Ukrainian soldiers face daunting challenges as they battle better-armed Russian forces. Devastating Russian aerial glide bombs, out of reach of Ukraine s air defenses, are targeting their positions, forcing retreats from villages and defensive lines weakened by relentless shelling. Ukraine is scrambling to build fortifications, but bureaucracy, lack of equipment, and ongoing attacks hinder progress. The delayed US aid package aims to bolster Ukraine s defenses, but until then, Russia continues to exploit vulnerabilities.
The Institute for the Study of War reported that since the start of offensive operations in October 2023, Russian troops have seized 505 square kilometres of Ukraine's territory. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: From 1 January till 28 March this year, Russian troops seized almost 100 square kilometres more than they did in the last three months of 2023.
Ukrainian has withdrawn from the town of Avdiivka in the east of the country as it faces acute shortages of ammunition with U.S. military aid delayed for months in Congress.
Ukrainian forces were vastly outnumbered and had suffered a daily onslaught since October, in a city that has been on the frontlines since Russian-backed separatists launched a rebellion against Kyiv in the spring of 2014.
Russian invasion forces in eastern Ukraine persist in continuing assault operations against Ukrainian positions, though there has been a slight reduction in the number of attacks, Major Nadiya Zamryha, head of the public relations service of the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Prince Roman the Great", said on Jan. 10, in an interview with Ukrainian news channel Espreso.