MEZIESBLOG

Russia fired four missiles and 12 Shahed drones into eastern Ukraine overnight, Ukraine’s air force is reporting this morning.

Officials said nine of the drones were shot down in four regions.

For context: On 22 March, Russia carried out a major airstrike on Ukraine’s energy system as part of what Moscow said was “revenge” for Ukrainian attacks on Russian border regions.

Russian forces continued targeting energy facilities this week as well.

Moscow has increased its use of ballistic missiles, which are much faster than regular cruise missiles and harder to shoot down, to attack Ukrainian cities over the past few days.

Ukraine will retreat ‘in small steps’ without US aid, Zelenskyy says

We reported yesterday on Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s comments to the Washington Post about US military aid.

Here is another look at what was said by the Ukrainian president. 

In an interview with the American paper, Mr Zelenskyy said if Ukraine does not get the promised US military aid its forces will have to retreat “in small steps”.

“If there is no US support, it means that we have no air defence, no Patriot missiles, no jammers for electronic warfare, no 155mm artillery rounds,” he said.

“It means we will go back, retreat, step by step, in small steps.

“We are trying to find some way not to retreat.”

Shortages of munitions, he said, meant “you have to do with less”.

He added: “How? Of course, to go back. Make the frontline shorter. If it breaks, the Russians could go to the big cities.”

Joe Biden has urged the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives to endorse the military and financial aid package, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has held up the matter for months, citing domestic priorities.

Mr Zelenskyy told the US president in a telephone conversation on Thursday that approval of the package was vital.

Russian forces captured the eastern town of Avdiivka last month and have made small gains since, but the frontlines have changed little in months.

In his interview, the Ukrainian president said Ukraine was making up for shortages of missiles with home-produced weaponry and air defence systems, “but it is not enough”.