Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Ukrainian forces can now inflict "significant losses" on Russian invaders through sophisticated weapons from Western allies that are changing the battlefield.
On Monday, Zelensky mentioned in his daily video message that Ukrainian forces could "inflict significant logistical losses on the occupiers" and claimed that the Russian army is struggling to hold positions on the "captured territory."
Zelensky said: "Step by step, we advance, disrupt the supply of the occupiers, and identify and neutralize collaborators."
Valeriy Zaluzhniy, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said the "timely arrival" of longer-range artillery such as the US HIMARS system was helping to change the battlefield in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Ukrainian army senior official said they have "managed to stabilize the situation."
"It is complex, intense, but completely controlled," Zaluzhniy said. "An important factor contributing to our retention of defensive lines and positions is the timely arrival of M142 HIMARS, which deliver surgical strikes on enemy control posts, ammunition, and fuel storage depots."
In the Donetsk, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions, CNN has so far this month reported roughly 20 strikes that occurred far outside Russian lines and some of which resulted in massive blasts and several detonations.
Russia Is Threatened
Zaluzhniy expressed his gratitude to Gen. Mark Milley, the head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, for the support provided by the US and its allies for Ukraine's "struggle for freedom."
Separately, Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, told Ukrainian television that the current situation in Ukraine is "completely different" compared to the conditions a month ago in the Russia Ukraine war.
"Now, thanks to the fact that we receive enough weapons from our partners, we have established a certain parity in certain positions," Danilov said.
Russia seems threatened by Ukraine's more advanced weapons, indicated by its recent measure wherein its defense ministry reportedly instructed a militia group to prioritize eliminating Kyiv's long-range weapons provided by Western nations, according to a report from Business Insider.
The state-run Interfax news agency reported that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had a meeting with the pro-Russian militia Vostock battalion engaged in combat in Ukraine and had "instructed the commander to prioritize the destruction of enemy long-range missiles and artillery with high-precision weapons."
The Moscow Times reported that Shoigu also instructed all units to remove the ability of the Kyiv regime to inflict large missile and artillery attacks on regions under Russian control.
The ministry statement also said, without offering any evidence, that Russia was using long-range weapons to fire at residential areas and "deliberately" set fire to wheat fields and grain storage in pro-Russia separatist areas.
Zelensky Suspends Senior Officials
Meanwhile, BBC earlier reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky had suspended the general prosecutor and the director of Ukraine's espionage service (SBU), citing several instances of treason in the two potent institutions.
In a Russian-occupied territory, more than 60 former workers were now working against Ukraine, according to Volodymyr Zelensky.
He claimed that 651 charges of collusion and treason had been filed against law enforcement officers.
Officials Iryna Venediktova and Ivan Bakanov have not responded.
President Zelensky remarked in a video message on Sunday: "Such an array of crimes against the foundations of the national security of the state... pose very serious questions to the relevant heads [of the two organizations]. Each of these questions will receive a proper answer."
