File image.
Kiev forces have sustained more losses in manpower and equipment in different directions as a result of Russian strikes.
The Russian Zapad Group of Forces announced on July 7 that it had delivered eight airstrikes against gatherings of manpower and equipment of Ukraine’s 14 Separate Mechanized Brigade and 103 Separate Territorial Defense Brigade in the Kupyansk direction.
In addition, the group said that its artillery destroyed an American-made M113 armored personnel carrier near Berestovoy. Moreover, an American-made AN/TPQ-50 counterfire radar was destroyed with a Lancet loitering munition near Kondrashovka.
Two new videos also showed the destruction of a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer and an unidentified armored vehicle of Kiev forces with artillery and helicopter strikes.
Another video showed the capture of a Ukrainian service member near Kremennaya. It is worth noting that the Russian military recently released 45 Ukrainian captives in exchange for 45 of its own troops who were captured in action by Kiev forces.
In an attempt to deflect from its losses, Kiev forces attacked the Russian region of Belgorod again on July 6. Artillery strikes killed a civilian in Novopetrovka. At least nine drones were also shot down near the region’s center.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with American media that the counteroffensive slowed down due to difficulties on the battlefield and a shortage in artillery units.
“Our slowed down counteroffensive is happening due to certain difficulties in the battlefield,” Zelensky said in the interview that was aired on July 5.
Moreover, Zelensky said Ukraine has a shortage in artillery units that makes it difficult for its armed forces to be capable of hitting all its intended targets.
The president also called on the United States to provide Ukraine with ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles, and urged NATO to make some kind of announcement about Ukraine becoming a member of the alliance.
The plea came following a report by NBC News of secret talks between former U.S. officials and Russian diplomats over Ukraine. The report was however denied by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who described it as “fake news”.
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