Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia may intensify its assaults in Ukraine's northeast following recent advances near Kharkiv.
Russian forces are attempting to advance as Ukraine’s outnumbered troops struggle to reinforce a weakened front line.
Zelensky acknowledged issues with military staffing and morale, admitting that several brigades were currently depleted.
Speaking to AFP, he highlighted the inadequacy of Ukraine's air fleet and renewed his appeals for allies to provide more air defense systems and fighter jets.
"Today we have about 25% of what we need to defend Ukraine," Zelensky said regarding Ukraine's air capabilities. "To prevent Russia from gaining air superiority, our fleet needs 120 to 130 modern aircraft."
Recently, the US approved a new $61 billion (£48 billion) aid package for Ukraine, which includes military support.
Russian forces have launched a summer offensive, capturing several villages near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.
Kharkiv's regional governor, Oleg Synegubov, reported on Saturday that nearly 10,000 people had been displaced in just over a week. "The situation is controlled by Ukraine's defenders," he added.
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that Poland would spend over €2.3 billion (£1.9 billion) to strengthen its eastern border against "potential enemies." This border includes Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
Zelensky also emphasized the urgent need for more soldiers at the frontlines. "There are a significant number of brigades that are largely empty. We need to address this to ensure proper rotation and boost morale," he said.
A new mobilization law, which came into effect on Saturday, aims to address this by lowering the conscription age from 27 to 25 to increase recruit numbers.
The surge of volunteers Ukraine experienced following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 has diminished. Many of those who volunteered are now dead, injured, or still at the front, awaiting relief by new recruits.
In February, Zelensky announced that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed during Russia's invasion. Typically, Ukrainian officials do not disclose casualty figures, and other estimates are much higher.
BBC Russian, in collaboration with the Mediazona website, confirmed the deaths of more than 50,000 Russian soldiers but estimates the actual number to be higher.
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