Zelensky wants permission to use long-range weapons for attacks inside Russia

2024-08-19 21:53:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Zelensky wants permission to use long-range weapons for attacks inside Russia

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday again asked allied countries to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons to carry out attacks deep inside Russia.

"Ukraine is separated by only one decision from stopping the advance of the Russian army on the front line, for which we are waiting for our partners: the decision on long-range weapons," Zelensky said during a speech to Ukrainian ambassadors.

The United States and other allies of Ukraine have imposed restrictions on the use of weapons they supply to Kiev, due to fears that they could escalate the war.

Zelensky also told diplomats that Ukrainian forces have taken control of 92 settlements in Russia's Kursk region and now control 1,250 square kilometers of enemy territory.

The Ukrainian army launched a surprise incursion into the Russian border region two weeks ago.

"Ukrainian soldiers are continuing defense operations in certain areas of the Kursk region of the Russian Federation," Zelensky said.

"We are continuing to strengthen our positions, stabilizing certain areas and filling the exchange fund," Zelensky said, referring to Russian soldiers imprisoned by Ukraine.

The operation is also “our largest investment in the process of freeing Ukrainians from captivity in Russia. This is one of our goals", he emphasized.

Earlier, Zelensky said on Telegram that Ukrainian forces are achieving their goals by continuing the Kursk incursion, while Moscow acknowledged that Ukraine has damaged the third bridge over the Sejm River, which is important for the movement of Russian troops. in the region.

The confirmation was made through a communiqué issued by a member of Russia's Investigative Committee, which was then published in a telegram by a journalist for Russian state television, Vladimir Solovyov.

On August 18, the commander of Ukraine's air force, Mykola Oleschuk, said that his troops had damaged the second strategic bridge above the Sejm, limiting Russia's supply capabilities as it seeks to prevent the strengthening of Ukrainian positions.

Russian military bloggers have previously published a video of the first bridge being hit, near the village of Zvanoje in Kursk.

According to Russian security officials, the destruction of that bridge has blocked traffic in the Glushkov district.

Analysts believe that the destruction of the bridges over the Sejm is a very important tactic to strengthen the positions and to make it impossible for Moscow to supply its own military troops.

Ukraine launched a surprise counteroffensive in the Russian Kursk region on August 6, changing the dynamics of the war that began two and a half years ago.

As a result of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, more than 120,000 people have been displaced from the Kursk region.

The war in Ukraine started on February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin calls the war a "special military operation" to demilitarize Ukraine.

The West has responded to Russia, hitting the economy of this country with harsh sanctions.

As a result of the war, thousands of people have died and millions more have been displaced from their homes./ Rel