Russia could open new front as Ukraine remains weapons-poor, say officials
Al Jazeera
Ukrainian experts believe up to 50,000 troops are poised to try and take Sumy and Kharkiv.
Russian forces continued to exploit a window of opportunity to make small, tactical gains during the past week, as Ukraine began to receive parcels of long-delayed US military aid for the first time in weeks.
Ukraine also reported that Russia was building up worrying numbers of troops on its northern border, and prepared to face a potential new front.
Against this tense background, Europe sought to boost Ukraine’s own defence industrial base to ensure political problems among its allies never interfere with weapons deliveries again.
Russian forces managed to steal another march on Ukrainian defenders in Ocheretyne. The village sits at the western point of a salient the Russians have gradually built west of Avdiivka after taking that city in February.
They took advantage of a poorly executed substitution of Ukraine’s defending battalion to enter Ocheretyne in late April, but faced fierce resistance.
