The situation is not easy for Ukraine: In the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk on the border with Russia, fighting is particularly fierce at the moment, as President Zelenskyy admits. Russian forces have repeatedly attempted to capture Bakhmut.

According to the Ukrainian army, it is facing difficulties in its counter-offensive in the east of the country. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, fighting in the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk on the border with Russia is particularly fierce at the moment.

As he explained in his video address that evening, the situation in the two regions remains difficult. “The situation is most difficult in the direction of Bakhmut. We are holding our positions,” said Zelenskyj. Russian forces have repeatedly attempted to capture Bakhmut. “In general, we do everything in the east and south to give the occupiers the feeling that they have no perspective,” said Zelenskyj.

At the same time, the head of state spoke of progress in repairs after Russian attacks on energy supply systems. The gas supply has started to be restored in the eastern city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region. “The first 500 families in the city already have gas in their homes again.” In other regions, more than 3,000 houses were only reconnected to the gas supply on Friday.

Last Monday, the Russian army fired dozens of rockets at Ukrainian energy and water supply facilities and also at the center of large cities. Especially with a view to autumn and winter, there is great concern that people in the country attacked by Russia will have to sit in the cold in apartments. At the same time, Zelenskyj asked for understanding that energy companies were still forced to limit the power supply.

Zelenskyj also commented on US military aid with a volume of up to 725 million dollars, the equivalent of 745.6 million euros. This is “very necessary”. His country became the target of new Russian attacks on Saturday. “Some of the missiles and drones were shot down, but unfortunately not all,” said the head of state in his video address. “We are doing everything we can to shoot down more enemy missiles and drones. (…) The day will surely come when our state can fulfill this task 100 percent.”