According to a report from Reuters, Ukrainian artillery troops stationed in Donetsk are desperately resisting the attacks of Russian forces and urgently need American ammunition. In the past, Ukrainian troops used to launch 100 M777 howitzer rounds provided by the United States at Russian forces daily, but now they are firing less than 10 rounds per day.
The United States stated that after the approval of a $610 billion aid package by Congress last month, they are urgently providing weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. However, the two artillery units on the eastern front in Donetsk, the 148th Independent Artillery Brigade and the 43rd Artillery Brigade, told Reuters that as of early May, they were still waiting for an increase in deliveries, and their operational pace is far below what is necessary to counter the Russian forces effectively.
The artillery soldiers in Kozachenko, Donetsk, stated that they urgently need more 155mm shells to equip their western-style cannons, which played a key role in gaining an advantage against Russia in the early stages of the conflict.
In recent months, Russian forces have launched multiple offensives in eastern Donetsk, with last week seeing attacks along the northeastern border of Ukraine. The number of troops and weaponry at the disposal of Russian forces greatly exceeds those of the Ukrainian defenders.
This marks a turning point in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Black Bird Group, a volunteer organization based in Finland specializing in analyzing satellite imagery and social media content during conflicts, reported that Russia has gained more territory in 2024 than it lost during the Ukrainian pushback in the summer of 2023.
According to Pasi Paroinen, an analyst at the Black Bird Group, since the beginning of this year, Moscow’s troops have taken over 654 square kilometers of land, surpassing the 414 square kilometers lost by Ukraine between June 1 and October 1 last year. Since May 2 alone, Russia has annexed 222 square kilometers of territory.
Colonel Pavlo Palisa of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade, stationed near the strategic city of Chasiv Yar, warned that Russian forces are preparing to break through Ukraine’s eastern defenses on a large scale. Another Ukrainian ground forces commander also stated last week that Moscow is exploiting delays in American arms supplies to Kyiv, predicting a crucial phase in the conflict within the next two months.
Palisa said, “There is no doubt that this will be a challenging period for the Ukrainian armed forces,” noting that the Kremlin may aim to occupy the entire Donbas industrial region by the end of this year.
As Russian forces advance, cities in eastern Ukraine such as Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk are at risk. These cities serve as crucial military hubs.
The encroachment of Russian forces has instilled fear in hundreds of thousands of Ukrainia…