Kyiv [Ukraine], July 19: Major General Apti Alaudinov, deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry 's Main Military-Political Directorate and commander of the Akhmat special forces, said that in early July, the Ukrainian armed forces deployed elite units, including foreign mercenaries, to the Kharkiv city of Volchansk . However, Russian troops have made advances there.
"The first high-rise block (of Volchansk) has been taken over by units of the Russian Defense Ministry. Every day, Russian units advance a little bit further," Sputnik quoted Major General Alaudinov as saying on July 18. On the same day, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had bombarded Ukraine's military airport infrastructure, enemy troops and military equipment in 127 areas.
Ukraine has not commented on the above information.
On the same day, the Kyiv government announced a proposal to raise taxes for the first time in wartime to raise the budget needed for this year's efforts to equip weapons and pay soldiers.
According to Reuters, the proposal was made at a weekly meeting, including increasing defense spending by 495.3 billion hryvnia ($11.9 billion) to about 1,700 billion hryvnia for 2024.
To officially come into effect, the country's parliament needs to vote on the bill before it is signed into law by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on July 18 that there are moves to entice Russia to participate in the second peace conference for Ukraine. However, the Moscow government will not accept ultimatums forcing Russia to participate.
A few days ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he was planning to hold a second peace conference in November, and that Russian representatives should attend.
A total of 92 countries sent delegations to the first conference in Switzerland in June. Russia was not invited and said the event was a waste of time.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper