Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Sunday that they are preparing “new long-range attacks” against Russian territory in response to the Russian military offensive in eastern Ukraine.
"Our units will continue to destroy the occupiers and do everything possible to bring the war to Russian territory. We are preparing new long-range attacks," he said in a message posted on his Facebook account after a meeting with the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksander Sirski, and the chief of the General Staff, Andrii Hnatov.
He also announced that there will be"regulatory, financial, and personnel" changes to increase arms production and the country's defensive independence, which already accounts for 40 percent of its armament stock.
In particular, they addressed the situation in the Pokrovsky, Novopavlovsk, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv, and Sumi regions."We see the enemy's intentions to develop defensive actions. It is important that each of these attempts be squelched with the resilience of our units and an active defense," he stated. He added:"There will invariably be a harsh response to every Russian attack on the Ukrainians."
Later, in his daily evening address, Zelensky emphasized that they are working to provide the United States with all possible information about the Russian forces' capabilities and strategy."We count on the United States to understand what can be done to force Russia to peace," he said.
Zelensky also announced that this Monday the government will introduce new financial aid for mothers of newborns, support for the first years of school, and free school meals up to fourth grade, which will be extended throughout primary school in frontline areas.
In contrast, Zelensky has advocated for “reducing non-critical state spending ” and “channeling society’s efforts toward economic growth through deregulation.”
Russia announces the seizure of two more towns in Donetsk
The Russian Defense Ministry announced this Sunday the capture of two more towns in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk, specifically Nikolaevka and Mirne, which it names after its Soviet-era name, Karl Marx.
"Units of the Eastern Group of Forces have continued to penetrate enemy defenses and liberated the Karl Marx settlement in the Donetsk People's Republic," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
In addition,"as a result of offensive actions, units of the Center group of forces liberated the settlement of Nikolaevka," also in Donetsk.
Meanwhile, the president of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, has reported that 694 Ukrainian drones have been neutralized in the region in the last week.
Of these, 300 were neutralized over Donetsk and Mekeyevka, and 394 over Gorlovka. These explosive-laden aircraft were intended to attack the Donetsk Machine-Building Plant, Pushilin said on his Telegram account. Among the neutralized aircraft was a drone carrier carrying FPV drones intended to"attack civilians."
These drones have been shot down by the Donbas Dome system, created in Donetsk with the collaboration of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
