Ukraine’s troops withdrew from several areas of the country’s north-east amid mounting pressure from a new Russian offensive, as the president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, postponed all foreign trips underscoring the seriousness of the threat.
Ukrainian military said late on Tuesday that troops fell back from areas in Lukyantsi and Vovchansk near Kharkiv “to save the lives of our servicemen and avoid losses”.
Against the backdrop of renewed Russian pressure, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, sought to reassure the ally of continuing American support, announcing a $2bn arms deal.
The United States is rushing ammunition, armoured vehicles, missiles and air defences to Ukraine to ensure their speedy delivery to the frontline, added Blinken on Wednesday.
Dmytro Lazutkin, the spokesman for the defence ministry, said “some” Russian infantry groups had entered the town, which military analysts believe Moscow needs to capture to continue its offensive thrust in that direction.
Russia is opening new fronts in order to stretch Ukraine’s army, which is short of ammunition and manpower, along the approximately 620 miles (1,000-km) frontline, hoping defences will crumble.
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