Egypt Daily News – The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it has regained control of 10 towns in the Kursk region over the past two days. The ministry added that it intercepted Ukrainian tactical missiles and targeted several military objectives, including an ammunition depot, an electronic warfare station, and a multiple launch rocket system.
In contrast, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that its troops repelled Russian attacks on multiple fronts, including intense fighting in the areas of Bakhmut and Kurakhove. There have been fierce battles towards Kharkiv, where the Russian army launched attacks on Ukrainian positions, while the Ukrainian army managed to repel several attacks in the Bakhmut region.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, called for maximum support from the 60 participants at the fourth Crimea Platform summit in Kyiv.
Zelensky reminded the attending representatives that the war began with the occupation of Crimea ten years ago, adding that its freedom is essential for achieving lasting peace in Ukraine.
For his part, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced new packages of aid for Ukraine. Blinken pointed out that the United States has provided more than 700 million US dollars, including 325 million dollars for rebuilding energy and electricity networks, 290 million dollars for humanitarian aid, and 102 million dollars for mine clearance.
Blinken also confirmed that he discussed with Ukrainian officials the possibility of using long-range weapons, while President Joe Biden stated that he is “working on that now.” Later, Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder clarified that air defense will remain a priority within Western military support for Ukraine.
In response to the support for long-range weapons, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned that Russia would eliminate the American tactical missile system (ATACMS) if the United States allowed its use against Russia.
In another development, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that it thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to seize the drilling platform “Krimea-2” in the Black Sea, where eight Ukrainian speedboats were sunk, resulting in the deaths of about 80 Ukrainian marines.
