Russia pounds Kyiv with strikes while its ground advance in eastern Ukraine grinds to a near standstill
According to Al Jazeera, Russia's long-running effort to grind out territorial gains in eastern Ukraine has stalled, even as it intensifies air attacks on Kyiv and other cities. Ukraine is taking casualties while European donor states accelerate fresh deliveries of air-defence systems. The UN has reported a renewed climb in civilian casualties in recent months.
According to Al Jazeera, the Russian ground campaign in eastern Ukraine has slowed visibly in recent weeks. Reports from the front say Russian units have failed to gain meaningful new positions along several lines in Donetsk and Luhansk, even as attrition through artillery and drone strikes continues. The result is one of the most static phases of a war that is now well past its 1,000-day mark.
In the same period Russia has stepped up waves of ballistic-missile and drone strikes against major cities, with Kyiv as the main target. Explosions were reported across several districts of the capital before dawn on Saturday, with damage to energy infrastructure and to residential buildings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged retribution after 24 people were killed in the latest strikes.
Members of the European Union and the United Kingdom have announced accelerated deliveries of additional air-defence systems and ammunition. The United States is in the meantime discussing a fresh assistance package within the NATO framework. The UN human-rights office has confirmed that civilian casualties have been climbing again in recent months. Ukrainian forces say the front line is being held in a defensive posture, with structural advances dependent on post-spring conditions.
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