Several Bakhmut attacks have been repulsed – Kyiv

• Ukrainian military stated in its most recent news bulletin that “numerous attacks” had been repelled.
• The United States has announced an additional $400 million (£333 million) in military aid.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned this week that the situation was growing “more and more difficult.”

Russian forces claim to be on the verge of capturing the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which mercenaries say is almost completely surrounded.

The head of Russia’s Wagner private army said the country is “practically encircled” and that escape options are limited.

However, the Ukrainian military stated in its most recent news bulletin that “numerous attacks” had been repelled in the area of eastern Donetsk over the last 24 hours.

The United States has announced an additional $400 million (£333 million) in military aid to replenish Kyiv’s depleted ammunition inventories.

Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, visited Bakhmut on Friday for talks with local commanders about ways to strengthen frontline forces.

For nearly six months, Russian troops have been attempting to capture the city.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned this week that the situation on the eastern front line was growing “more and more difficult”.

Ukraine’s ever-dwindling ammunition reserves are a major source of anxiety, as the high-intensity battle with Russia shows no signs of abating.

Himars artillery rockets and howitzers

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the country’s latest delivery includes high-precision Himars artillery rockets and howitzers “which Ukraine is employing so well”.

President Zelenskyy had stated that artillery and shells were needed to “halt Russia”.

In addition, the US is providing tactical bridges ahead of Ukraine’s planned invasion.

The supply of such equipment, which allows armored vehicles to traverse rivers and ditches, comes as several Ukrainian military officials and analysts have predicted that the operation could begin in the coming weeks.

Elsewhere, a partial evacuation was planned on Thursday in Kupiansk, Kharkiv area, which was liberated from Russian occupation last September.

Limited mobility

Due to “constant” shelling by Russian forces, regional officials advised families with children and others “with limited mobility” to flee.

In a statement on Friday, Mr. Blinken said: “This military assistance package includes more ammunition for US-provided Himars and howitzers, which Ukraine is using so effectively to defend itself”.

He added that Washington would also be sending “ammunition for Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridges, demolitions munitions and equipment, and other maintenance, training and support”.

Himars proved to be extremely effective during Ukraine’s lighting counter-offensive late last year which saw almost the whole of the Kharkiv region brought back under Kyiv’s control.

Those advances – and the liberation of the southern city of Kherson – were the most significant front-line changes since Russia withdrew from areas around Kyiv in April.

America’s top diplomat emphasized in his statement that “the United States also continues to urge the world to support Ukraine” in protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The fresh US military aid package was unveiled as US media reported that Ukraine may be running dangerously low on artillery stocks after more than a year since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion.

Both Ukraine and Russia are thought to be firing tens of thousands of artillery shells each day in what has been described as a high-intensity attrition war in recent months.

The Ukrainian military has not publicly commented on the supposed ammo shortage.

Most needed

However, President Zelenskyy on Thursday said that “artillery is number one that we need”.

He added that Kyiv also needed “a large quantity of shells” and warplanes to “expel” Russian troops from Ukraine’s territory.

Military support to Ukraine was likely to be the main topic of discussion when US President Joe Biden met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington on Friday.

Mr. Biden hailed the German Chancellor for his country’s “profound” support for Ukraine.

Mr. Scholz said it was crucial to emphasize that this will continue “as long as it takes and as long as is necessary”.

A number of Ukraine’s Western partners have committed to providing tanks and artillery, but Kyiv insists that this must happen far faster to discourage any Russian invasion.

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