Ukrainian forces pull back from 3 villages on eastern front; Zelensky issues fresh plea

Ukraine’s top commander, on Sunday (Apr 28) said that its troops were forced to fall back to new positions west of three villages on the eastern front where Russia has recently ramped up attacks and concentrated significant forces on several locations.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a fresh plea calling on the international community to deliver more air defences, begin talks for Ukraine to become a part of the European Union, and for the war-torn country to join NATO.

‘Most difficult’

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In a statement on Sunday, Ukraine’s Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi addressed the worsening situation of Kyiv’s forces on the country’s eastern front and also expressed hope that it can stabilise it once the United States delivers more weapons as a part of its $61 billion aid package approved this week.

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“The situation at the front has worsened,” said Syrskyi, in a post on Telegram. He described west of the occupied Ukrainian city Maryinka and northwest of Avdiivka, a town captured by the Russian forces after months of intense fighting in February, as “most difficult” areas.

Ukrainian troops have now taken a new position in the west of the villages of Berdychi and Semenivka, both of which are north of Avdiivka, and Novomykhailivka.

He noted that while Russian forces have generally “achieved certain tactical successes in these areas,” they could not “gain operational advantages.”

In a possibly concerning development, Syrskiy also said that the Ukrainian forces are also closely monitoring a build-up of Russian troops near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

Moscow claims to have captured village

Ukraine’s top commander in his statement did not respond to Russia’s claims about Novobakhmutivka, another village near Berdychi, which the Russian defence ministry on Sunday, said its forces have captured.

“As the result of active operations, the ‘Centrer’ troop unit liberated the village of Novobakhmutivka in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” said the ministry in its daily briefing.

The village is around 10 kilometres north of Avdiivka, the town which witnessed one of the bloodiest battles of the two-year conflict.

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According to reports, Russia has been slowly advancing since capturing the bastion town and has taken advantage of Ukrainian shortages of artillery shells and manpower.

Zelensky issues fresh plea

In his nightly address on Sunday, the Ukrainian president also called for more air defence systems, particularly the Patriot system.

Zelensky also said that he had spoken to US House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries and thanked Congress for passing the $61 billion aid package.

“We are still waiting for the supplies Ukraine was promised,” said the Ukrainian president, adding that Kyiv is “expecting those volumes and scope that can change the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine’s interests.”

Zelensky also said that Ukraine has met all the conditions set by the EU to begin the accession talks and now the 27-nation bloc “must meet its obligations.”

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Ukraine has received strong backing from the European nations to join the bloc, but the process could take years.

About the entry to NATO, Zelensky said every country that shares common values and is ready to defend them “deserves an invitation to the alliance.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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