On Thursday, April 28, the Russian occupation forces increased their military pressure on Izium in the Donbas front, where they have succeeded in penetrating the Ukrainian defence lines in some areas. The US have delivered a part of the heavy artillery weapons fledge to Ukraine, while the UK has called on all countries supporting Ukraine to increase giving heavy weapons to the country, Ukrainian public broadcaster Ukrinform, British news portal The Guardian, British public broadcaster BBC and Belarusian Nexta TV report.
Early on Thursday the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Russian forces have additionally moved airborne units and up to 500 units of military equipment to the city of Izium, Kharkiv Region in order to strengthen their offensive capabilities. Currently, the main efforts of Russian troops were focused on the Izium direction. The invaders were trying to launch an offensive in the directions of Sulyhivka – Nova Dmytrivka and Andriivka – Velyka Komyshuvakha.
In the south, the Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed they eliminated 49 invaders and 14 units of enemy equipment in southern Ukraine on April 27. In Kherson and Mykolaiv regions, the Russian troops sought to improve their tactical positions towards Mykolaiv, but had no success. Ukrainian defenders used artillery to repulse an enemy attack near Novohryhorivka and two attacks near Oleksandrivka. Effective conduct of combat actions prevented enemy preparations for an attack in the direction of Mykolaivka. In the Novovorontsovka area, Ukrainian air defense units shot down another Russian Orlan-10 drone.
The total Russian losses in southern Ukraine over the past day amounted to 49 personnel and 14 units of military equipment, including six armoured vehicles, three motor vehicles, three units of missile and artillery and anti-aircraft weapons and rear equipment.
In Molodetske and Velyka Oleksandrivka areas, the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed enemy ammunition depots, Ukrinform reports quoting the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
US howitzers land in Ukraine
The US Department of Defence stated that more than half of the promised ninety 155-milimetre howitzers have been delivered to Ukraine. The weapons have arrived in the country, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby announced.
The official added that the initial phase of training for 50 Ukrainian soldiers was completed in the last week of April.
UK signals readiness to help Ukraine liberate Crimea
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss made a speech in London on Wednesday calling for a «doubling down» on support for Ukraine. She called for further supplies of heavy weapons, and for allies to push for Russian forces to entirely leave Ukraine’s territory, with the country reverting to its pre-2014 borders.
«We are going to keep going further and faster to push Russia out of the whole of Ukraine,» the British Foreign Secretary said.
Zelenskyy criticises continued Russia’s exports
Russia is using gas and trade as a weapon against Europe, evaluated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after Russia stopped exporting natural gas to Bulgaria and Poland. On Thursday, Zelenskyy meets with UN Secretary General António Guterres in Ukraine.
Watch Zelenskyy’s latest video address.
Day 64 of war in Ukraine: US delivers howitzers to Ukraine, UK calls for more heavy weapon deliveries
