Russia preparing ‘larger assault’ in Ukraine – White House — RT World News
The United States is sending another $400 million worth of weapons to help Kiev repel Moscow's possible attack on Kharkov
White House National Security Advisor John Kirby said that Russian forces may be preparing for a comprehensive attack on Kharkov, the second largest city in Ukraine, after Kiev accused Moscow of renewing its military offensive in the region.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry and President Vladimir Zelensky claimed on Friday that Russia had launched a new large-scale offensive, attacking several locations along Russia's border with the Kharkov region. John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, told reporters later in the day that Washington was concerned that Moscow was paving the way for a larger attack.
“It is certainly possible that the Russians are preparing themselves for a larger attack on Kharkov.” Kirby said in a virtual press conference. “You wouldn't if you weren't also considering another, larger attack directly on the city.”
Moscow did not provide any information about its alleged activities near Kharkov, beyond reporting the incident Yasser Two villages on the region's border with the Russian Luhansk People's Republic (LPR).
Over the past few months, Ukrainian forces have used Kharkov as a launching point to launch indiscriminate drone, artillery, and missile attacks on Russian border regions, especially Belgorod, and to make multiple failed attempts to breach the border.
On Friday, the United States announced another military aid package worth $400 million, the third in recent weeks. Washington also approved the emergency sale of three HIMARS systems worth an estimated $30 million, which will be financed by Germany.
While the United States last month approved a long-awaited $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, officials in Kiev told the Financial Times it would do just that. “Helping slow the Russian advance, but not stopping it.”
Moscow said that new arms shipments would not succeed in turning the tide of the conflict. According to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Russian forces are fully in control of the situation on the battlefield and are advancing steadily. The minister said earlier this month that during April Ukrainian forces lost about 1,000 soldiers per day on average, and he estimated Kiev's military losses at about 111,000 this year alone.
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