President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine expects to receive more weapons from its allies following a recent U.S. vow, as the struggle for Ukraine's east raged 100 days after Russia's invasion.
According to Zelenskiy, around 20 percent of Ukraine's territory is currently occupied by the Russian military. In a late-night speech, Zelenskiy said, "Our entire temporarily controlled area is now a full disaster zone."
In pursuit of a high-profile triumph, Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces are concentrating on the industrial Donbass area, comprising Luhansk and Donetsk.
Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko announced late Thursday that three civilians were killed in Donetsk, including two in the coal-producing town of Avdiivka, and nine people were injured.
"Other partners are more likely to give us more positive weaponry shipping information... we plan to significantly increase our supply of advanced weapon systems," he stated
Russia has accused the United States of putting "fuel to the fire" with a new $700 million weapons package for Ukraine, which will include sophisticated rocket launchers with a range of up to 50 miles.
The administration of President Joe Biden has frequently stated that it has received assurances from Ukraine that it will not deploy the rocket systems to attack targets within Russia.
Russia has said that it is conducting a "special military operation" to disarm and "denazify" its neighbor. This, according to Ukraine and its allies, is a bogus justification for a war that has resulted in the deaths of thousands, the destruction of cities, and the displacement of nearly six million people.
While Moscow denies attacking civilians, it claims that it has a right to target Ukrainian infrastructure used to transport Western armaments.
However, it has claimed that Western supplies will not alter its offensive strategy.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, told reporters, "The introduction of (Western) arms into Ukraine does not alter all the parameters of the special operation."
When asked if U.S. plans to sell Ukraine drones that can be armed with missiles could alter the nature of the conflict, Peskov responded, "Its objectives will be realized, but Ukraine will suffer more as a result."
After days of intense combat, the eastern industrial city of Sievierodonetsk is largely in ruins on the ground.
Its conquest, together with the tiny twin city of Lysychansk, would grant Russia control over the entirety of Luhansk, which, like Donetsk, is claimed by Moscow on behalf of separatists.
