Dan Sabbagh writes that the rapid Russian advance on Kharkov increased the amount of funding. Serious doubts about Kiev’s ability to defend itself. Russia had telegraphed the operation in advance and Ukraine had been warned by Western intelligence agencies, Sabbag wrote, but military analysts emphasized that there were concerns. Explanation of why Ukraine was forced back. “For Ukraine, it would be suicidal to have its main line of defense on its borders. Russians can attack you with artillery and glide bombs And the Ukrainians don’t have weapons like the Himal rocket artillery to fight back because of U.S. restrictions,” said George Barros, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War. As a result, Russian troops were able to gather across the border in relative safety. Mobilize in Ukraine’s sparsely populated “gray zone”.
Ukraine blamed Russia Capturing and killing civilians in the border town of Vovtyansk Approximately 35 to 40 people will be maintained as “human shields.” Interior Minister Igor Klimenko said: “According to operational information, Russian troops tried to establish a foothold in the city and did not allow local residents to evacuate.” “They started kidnapping people and forcing them into basements,” said Sergiy Bolbinov, head of the Kharkov regional police investigation department.Russians keep them in one place and actually use them as human shieldsBecause their headquarters is nearby. ” There was no immediate response from Moscow to the allegations.
Volodymyr Zelensky meets military leaders in Kharkiv city He added: “The situation in the Kharkov region is largely under control, and our soldiers are inflicting heavy losses on the occupiers. This region remains very difficult. We are strengthening our troops. ”
protracted Air raid warnings are in effect in most areas of the Kharkiv region. It was lifted early Friday morning. Regional governor Ole Sinyevov said at least five drones attacked Kharkov. Public broadcaster Suspirin announced that an air raid warning had been in effect for the city of Kharkiv for more than 16 and a half hours, the longest such warning since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In the Ukraine attack, Destroyed one or more Russian fighter jets and infrastructure at Belbek Air Base in occupied Crimea.According to reports based on satellite images and other resources.of Pro-Ukrainian partisan group Atesh It was announced that a warehouse in Belbek had been attacked and ammunition for Russian fighter jets had been destroyed.There are multiple fires at the Belbec complex. It was discovered in recent days by NASA’s FARMS satellite fire tracking service.. The Ukrainian attack using Atakumus missiles was characterized as being repulsed by the occupation authorities, which is consistent with Russia’s standard official language downplaying the Ukrainian operation.
The United States announced sanctions About two Russian individuals and three Russian companies Facilitate arms transfers between Russia and North Koreaincluding ballistic missiles for use against Ukraine.
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un, has denied any arms exchange with Russia, state media Korean Central News Agency reported. But U.N. sanctions monitors say debris from Earth The missile that fell on Kharkov was a North Korean Hwasong-11 ballistic missile.. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said: Russia has already used more than 40 North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine.military supplies were also imported in violation of United Nations resolutions.
of international monetary fund IMF spokeswoman Julie Kozak said a new mission to Ukraine would be launched in the coming weeks to assess the $15.6 billion loan program and the latest economic developments. The loan review mission will also revise the IMF’s analysis of the sustainability of Ukraine’s debt. “Ukraine’s economy shows remarkable resilience. However, the outlook remains subject to very high war-related uncertainties. ”
