Ukraine said on Friday that it was suffering severe casualties in Russia’s eastward onslaught, but claimed that Russia’s losses were far worse; as US President Joe Biden called on Congress to send up to $33 billion to assist Kyiv survive the assault.
The body of a journalist from the US-backed Radio Liberty, who was murdered in a Russian missile attack during a visit by the UN Secretary-General, was discovered in the ruins in Kyiv.
President Volodymyr Zelensky applauded Biden’s offer of assistance, which is nearly ten times the amount of aid Washington has delivered since the conflict began on February 24.
After failing to take Kyiv in northern Ukraine last month, Russia is now attempting to take control of two eastern regions known as the Donbas.
Ukraine has admitted that it has lost control of certain towns and villages in the area since the attack began last week, but claims that Moscow’s gains have come at a huge cost to a Russian army already depleted after a previous setback near the capital.
“We’ve suffered significant losses, but the Russians have suffered massive losses,” presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said.
Biden has drastically boosted US engagement in the crisis by giving tens of billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine. The US and its allies are now deploying heavier weaponry, including artillery, with the goal of weakening Russia’s military forces so that it can no longer threaten its neighbors, according to Washington.
“This bill is critical to supporting Ukraine in its fight for independence,” Biden stated. “This fight isn’t inexpensive, but giving in to violence will be even more expensive.”
Zelensky wrote on Twitter: “Thank you, President Trump, and the American people, for your leadership in defending Ukraine against Russian aggression. We stand up for democratic and libertarian ideas. We are grateful for your assistance. It is required now more than ever!”
Russia claims it is now engaged in a “proxy war” against NATO as a result of the arrival of Western armaments in Ukraine. This week, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed specific punishment, while his foreign minister warned of a nuclear war danger.
Prague-based the death of producer Vira Hyrych was discovered on Friday morning after a missile attack on Thursday destroyed the bottom two levels of a residential building, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Hyrych had worked for Radio Liberty since 2018, according to the report.
“A Russian ballistic missile struck her residence in central Kyiv as she was heading to bed. Russia’s cruelty is unfathomable “Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s foreign ministry, said “We demand that media outlets denounce the assassination of Vira and all other innocent Ukrainians.”
Throughout Moscow virtually shut down all independent media during its invasion, the US-funded RFE/RL, which has covered the former Soviet Union since the Cold War, is one of the few remaining Russian-language news sources outside of Kremlin control.
“Kyiv is a hazardous city, and Russians continue to target the city. They are aiming for Ukraine’s capital, which they plan to occupy “Before the body was discovered, Mayor Vitali Klitschko oversaw the clearance of the rubble-strewn street.
The rockets were launched during a visit to the capital by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday. “An attack on the Secretary- General’s and on world security,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said.
According to Zelensky’s office, Russia is bombarding the eastern Donetsk region’s front line with rockets, artillery, mortar bombs, and planes. Russia was shelling sites along the line of contact, according to the Ukrainian military staff, to prevent the Ukrainians from regrouping.
Fighting was particularly fierce near the cities of Lysychansk and Severodonetsk, the major section of the Donbas that Russia is currently attempting to conquer, with an attempted advance south from Russian-held Izium towards Sloviansk, according to Britain.
“Russian territorial gains have been limited and accomplished at great cost to Russian soldiers due to strong Ukrainian opposition,” the British military ministry stated in an update.
Mariupol, an eastern port devastated to a wasteland by two months of Russian bombing and siege, has seen the bloodiest fighting and worst humanitarian disaster of the conflict.
According to Ukraine, 100,000 inhabitants remain in the city, which is largely under Russian control. Hundreds of civilians are holed up in underground shelters beneath a massive steel works with the last remaining defenders.
According to Zelensky’s office, an operation to evacuate citizens from the plant is scheduled for Friday, but no details have been released.
Emergency workers were collecting bodies from the streets in parts of Mariupol now held by Russian troops. Residents living among the ruined rubble described the horrors they had witnessed.
“When the Grad (multiple rocket launchers) shells struck near the house, we were hungry and the toddler was wailing. We thought to ourselves, “This is it, the end.” It’s impossible to put into words “Weeping, Viktoria Nikolayeva, 54, who survived the struggle in a cellar with her family, told reporters.
Vitaliy Kudasov, 71, stated, “It was a bloodbath.” “When the shells flew overhead, it was the most terrifying thing. You wouldn’t be able to withstand the shells, rounds, and other debris. Nonetheless, we did.”
