Russia Ukraine war troops withdrawn from East Kharkiv Volodymyr Zelensky appeals for arms distribution

Ukrainian troops have carried out a “tactical withdrawal” from three villages in the crisis-hit east after Russia concentrated significant forces in several locations, Ukraine’s top commander said on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky said in a statement that Russian forces were continuing to attack “along the entire border line” of more than 1,000 kilometers, according to an AP report.

“The most difficult situation is in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhov directions, where fierce fighting continues,” the top commander said in an updated post on Telegram, referring to two Ukrainian-held cities in the war-torn Donetsk region.

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“The enemy has engaged four brigades in these directions, trying to launch an offensive west of Avdiivka and Marinka, making its way to Pokrovsk and Kurakhov,” Sirsky said. The life and health of our defenders went to the new borders west of Berdichi, Semenivka and Novomikhailivka.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged international partners to speed up arms deliveries so Kiev can maintain its position and disrupt Russian plans, Reuters reports.

Zelensky said he spoke with US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday and “stressed that the Patriot system is needed and as soon as possible.”

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Sirsky said Ukrainian troops had taken up new positions at the village of Berdichi and Semenivka, west of the villages north of Avdiivka and Novomikhailivka to the south, near the town of Maryinka.

“Generally, the enemy achieved some tactical successes in these areas, but could not gain operational advantages,” he said.

The top Ukrainian commander said new troops were being deployed to the areas to replace units that had suffered losses.