Ukraine battle briefing: Three million shells coming from our allies, says Zelenskyy | Ukraine

Ukraine hopes to obtain 3m artillery shells from allies and companions in 2025 together with 1.8m below a Czech-led programme, Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned in Prague on Sunday. “The Czech artillery initiative is working brilliantly,” the Ukrainian president mentioned. Prague steers a European drive to produce artillery ammunition to Ukraine, financed largely by Nato allies. “Not solely North Korea is able to serving to [Russia] within the battle – we now have allies who’re serving to Ukraine,” Zelenskyy mentioned in feedback reported by the Kyiv Unbiased.

Zelenskyy added there could be a assembly on Monday with “Czech defence corporations”, with particulars to be introduced later. Discussions have been below method for a Ukrainian-Czech pilot coaching faculty for F16 fighter jets, which couldn’t be established in Ukraine “as a consequence of present safety issues”.

Zelenskyy spoke alongside Petr Pavel, president of the Czech Republic and a former Nato normal, who mentioned that “Putin can finish the battle with a single resolution however he has not proven any willingness up to now”. The Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, and the audio system of each parliament chambers mentioned they’d meet Zelenskyy in Prague on Monday.

Ukrainian forces struck {an electrical} gear manufacturing unit in Russia’s Bryansk area near the border with Ukraine, destroying a lot of the plant, mentioned the native governor, Alexander Bogomaz. Ukraine mentioned the manufacturing unit specialised within the manufacturing of electronics for Russia’s defence business. “In keeping with preliminary data, the Strela manufacturing unit in Suzemka, Bryansk area, is not operational following the strike,” mentioned Andriy Kovalenko, head of the federal government’s Centre for Countering Disinformation. Mash, a Telegram channel with hyperlinks to Russia’s safety providers, mentioned the manufacturing unit produced electrical gear and was hit by a Grad rocket system.

Air defence destroyed 4 Ukrainian drones flying in direction of Moscow, the mayor of the Russian capital mentioned early on Monday.

Zelenskyy mentioned on Sunday that he didn’t imagine Putin would adhere to a self-declared three-day truce to coincide with Russia’s “victory day” celebrations on 9 Might. “This isn’t the primary problem, nor are these the primary guarantees made by Russia to stop hearth. We perceive who we’re coping with, we don’t imagine them.” Citing a navy report, he mentioned Russia had carried out greater than 200 assaults on Saturday, “so there is no such thing as a religion [in them]”. Zelenskyy mentioned, although, {that a} ceasefire with Russia was potential at any second and known as on Kyiv’s allies to use larger strain on Moscow in any other case Putin would take no actual steps to finish the battle.

The Guardian’s Shaun Walker has investigated how Moscow is utilizing “disposable folks” recruited on-line to hold out sabotage, arson and disinformation campaigns in Europe – generally towards particular targets associated to assist for the Ukrainian battle effort, however extra typically merely to trigger chaos and unease. Whereas some know precisely what they’re doing and why, others don’t realise they’re finally working for Moscow.

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, mentioned in feedback broadcast on Sunday mentioned that the necessity to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine had not arisen, and that he hoped it might not, writes Angelique Chrisafis. Putin mentioned Russia might convey the battle in Ukraine to what he known as a “logical conclusion … There was no want to make use of these [nuclear] weapons … and I hope they won’t be required.”