Ukraine’s military commander told his American counterpart that the country needs to strengthen its air defense system capabilities.
Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny said on social media on Sunday that he had a phone conversation with the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley.
Zaluzhny also requested supplies of ammunition and equipment.
The recall came after Russian forces carried out large-scale missile attacks with various weapons on Thursday. Among them were Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, which Russia boasts as one of its most advanced weapons.
The Russian military said its troops had taken control of the eastern side of Bakhmut, a strategic city in the eastern Donetsk region.
Ukraine’s military commander expressed his determination to repel Russian attacks, saying his troops had built defense lines on the western side of the city.
The commander pointed out the need to buy time to launch a quick counter-offensive.
The British Ministry of Defense noted that Russia continues to suffer extremely heavy losses in Ukraine, with the impact varying widely across regions of Russia.
The ministry said in its Sunday news report that “the wealthiest cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg remained relatively unscathed.”
The ministry also said: “In many eastern regions, it is likely that the death rate, expressed as a percentage of the population, is 30-40 times higher than in Moscow.”
He added that while the Russian Ministry of Defense “tries to address its ongoing shortage of combat personnel, isolating the better-off and more influential elements of Russian society is very likely to be a major consideration.”