Dealing With Russia In Sievierodonetsk And Kharkiv, President Zelensky: Ukraine Has Enough Weapons And Ammunition, Needs Long-range Weapons

President Zelensky new front line. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Ukraine needs long-range weapons to deal with Russian troops, with sufficient ammunition and weapons, causing losses that President Volodymyr Zelensky called painful.

President Zelensky said Ukrainian troops had suffered painful losses fighting Russian troops in the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk and the Kharkiv region.

In a late-night speech, he also said Ukraine needed modern anti-missile weapons now, adding there was no justification for partner countries to delay deliveries.

Ukraine says its forces are still trying to evacuate civilians from Sievierodonetsk after Russia destroyed the last bridge to the city, the final stage in weeks of fighting in the Donbas region that Moscow is seeking to capture.

"The fiercest fighting, as before, took place in Sievierodonetsk and other nearby towns and communities. Unfortunately, the losses were painful," President Zelensky said.

"But we have to defend strong, defending strong is very important in Donbas. The more losses the enemy suffers there, the less power one must have to pursue his aggression," he explained.

Ukraine has also suffered a 'painful loss' in the Kharkiv region east of Kyiv, where Russia is seeking to strengthen its position after Zelensky's recent push back.

"The fighting continues there and we have to keep fighting, fighting hard."

He added that Ukrainian troops had sufficient ammunition and weapons, but needed more long-range weapons.

"We have enough weapons. What we don't have enough are weapons that really reach the range, which we need to reduce the advantages of the Russian Federation equipment," he concluded.