- By Alys Davies and Joshua Cheetham
- BBC News
Ukrainian Defense Minister says training on new Western weapons will start as early as Monday
Ukraine’s Defense Minister reiterated the view that a new Russian offensive is expected later this month.
At a press conference, Oleksiy Reznikov said that not all Western weapons would have arrived by then, but that Ukraine had reserves to hold back Russian forces.
He added that Ukraine had negotiated the supply of new long-range missiles.
It comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky said his troops faced heavy fighting in Bakhmut, Vuhledar and Lyman in eastern Ukraine.
Mr Reznikov said Russia did not have all its resources ready to launch an offensive, but could do so anyway as a symbolic gesture, given the first anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Moscow February 24.
He said that Russia should prioritize taking the whole of eastern Donbass as well as launching offensives in southern and eastern Ukraine to create a land corridor through all the areas it currently occupies.
The defense minister also confirmed that troops will start training on German-made Leopard tanks from Monday.
Mr Reznikov said the new Ukrainian long-range missiles will have a range of 90 miles (150 km), but will not be used against Russian territory – only against Russian units in occupied areas of Ukraine .
“I’m sure we will win this war,” Reznikov said, but added that without the delivery of Western fighter jets, “it will cost us more lives.”
Despite the flow of Western weapons to Ukraine, Russia has made progress in the Bakhmut region in recent days as the Russian military sends more troops into battle.
The Russian paramilitary mercenary group Wagner led much of the fighting in the region.
Its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said there were fierce battles in all the streets of some parts of the city and that the Ukrainian armed forces were “fighting to the last”.
Russian forces have been trying to take control of Bakhmut for months, making it the longest battle since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago.
Taking the region is important for Russia as part of its goal to control the entire Donbass region in the east of the country.
It would also mean a turnaround for Russia after it lost ground in Ukraine in recent months.
Speaking during his overnight address, President Zelensky said: “During the 346 days of this war, I often had to say that the situation at the front is difficult. And the situation is getting tougher.
The UK Ministry of Defense said Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut are increasingly isolated as the Russians continue to make small inroads in their bid to encircle the town.
He added that the two main roads leading to Bakhmut were likely threatened by direct fire.
- In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, five people were injured after strikes hit civilian buildings in the city, local authorities said.
- Five more people injured in Donetsk region in rocket attacks, regional chief Pavlo Kyrylenko says
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