Russia attacked vigorously, hitting the lifeline of supplying weapons to Ukraine

The US approved a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine this week, and said the first shipment would be delivered to Ukraine in the next few days. The decision alleviated the severe shortage of artillery ammunition that had plagued Kiev forces for months.

When the aid was completed after 6 months of debate in the US Congress, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced on April 23 that Moscow would “strengthen attacks on Western logistics centers and weapons depots”. West”.

Mr. Shoigu said Moscow had “dispelled the myth of the superiority of Western weapons” and Russian forces had gained the initiative along the 1,000km battle front.

Ukraine’s National Railway Company said on April 25 that Ukraine’s railway infrastructure has become the target of Russian attacks in the eastern Donetsk region, the northeastern Kharkov region and the central Cherkasy region.

The attack in Donetsk, the main focus of Russia’s offensive in the east, killed three electricians working for the railway company and injured four others.

On April 26, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian forces had attacked a train carrying military equipment provided by the West to Ukraine. The combined attack involved aircraft, missiles and artillery.

“A train carrying Western weapons and military equipment was attacked in the settlement of Udachnoye in the (self-proclaimed) Donetsk People’s Republic,” the statement added.

In the Kharkiv region, bordering Russia, an attack occurred at a train station in the city of Balakliia, injuring 13 people, including three railway workers, according to Ukrainian officials.

In the past 24 hours, Russian forces also destroyed 5 US-made M777 howitzers, 2 US M102 105mm light towed howitzers, an US-designed AN/TPQ-50 radar, a British FH-70 cannon and other military equipment.

Ukrainian officials rarely issue detailed statements about attacks on sensitive military targets, but Ukrainian intelligence sources confirmed to Reuters that there had been attacks on railway infrastructure aimed at disrupting arms supplies to Kiev.

“In addition, they complicate our logistics,” the Ukrainian source added.

Russia has repeatedly warned that transferring foreign weapons to Kiev will not prevent Moscow from achieving its military goals, but will only prolong the war and may increase the risk of direct confrontation between Russia and NATO. According to officials in Moscow, supplying weapons, sharing intelligence and training the Ukrainian army means that Western countries have effectively become parties to the conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this week that the weapons and ammunition provided to Kiev by the US and its allies would not change the “dynamics on the front line”, where Russian forces have made significant progress. told in recent weeks. According to Mr. Peskov, the only thing that new US aid will do is cause more Ukrainians to die.