President Zelensky: 1/5 of Ukraine’s territory is under Russian control
President Zelensky during a visit to the frontline in the city of Kharkov on May 29 – Photo: REUTERS
“Right now, about 20% of our territory is under their control,” Zelensky said in a speech to Luxembourg lawmakers on June 2.
Russian forces are consolidating power in the eastern Donbass region and moving towards the de facto administrative center of Russia. Ukraine in this area is the city of Kramatorsk.
In his speech, President Zelensky said that by February 24, the Russian-backed separatists and the Russian army had controlled 43,000 km.2the area by his comparison, is equivalent to the area of the Netherlands.
But that number – more than three months since Russia sent troops into Ukraine – has increased to nearly 125,000km2the territory he says is “much larger” than the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg combined.
These territories include the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, areas that Russia took over after February 24, and areas that pro-Russian forces occupied in the east before.
The Ukrainian leader also said an area more than twice as large – “nearly 300,000km2” – has been “contaminated” by mines and unexploded ordnance since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine.
On the same day, at another international event in Slovakia, Mr. Zelensky continued to call for arms aid to Ukraine to help it win over Russia.
Ukraine has received heavy weapons systems from the US and its allies, most recently the HIMARS M142 long-range mobile artillery system from the US.
On June 2, the Swedish government also confirmed that it would provide anti-ship missiles, anti-tank weapons and rifles to Ukraine. This is the first time Sweden has provided anti-ship missiles to Kiev after a batch of anti-tank weapons and armor provided in February.
When asked about the purpose of using new weapons and whether to attack Russian territory, a representative of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that Kiev’s war is a defensive war and will always be.
Russia: US UAVs do not change the war situation
On June 2, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that four MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones that the US plans to sell to Ukraine will not change Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
The MQ-1C Gray Eagle is said to be capable of carrying Hellfire missiles and can be used to attack targets on Russian territory. Asked about the risk, Peskov described it as an “unpleasant” scenario and would make the situation worse.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: tuoitre.vn – Read the original article here
