The new week began immediately with the announcement that Vladimir Putin will replace Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu after nearly 12 years in office.
Andrei Belosov, a longtime ally of the Russian president, will be replaced by Andrei Belosov, 65, a former deputy prime minister with a background in economics.
Meanwhile, Shoigu will replace Putin’s close ally Nikolai Patrushev as secretary of Russia’s powerful Security Council, although his new role has not yet been announced.
A former MI6 agent said the move showed “serious instability” at the heart of Russia’s leadership and suggested something deeper may be going on behind the scenes. Ta.
Thousands flee Russian attack
The appointments come as Russia resumed its offensive in northeastern Ukraine on Friday, with fighting escalating over the weekend and forcing thousands of civilians to flee.
Ukrainian military commander Oleksandr Shirushkyi insisted his military was doing everything it could to contain the Russian threat, but admitted it was difficult. Heavy fighting forced at least one Ukrainian military unit to withdraw.
President Voloidmir Zelenskiy said on Sunday that heavy fighting was occurring in the Kharkiv region and its east, with fighting extending to the edge of Bovchansk, which has become a war zone since Russia launched a new surprise attack.
Delay in weapons supply
Reopening a major front in the northeast will expand Kiev’s already undermanned and outgunned military while waiting for Western weapons, Security and Defense editor Deborah Haynes reported .
Ukraine said long delays by the U.S. Congress in passing a major aid package, including military aid to Kiev, had taken a heavy toll on its forces on the battlefield.
New aid is expected to reach the front lines quickly to counter Russia, which is trying to seize momentum in the conflict by exploiting Ukraine’s lack of human resources and artillery ammunition.
‘Very dangerous’ moment
Prime Minister David Cameron said the Russian surprise attack in Kharkiv marked an “extremely dangerous” moment in the conflict and reiterated that Britain must do “everything we can” to support Kiev.
Appearing on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, he lamented the length of time it took for the US to approve the multi-billion dollar aid package, but said he believed it would make a difference. Stated.
The Foreign Minister also said that despite suffering from ammunition shortages, the morale of the Ukrainian people is strong.
“They are still inflicting horrific numbers of casualties on the Russian people. If only the Russian people could know how many people they are losing,” he said.
Russia claims Ukraine continues to attack its territory
As Russia steps up its attacks on Ukraine, there were more cross-border attacks in the Belgorod region last week, which the Kremlin blames on Kiev.
Last Monday, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed that Ukrainian drones had struck the region, killing six people and injuring 35 others, including two children.
He said further attacks on Thursday left eight people injured and damaged numerous homes and cars.
Mr. Gladkov claimed that one woman was killed and 29 others injured in cross-border shelling by Ukrainian forces on Saturday, while at least 13 people were killed yesterday in an apartment collapse that Russia reported was a Ukrainian missile attack. A person was reported dead.