WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine's Zelenskiy wants missiles, faster results on battlefield

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that Ukraine needed to secure and deploy advanced missiles and to achieve faster results with them on the battlefield.

Speaking in his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said a meeting with top commanders had been devoted to the development of domestic weapons supplies in the more than 2-1/2-year war against Russia.

This, he said, involved drones, electronic warfare and, above all, deploying missiles that would reap rapid benefits in battlefield confrontations with Russian forces.

"Special emphasis is on our national missile programme in all its elements. In all of Ukraine's missiles achievements, there must be more combat accomplishments both at the front and on Russian territory," Zelenskiy said.

"Results are needed faster. And all relevant tasks are now being carried out."

Since Russia's February 2022 full-scale invasion, Ukraine has requested its Western partners, principally the United States, to supply sophisticated long-range missiles.

It has also focused on rapidly developing a domestic arms industry. Much of the focus has been on drones, with Zelenskiy calling last year for 1 million to be manufactured in 2024, but officials have also stressed the importance of missile development.

Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said this month Ukraine would announce in the coming months the development of new missiles, including ballistic missiles.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russia hammers Ukrainian military airfields by Kinzhal hypersonic missiles

Russian forces delivered a strike by Kinzhal hypersonic missiles at Ukrainian military airfield infrastructure over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.

"Yesterday, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a multiple strike by Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic ballistic missiles at Ukrainian military airfield infrastructure. The goals of the strike were achieved. All the designated targets were hit," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts 50 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 50 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy ammunition depot in its area of responsibility in the Kharkov Region over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units inflicted damage in the Liptsy and Volchansk directions on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 57th motorized infantry, 92nd air assault and 113th territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Liptsy, Volchansk, Maliye Prokhody and Zolochev in the Kharkov Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 50 personnel and three motor vehicles, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 425 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 425 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility in the Kharkov Region over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup West units gained more advantageous positions and inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 14th, 30th, 44th, 53rd and 66th mechanized, 3rd assault and 114th territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Kupyansk, Petropavlovka, Osinovo, Grigorovka, Kucherovka, Kopanki and Druzhelyubovka in the Kharkov Region. They repelled two counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 28th and 53rd mechanized brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to over 425 personnel, seven armored combat vehicles, including five US-made M113 armored personnel carriers, 11 motor vehicles, a 152mm D-20 howitzer, a German-made 155mm Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery system, three 155mm M198 howitzers and a 105mm M119 artillery gun of US manufacture and a British-made 105mm L119 howitzer, it specified.

In addition, Russian troops destroyed an Anklav-N electronic warfare station and two field ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates Zoryanoye Pervoye community in Donbass region

Russia’s Battlegroup South liberated the community of Zoryanoye Pervoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup South units continued advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlement of Zoryanoye Pervoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

Over the past 24 hours, Battlegroup South units inflicted casualties on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 22nd, 24th and 30th mechanized, 56th motorized infantry, 5th assault and 144th infantry brigades in areas near the settlements of Serebryanka, Chasov Yar, Konstantinovka, Nikanorovka, Kramatorsk, Seversk, Stupochki, Predtechino, Belaya Gora and Maksimilyanovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They repulsed four counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 28th mechanized, 56th motorized infantry, 81st airmobile and 18th National Guard brigades, it specified.

"The enemy’s losses amounted to 855 personnel, four motor vehicles, three 122mm D-30 howitzers, a 122mm Gvozdika motorized artillery system, a German-made 155mm Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery system, a US-made 105mm M119 artillery gun and a British-made 105mm L119 howitzer," the ministry said.

In addition, Russian troops destroyed two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations and a Plastun electronic warfare station of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Battlegroup Center inflicts over 495 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 495 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and an armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units gained more advantageous positions and inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 23rd, 33rd, 100th, 101st, 110th and 150th mechanized, 5th tank, 95th air assault, 112th and 117th territorial defense and 15th National Guard brigades in areas near the settlements of Gornyak, Dzerzhinsk, Dimitrov, Shcherbinovka, Lysovka, Selidovo, Novoselidovka, Tsukurino and Krasnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They repelled nine counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 42nd, 100th and 157th mechanized, 25th air assault and 5th assault brigades and 49th assault battalion," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to more than 495 personnel, a tank, an armored combat vehicle, five motor vehicles and a 152mm D-20 howitzer, it specified.

Reuters/Tass