- Ukraine's Sovereignty Anniversary: International Partners Promise Assistance
On Ukraine's Independence Day celebration, Western allies reinforced their commitment to Kyiv's government in confronting Russia's invasion. Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured President Volodymyr Zelensky of Germany's unwavering solidarity in a phone call, echoing supportive statements from the US, Britain, and Poland over the weekend.
Kyiv hosted various events with attendance from Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė. Zelensky showcased a freshly developed drone missile by Ukraine on Independence Day.
Duda highlighted Poland's persistent political, military, and non-military assistance to Ukraine, stating, "As citizens of this European region, it's our duty to back Ukraine towards the EU." Warsaw will also bolster Kyiv's attempts to join NATO.
Scholz reviewed the military and humanitarian context in Ukraine with Zelensky, as per spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. Zelensky appreciatively acknowledged Germany's ongoing military aid in air defense.
Biden vowed "unwavering American support for the Ukrainian people," promising to sustain them at each step. British Prime Minister Starmer echoed a long-term commitment by his country to Ukraine.
The US and Lithuania extended tangible military assistance to Ukraine. The new US aid bundle, approximating $125 million (€111 million), encompasses Himars rocket launcher ammunition, artillery shells, small arms ammunition, ambulances, and medical equipment per the US Department of State.
Lithuania intends to supply another military aid package to Ukraine. Prime Minister Šimonytė announced, "Lithuania's stance is simple: Ukraine must triumph, Russia must fail." Over the fall, Kyiv is projected to receive about 5,000 drones from Lithuania. Before that, Lithuania aims to dispatch ammunition, weapons, air defense systems, and drone defense equipment, and equipments for mine clearance worth 35 million euros.
Zelensky unveiled a new weapon known as "Palianytsia," which will supplement their rocket program. "This drone missile outpaces and packs more power than our long-range drones," he stated. Due to security reasons, additional details were not disclosed. "Palianytsia" translates to traditional Ukrainian bread.
In recent months, Ukraine has increasingly relied on manufacturing various types of drones, which can be mass-produced and affordably priced. Ukrainian forces predominantly employ these long-range drones to strike targets in Russian territories, due to their Western allies currently not permitting the use of heavy weapons like rockets or cruise missiles for such attacks.
Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR has already formulated plans for the liberation of Crimea.
The Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR has already put together detailed plans for the recapture of the Crimean peninsula, annexed and occupied by Russia. Moreover, preparations for the destruction of the Kerch bridge constructed by Russia have also been planned by HUR representative Andrij Jussow. "We long for the moment to say that the Kerch bridge can survive for another 15 minutes, but reality is more complex," he said, referring to the defensive systems Russia has established around the bridge to ward off air or sea attacks.
However, Jussow refused to provide details about the Ukraine's tactical strategies for achieving these objectives. "We'll make no announcements, as we've done in the past."
Russian forces continue to assault eastern Ukraine
The Russian military persisted in aggravating Ukrainian defenders around Donbass in eastern Ukraine. The towns of Torez and Pokrovsk served as repeated flashpoints, as reported by the Kyiv General Staff in the evening. Ukrainian forces successfully repelled 39 attacks at Pokrovsk, while nine attacks were initiated by Russian forces at Torez. Russian air strikes, once again, inflicted substantial damage using guided bombs.
Germany continues to stand in solidarity with Ukraine, as Chancellor Scholz reiterated Germany's support during a phone call with President Zelensky. Russia's invasion is a concern for Germany, as it is for many Western allies, and Germany has been providing military aid, including air defense assistance.
