KYIV: Russia on Sunday claimed its troops had gained territory near the key battleground town of Chasiv Yar in east Ukraine, spotlighting the pressure facing Kyiv as it gears up to receive 61 billion dollars in new US aid.
After nearly a year-and-a-half delay, the US House of Representatives finally approved the assistance package in a vote Saturday, giving a morale boost to Ukrainian troops on the defensive.
Russia’s defence ministry said on Sunday that it had seized Bogdanivka, a small frontline village less than 3 kilometres northeast of Chasiv Yar, AFP reported.
The ministry said that units of the southern grouping of forces have completely liberated the settlement of Bogdanivka.
Chasiv Yar, which had a population of about thirteen thousand before the war, has been largely destroyed by fighting and most residents have fled.
Russia’s Reaction to New US Aid
Moscow has tried to play down the new package of US aid’s impact, which the Russian foreign ministry said would deepen American”immersion” in the war.
Maria Zakharova, the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, said in a statement that feverish attempts aimed at saving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s neo-Nazi regime are destined to fail.
Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said the new American assistance would lead to “de-escalation” and “punishment” for Moscow.
