Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said today that the war in Ukraine will reach “a tipping point” in August and Russia will be defeated “before the end of the year”. In an interview with the English channel Weather forecastThe official also said that Kiev can regain all its land.
The victory “will not be easy, but it will happen,” Budanov said, adding that he feels calm and “optimistic” about the development of the conflict. The turning point will occur in the second half of August. “Most of the military operations will be finished by the end of the year,” he said.
Ukrainian forces also launched a counterattack near the Russian-controlled town of Izium in eastern Ukraine, according to officials. Depending on what happened in this conflict, the result could be a setback for Moscow’s plans to seize the entire Donbass region.
In recent weeks, Russian troops have focused most of their firepower in what is considered the “second phase” of their invasion, announced by Russia on April 19 – Moscow adopted this change after failing to reach the capital, Kiev, in the first weeks. Fight.
Last night, the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a brief update that the Russian army had left the areas in the north. Kharkov, Ukraine’s second largest city after Kiev. According to the statement, these troops are under increasing pressure from Ukraine’s counterattacks. compared to west of supply lines.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also posted a video on his social media evaluating the 79th day of the war with Russia late last night, saying that the Ukrainian army has captured more than 1,000 settlements occupied by Russian forces since the start of the conflict on the 24th. February.
“We continue to restore the unoccupied territory of Ukraine. In Zelensky’s evening speech, 1,015 settlements have been evacuated to date, six of which have been evacuated in the last 24 hours.
We are returning electricity, water, communication, transportation and social services there,” he said. Also, according to the president of Ukraine, Russia has already lost 200 aircraft, 27,000 soldiers and 3,000 tanks, armored vehicles and drones.
These figures are not official, however, because Russia is not transparent in giving detailed information about its losses in the war.
Zelensky hosted US senators
The Ukrainian president hosted a congressional delegation led by US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in Kiev today.
Zelensky, in a statement on his Instagram account, said the visit was “a strong sign of bipartisan support for Ukraine on behalf of the US Congress and the American people.”
“Thank you for your leadership in helping us in our fight not only for our country, but also for democratic values and freedoms. We really appreciate that,” the Ukrainian leader said.
Russia cut off Finland’s electricity
Electricity exports from Russia to Finland have been suspended since last night, hours after a Russian company’s announcement.
The company responsible for importing Russian electricity into Finland, RAO Scandinavian100% Russian-owned, yesterday, at a time when Finland was planning to submit its candidacy to the EU, it announced that the supply would be suspended due to insufficient payments. nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
participation nato Putin said “it would be a mistake”
Hours later, Russian President Vladimir Putin said it would be a “mistake” to end its military neutrality with Finland’s entry into NATO. The comment was made by the leader. Russian In a telephone conversation with his Finnish namesake, Tuesday niinistAccording to the Kremlin statement.
niinistIn response, he made a statement stating that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “changed the security environment in Finland” and that the Scandinavian country would submit its application to join the Western military alliance “in the coming days”.
“The conversation was direct and frank and conducted undisturbed. voltages The Finnish leader, who took the initiative to call the Kremlin, said it was important. At a NATO meeting, Finnish Chancellor Pekka Haavisto said she wanted to “pacify” the borders with Russia.
But after Putin’s criticism, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today that the West has declared a “complete hybrid war” against Russia.
“The West has declared an all-out hybrid war against us and it is difficult to predict how long this will last, but of course the results will be felt by everyone without exception,” Lavrov said. Said.
The Chancellor said Russia was doing its best to “avoid direct conflict” and disregarded the sanctions imposed by Western countries. “Western politicians must realize that their efforts to isolate our country are futile,” he said.
G7 will not recognize the borders Russia wants to impose
The foreign ministers of the bloc, which includes the seven richest countries on the planet, said on Saturday that the G7 will “never recognize” the borders Russia wants to impose by force in its war in Ukraine.
“We will never recognize the borders that Russia is trying to change with its military intervention,” the ministers said. Wangelsnorthern Germany.
“We will continue our commitment to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea,” the statement said.
head of German diplomacy, Annalena baerbockUkraine, whose country will assume the presidency of the G7 this year, insisted that it “decide for itself” on the matter “because it is its own territory”.
More than 50 houses destroyed in Lugansk
He said that more than 50 houses in the separated Lugansk region were also destroyed by Russian shelling. service harvest day, head of the military administration of the region. The attack came as fighting continued around a belt of industrial towns in the region.
Hayday said the houses were located in the area around Popasna and Lysychansk. “They don’t need these people and their homes – they just need land where the enemy has turned into desert,” he said.
However, the head of the administration added that the attacks were repelled both in Lugansk and in Donetsk.
* With information from AFP and Reuters
source: Noticias
