated to low morale.
• We have to fill the reserves. There are a lot of empty brigs. We have now to do that in order that the blokes (these on the entrance strains) can convert naturally. That is how confidence improves.
• Russia doesn’t have the required means to launch a significant new assault on Kiev.
• The West is “scared” of each the lack of Russia and the lack of Ukraine.
• Zelensky stated he hopes China will take part in a peace convention on Ukraine.
• Zelensky accused the West of stopping him from utilizing their weapons to strike Russia.

Russia introduced on Thursday that its forces had superior 278 sq. kilometers inside 7 days, within the largest advance since late 2022.

Russian forces prolonged their management in Kharkiv Area, northeastern Ukraine, throughout per week of battles.

The Ukrainian military was pressured to withdraw a part of its forces beneath the strain of a complete Russian assault within the Ukrainian border space.

The Basic Workers of Ukraine stated on social media, “In some areas close to Lukyantsy and Vovchansk, as a result of enemy shelling and infantry assault, our items retreated to extra appropriate locations to to save lots of the lives of our troopers and to document casualties… the battle continues.”

This comes as Russia tries to create a buffer zone within the Ukrainian territories alongside its western borders, particularly after makes an attempt to enter its borders have failed up, particularly close to Belgorod and Bryansk.