2023-09-09 20:00:41
The new Ukrainian Defense Minister Roustem Oumerov has called on the West to provide “more heavy weapons” to Ukraine, in the midst of a counter-offensive against the Russian army.
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“We are grateful for all the support provided… but we need more heavy weapons. Heavy weapons. And once again, heavy weapons,” Oumerov said at an international conference in Kyiv on Friday, comments under embargo until Saturday. “We need it today. We need it now,” he added.
“Ukrainian warriors are sacrificing their lives today for the fundamental values of democracy and freedom. They need support from you, dear partners. And this support is weapons,” the minister underlined two days after his appointment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged Friday during the same conference that Russia was slowing down Ukraine’s counteroffensive and blamed “slow” Western arms deliveries, while calling for long-range weapons and new sanctions against Moscow .
The Ukrainian counter-offensive launched in June came up against powerful defense lines built by the Russians, including minefields and anti-tank traps.
However, a breakthrough has emerged in recent weeks in the south, which could allow the Ukrainian army to advance to cut Russian lines of communication between the north and Crimea, one of its objectives.
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