- Ukraine has obtained massive quantities of weapons and ammunition from its Western allies. The nation is making ready for a counteroffensive the place analysts imagine they’ll goal Russia’s provide strains.
- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Helsinki, Finland, for talks with the nation’s prime minister in an effort to safe firepower within the conflict in opposition to Russia.
- Both Ukraine and Russia have reportedly skilled ammunition shortages as long-range shellings and missile strikes have taken a toll on the nation’s munitions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Helsinki for talks with the prime ministers of 4 Nordic nations Wednesday as a part of his effort to safe larger firepower for his nation’s armed forces as they work out dislodge Russian troops from occupied areas of Ukraine.
The Nordic nations — Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark — have been amongst Kyiv’s strongest backers since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Before the assembly with Zelenskyy in Finland’s capital, Nordic officers appeared prepared to offer extra help because the conflict stretches into its fifteenth month.
“There continues to be an pressing want for army help to make sure that the Ukrainians stand as sturdy as doable within the combat in opposition to Russia,” Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen stated in an announcement.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, one other of the summit attendees, stated: “Here within the north, we now have a extra unpredictable and aggressive Russian neighbor, and it’s important that we focus on collectively face this new scenario.”
The talks got here a day after U.S. officers stated Washington plans to ship Ukraine about $300 million in further army help, together with an infinite variety of artillery rounds, howitzers, air-to-ground rockets and ammunition.
The weapons will all be pulled from Pentagon shares, to allow them to go shortly to the entrance strains, in response to the officers who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of the help has not but been formally introduced.
Elsewhere, Russia used Iranian-made drones throughout its third assault on Ukraine’s capital metropolis in six days.
Explosions had been heard in Kyiv and elsewhere throughout the night time as Ukrainian air defenses shot down 21 of the Russian drones, Ukraine’s Air Force Command stated. No harm or casualties had been reported
Meanwhile, an enormous blaze broke out at an Russian oil depot, native officers stated Wednesday.
The depot erupted in flames in Russia’s southern Krasnodar area, positioned east of the Russian-held Crimean Peninsula, in response to Krasnodar Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev.
He didn’t say what prompted the fireplace, which was described as extraordinarily troublesome to place out. But some Russian media retailers stated it was doubtless attributable to a Ukrainian drone assault in a single day. There was no official touch upon that chance.
Local residents heard an explosion shortly earlier than the fireplace erupted, Russian information website Baza stated.
PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY CALLS FOR SPECIFIC WEAPONRY FROM US, NATO ALLIES
Military analysts assume Ukraine is focusing on provide strains within the Russian rear whereas gearing up for a doable counteroffensive amid bettering climate situations and because it receives massive quantities of weapons and ammunition from its Western allies.
Explosions additionally derailed a Russian freight practice and hit a Russian airfield in latest days. Last weekend, an enormous hearth erupted at an oil depot in Crimea after it was hit by two of Ukraine’s drones, a Russia-appointed official stated.
In anticipation of a Ukrainian counteroffensive, Russian forces are targeted on destroying logistical routes and facilities of Ukraine’s armed forces with long-range strikes, Kyiv army officers say.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, proper, waves as he’s welcomed by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, left, in Helsinki, Finland, on May 3, 2023. Zelenskyy is pushing Ukraine’s Western allies to offer Kyiv with extra army help. (Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva by way of AP)
At the identical time, Russia plans to proceed talks with the United Nations and different events to an wartime settlement on facilitating Black Sea agricltural shipments, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated forward of talks on Friday.
UKRAINE SHOWDOWN: VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY CHALLENGES VLADIMIR PUTIN
Earlier Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed {that a} new spherical of consultations between Russia and the U.N. on entry of Russian agricultural merchandise and fertilizers to the world market can be held in Moscow.
Signed final July and renewed twice, most just lately in March, the deal unblocked Ukrainian grain shipments that had been held up within the nation’s blockaded ports final yr. The deal will expire on May 18 until Russia agrees to its renewal.
In the newest Ukrainian civilian casualties, three individuals died and 5 had been wounded when a grocery store within the southern Ukrainian metropolis of Kherson got here beneath hearth on Wednesday.
According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, the assault on the “solely working hypermarket in Kherson” occurred at round 11 a.m. native time.
A round the clock curfew is to be launched in Kherson from 8 p.m. on Friday by way of 6 a.m. on Monday, Kherson Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin introduced.
“During these 58 hours, it’s forbidden to maneuver round or keep on the streets of town. Also, town will probably be closed for entry and exit,” Prokudin stated.
The measure is important, he stated in a video on social media, “in order that legislation enforcement officers can do their job and never put you at risk,” however didn’t present additional particulars.
Both Russia and Ukraine reportedly have skilled ammunition shortages after a winter of long-range shelling and missile strikes because the battle grew to become slowed down in a conflict of attrition.
Ukraine’s authorities has been urgent its allies to provide it extra as officers contemplate when and the way they may begin attempting to drive Russian forces out of the Ukrainian territory they’ve occupied.
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