Russia Selenskyj: Ukraine is waiting for promised billions in aid

According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Ukraine is hoping that the billions in aid promised by the West, which is also to be financed with proceeds from frozen Russian state assets, will soon be allocated. There have been many political declarations from Kiev's partners and many more are to be expected, said Zelensky in his evening video address. "But we need a real mechanism." His country needs the proceeds from Russia's assets for its defense against the aggressor. "The relevant discussions have been going on for far too long and we finally need decisions."

The seven major Western industrialized nations (G7) agreed new financial aid for Kiev at their summit in June. The loan of 50 billion dollars is to be secured by interest income from frozen Russian assets.

Heavy fighting continues

Meanwhile, Russian troops continued their attacks to expand their territorial conquests around the Donbass. According to the General Staff in Kiev, there was heavy fighting around Pokrovsk. Fierce fighting was also reported from Torezk, during which the Russian forces were reportedly supported by air strikes with glide bombs. The information could not be independently verified.

"We see through the enemy's movements and are reinforcing ourselves," said Selenskyj. He urged the Western partners to deliver the promised weapons and ammunition on time. "This is of fundamental importance for our defense."

Kiev continues attacks near Kursk

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian armed forces continued their advance on Russian territory near Kursk. "We control certain areas," said Selensky, without giving further details. He also thanked the Ukrainian soldiers deployed near Kursk "for the further increase in the exchange fund" - a paraphrase for the capture of more Russian soldiers to be exchanged for Ukrainian citizens in the hands of the Russians as a bargaining chip.

Russia and Ukraine regularly exchange prisoners of war. Particularly in the initial phase of the operation, Ukraine took many prisoners of war, especially as there were initially no particularly experienced and powerful units on the Russian side.

Ukrainian air force bombs targets near Kursk

The Ukrainian air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported successful missions by his fighter pilots in the western Russian region of Kursk. In particular, precision bombs were used against Russian positions and troop concentrations. This information could not be verified either.

Even if Russian units have now begun to integrate abandoned houses into their defensive lines, they cannot evade the attacks. "We see everything, we know everything," wrote Oleshchuk on the Telegram platform. "Our precision bombs will find you everywhere."

Precision bombs are glide bombs that can be guided into the target remotely. During the advance in the Kursk region, two important bridges over the Sejm River were destroyed by fighter planes, among other things.

Oleshchuk did not specify which types of aircraft Ukraine used in its attacks. According to Ukrainian military experts, the American F-16 fighter jets provided by the West have not yet been used. Ukraine still has Soviet Mig-29 fighter jets in its inventory.

According to Ukrainian reports, Russian airstrikes were observed in the region on villages that were still under the control of the Russian armed forces. According to the General Staff in Kiev, there were a total of 17 Russian air strikes with 27 glide bombs against Russian villages during the course of the day. This information could not be independently verified.

SDA