Volodymyr Zelensky urged NATO countries to shoot down Russian missiles to address Kyiv's defense shortfall, pressing Ukraine's allies for greater direct involvement in the war.
Emphasizing that Ukraine is still waiting for American F-16 fighter jets to combat Russian forces, Zelensky stated, “Can’t provide that right now? OK ... look at the planes you have in neighboring NATO countries: deploy them, shoot down targets, protect civilians.”
This plea for increased aid and willingness to push “red lines” in the conflict underscores the mounting pressure on Ukrainian forces along more than 1,000 km of front lines in the northeast, east, and south of the country.
Simultaneously, Ukraine reported that Russia has lost over 1,500 soldiers in the past week in the intense fighting around Kharkiv, despite Vladimir Putin’s assertion that Moscow has “no plans” to capture Ukraine’s second-largest city.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russia has suffered 1,572 soldier casualties and lost 263 pieces of military equipment in the last seven days, including 75 drones, 66 army vehicles, and eight tanks. These figures cannot be independently verified.
Comments
Post a Comment