Ukraine considers withdrawing troops in some areas; Russia launches new operation in Zaporizhia

War information

Russia pushes Ukraine back from border . The Russian Defense Ministry said that the country's armed forces have repelled attempts to attack inside the country's territory over the past week.

According to the Kremlin, Russian defense forces successfully thwarted Ukrainian attempts to attack the border.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukrainian strike and reconnaissance groups had been ineffective in their attempts to penetrate the Russian border.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that the country's armed forces had repelled attempts to attack inside the country's territory over the past week. Photo: RIA Novosti

Russia attacks Ukraine's largest hydroelectric dam . Ukraine's national power company Ukrhydroenerho announced that Russia attacked the DniproHES hydroelectric dam, in Zaporizhia province, southern Ukraine. This is Ukraine's largest hydroelectric dam.

“ The attack caused a fire in the power plant area. Emergency services are on the scene to deal with the consequences ,” Ukrhydroenerho said, adding that there was no risk of a dam failure.

Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said this was one of the biggest attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since Russia launched a special military operation more than two years ago. The raid caused power outages in several provinces of Ukraine.

Russia launches new operation in Zaporizhia . Immediately after taking control of Avdiivka, the Russian army suddenly launched a large-scale attack in the direction of Zaporizhia.

According to the Ukrainian side, currently, supported by air and artillery, Russian mechanized infantry has launched a major offensive on Rabotino. The Ukrainian army has retreated to defensive positions south and west of Rabotine and is only 9km from Orekhov.

Some related developments

Ukraine considers withdrawing troops from some areas . According to Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, Ukraine is considering withdrawing troops from some areas to strengthen its defenses in the conflict with Russia.

“ We know that Ukraine is having to make a strategic decision to withdraw its troops from certain areas to strengthen its defenses ,” Ms. Singh said.

Ukraine is also facing many similar decisions in the context of the US being unable to provide the country with more necessary aid until Congress approves military support proposals, the deputy press secretary said.

The United States has urged Ukraine to stop attacks on Russian energy infrastructure . The White House has grown increasingly frustrated with Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries, terminals and other oil infrastructure, according to separate sources.

U.S. officials have repeatedly warned Ukrainian military commanders that such attacks could escalate global energy prices. Indeed, oil prices have risen nearly 4 percent since March 12, when Kiev forces first bombed its neighbor’s energy infrastructure.

US officials are concerned that further increases in gasoline prices in the US will drag down voters' trust in President Biden and reduce his chances of re-election to the White House in the general election this November.

Ukraine says Russia is building up a large army . Oleksandr Pavliuk, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, warned that Russia is building up a large army in preparation for an attack this summer.

While admitting that Ukraine did not know the full extent of Russia’s plans, Mr Pavliuk said Russia was mobilising “a group of more than 100,000 people”.

“ The plan does not necessarily have to be an offensive. Perhaps Russia will just use these troops to replenish units that are losing combat capability ,” Pavliuk revealed.

However, the Ukrainian official also admitted that the enemy has the advantage on the battlefield: "Russia cannot allow itself to lose its advantage on the battlefield and only when they slow down can we gain the initiative."

Hungary, Slovakia oppose sending any weapons to Ukraine . Hungary and Slovakia remain firmly opposed to sending any weapons to Ukraine.

Specifically, Hungary refused to arm Ukraine while Slovakia said it was not ready to change its refusal to supply weapons to Ukraine. Slovakian Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar stressed that the country would not change its position because the conflict had no military solution.

It is known that these countries including the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia recently met to discuss Prague's plan to buy 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine.

At the meeting, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky stressed: “It is necessary to increase support to Ukraine in all areas, including military assistance.” Czech leaders previously said the first artillery shells would be delivered to Ukraine no later than next June.

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