Ukraine’s army commander rules out sudden assault on Kyiv
Independence Square in Kyiv, June 8, 2022 (Photo:REUTERS/Marko Djurica)
It’s impossible for Russia to rapidly shift active fighting back towards Kyiv, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi said during a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Birdget A. Brink on July 14.
Corresponding message was posted on Ukraine’s Defense Ministry’s website.
Zaluzhnyi reportedly told Brink about how the fighting is developing, and reassured the ambassador that the capital city of Kyiv is well-defended.
“The fighting is currently focused around Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts,” said Zaluzhnyi.
“Back in February and March, areas around Kyiv were a flashpoint, but we were able to establish a secure defense around the capital and push enemy forces out. We’re constantly bolstering those defenses. Necessary military units are committed to the city’s defense. Therefore, an abrupt flare-up of hostilities there is impossible.”
Russian missile strikes pose the greatest threat to Ukrainian cities, added Zaluzhnyi. With the assistance from its Western partners, Ukraine is able to track Russian missile launches, allowing for many of them to be intercepted mid-flight.
Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov expressed gratitude to the United States for supplying Ukraine with HIMARS multiple-launch rocket artillery, noting the stunning impact these weapons are making on the battlefield.
“The effectiveness of HIMARS and barreled 155mm artillery is astounding,” said Reznikov.
“Our artillerists are destroying enemy ammo depots, vehicles, and command-and-control posts with great accuracy. Thanks to security assistance from the United States and other countries, Ukrainians are halting the advance of Russian butchers, protecting their homes and the rest of Europe.”
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