Russia sends troops to eastern Ukraine in a bid to reinforce offensive

Russia has intensified its aggression in Ukraine by sending more troops to the eastern town of Ocheretyne.

However, Kyiv's forces, which hold most part of the village, expect the arms delivery by the United States to help them win the battle, said the Ukrainian military on Saturday (Apr 27).

Russian armed forces have so far gradually progressed towards the eastern front in over half a dozen villages after seizing the bastion town of Avdiivka in the month of February.

Fighting erupted in Ocheretyne on Saturday, however, Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman for the eastern command, said that the Ukrainian forces had the situation under control and holdtwo-thirds of the village.

He said that the Ukrainian armed forces were able to bombard the part of the village captured by Russian forces and that "the enemy is blocked and measures are being taken to kick them out."

Towards the north, on the eastern front, the Russian forces were attempting to seize the town of Chasiv Yar, though they had not entered the town, he said.

Zelensky calls for air defence systems

Amid Russian advances, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday called for additional air defence systems to be sent to Kyiv in its fight against Moscow.

At the start of a virtual meeting led by the United States on helping arm Ukraine, Zelensky said, "This year, Russian jets (have) already used more than 9,000 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine and we need the ability to shoot down the air combat aircraft so that they do not approach our positions and borders."

"While we were waiting for a decision on the American support, the Russian army managed to seize the initiative on the battlefield," Zelensky said.

"We can still now, not only stabilize the front but also move forward achieving our Ukrainian goals in the war," he added.

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(With inputs from agencies)