Russia wants to capture Chasiv Yar by May 9 and launch counteroffensive in June - Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: president.gov.uа)
Russia wants to capture Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region by the so-called "Victory Day" on May 9. If Ukrainian troops resist, Russia's plans to launch a counteroffensive in June will be dashed, states Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"Russia wants to mobilize 300,000 soldiers by June 1. We are getting ready for this. By May 9, Russia expects that in the east of Ukraine, they will take Chasiv Yar... I hope we'll be able to stay, that the weapons will come on time, and we will repel the enemy, and then we'll break the plans of the Russian Federation for a full-scale counteroffensive in June," the president said.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian soldiers holding the line in that area lack the necessary weapons. Therefore, he is counting on the United States to help.
"I was recently in the region and spoke with the soldiers. The soldiers lack the equipment to fight Russian reconnaissance drones that adjust Russian artillery fire, and they also lack artillery shells," he emphasized.
Situation at the front
Earlier, Zelensky named the hottest areas of the frontline. Chasiv Yar was among them. According to British intelligence, the Russian army is using the same tactics against Ukrainian defenders during the battles for Chasiv Yar as it did in Avdiivka. That is, it destroys the city's buildings with bombs and artillery.
At the same time, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has a chance to seize the initiative on the front. But for this, according to the president, the United States must provide the weapons the Ukrainian military needs.
