US Secretary of Defense and Ukrainian Minister of Defense discuss ongoing Ukrainian military operations
Archive photo: Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov (Getty Images)
On Wednesday, August 14, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. They discussed, in particular, the ongoing operations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to the US Department of Defense.
As noted, the main topics of the talks were priority security assistance measures and Ukraine's ongoing operations.
Austin and Umerov also discussed support from NATO Allies and partners in meeting Ukraine's urgent military needs.
For his part, Umerov provided an update on the battlefield dynamics, as well as the impact of Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive in Kursk region
More than a week ago, Ukrainian troops launched an offensive in the Kursk region bordering Ukraine and have already managed to drive the Russians out of a number of settlements.
The purpose of the operation is to protect residents of Ukraine's border regions from Russian shelling.
Yesterday, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the Ukrainian military had taken control of a 40-square-kilometer area and controlled 74 settlements in the Kursk region.
Today it became known that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have completely cleared the town of Sudzha from Russian troops.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian troops are achieving a strategic goal in the Kursk region.
