Lavrov: Supply of advanced rocket systems risks dragging third country into conflict. US also reportedly poised to sell armed drones to Ukraine. Russia tightens its grip on Sievierodonetsk, solidifying a shift in battlefield momentum.
But in a boost for Ukraine, locked in a grinding struggle against Russia's invading army, the United States announced a $700 million weapons package for Kyiv that will include advanced rocket systems with a range of up to 80 km (50 miles).
Russia accused the United States of adding "fuel to the fire." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the supply of the rocket launchers raised the risk of a "third country" being dragged into the conflict.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Ukraine had promised it would not use the systems to hit targets inside Russia. President Joe Biden hopes extending Ukraine's artillery reach will help push Russia to negotiate an end to the war, which on Friday marks its 100th day.
After days of heavy fighting around Sievierodonetsk, much of which has been laid to waste by Russian bombardment, Russian troops were inching forward through city streets. Ukraine says about 70% of the city is under Russian control, with Russian troops in the city center.
"The enemy is conducting assault operations in the settlement of Sievierodonetsk," Ukraine's armed forces general staff said on Thursday, adding that Russian forces were also attacking in other parts of the east and northeast.
At least four civilians were killed and 10 wounded in the east and northeast, other officials said.
Russia denies targeting civilians.
Britain's Defense Ministry said in its daily intelligence update that Russia controlled most of the city, which before the war had a population of about 101,000, and that Ukrainian forces had destroyed bridges over the river to Lysychansk.
Capturing all of Luhansk would fulfill one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's main aims and solidify a shift in battlefield momentum after his forces were pushed back from the capital Kyiv and from northern Ukraine.
1 comment:
“They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
—Acts 1:11
“In today’s environment good news can be difficult to find. Hope is in short supply, our world is increasingly weary, worried and worn. Something has to change, something big. We all know it, we all know deep down inside that this world is not what it is supposed to be. We all yearn for things to be much better. We all imagine a Utopia on earth, a new world order, a great society permeated with peace and prosperity, where everything is made right. But how in the world could that ever come about?
The only true Global Resetter is God. Only the Creator can be the Re-creator. Only the One who set the world in motion can reset it back to its original condition. Only God is the Great Resetter, and the work of total transformation will commence on the day when He sends Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace back to Planet Earth, just as He promised two thousand years ago when He ascended back to Heaven.”
—Understanding the Times
Post a Comment