Russian Attacks Intensify, Ukraine Asks West to Speed Up Arms Supply

Ukraine again called on the West to speed up arms supplies to challenge Russia's onslaught in the eastern regions of the country. The constant onslaught left the city of Dnipro devastated, damaging an apartment block that killed 40 people and harboring a dozen others.

The Ukrainian Army General Staff explained that Russian artillery broke into about 25 cities and hamlets around Bakhmut and Avdiika, two concentration points of Russian efforts to advance in the vital eastern industrial territory of Donbas.

The Russians continued to fire on more than 30 settlements in the northeastern areas of Kharkiv and Sumy near the Russian bank. In the south, Russian mortar and artillery shelling captured cities, including the regional capital, Kherson, which Russian troops left behind in November.

"The fight is really exciting to continue in two special areas... Bakhmut and Avdiivka," said Ukrainian military research By Zhdanov on YouTube, Tuesday, January 17, 2023. "Fight attacking constantly and during the time. And we're trying to keep our status. Russian troops are nocturnal - we really need night view gear."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made it clear in a video speech Monday night that the onslaught on the Dnipro and Russia's efforts to acquire ideas in the war underscored the importance of the West "to speed up decision-making" in supplying weapons.

Several Western countries have supplied weapons to Ukraine since Russian forces invaded Feb. 24, but Zelenskiy and his government are adamant if they need tanks.

Britain confirmed on Monday it would send 14 Challenger 2 tanks and other hardware, accounting for several hundred heavily armored vehicles and air defense missiles.

Germany was under pressure to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but its government made it clear such tanks should be supplied only if there was agreement between Kyiv's special allies, especially the United States.

Oleskiy Danylov, Secretary of Ukraine's Security Council, said on Monday night the importance of accelerating arms supplies because the administration wants Russia to "make efforts to do what it says is the last push."

Danylov explained to Ukrainian tv that it could happen on the anniversary of aggression or in March.

"We have to be prepared for that kind of event every day. And we're setting up... The first and final question has always been about weapons, funds to help us conquer this aggressor that is attacking our country," Danylov said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will serve allies at an air base in Germany on Friday to review future contributions to Ukraine.

Zelensky called on the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) to do more and more deeds on Ukrainian society that he said were forcibly brought to Russia.

The OSCE is the largest regional security organization in the world, divided into 57 countries, such as the United States, all European countries, including Russia, and all the remaining countries of the Soviet Union.

"No international organization has found the ability to gain access to some of our people's detention centers in Russia. This has to be updated," he said.

The U.S. State Department predicted last year between 900,000 and 1.six million Ukrainians, accounting for 260,000 children, forcibly deported to Russian areas.

Russia denied deportations and explained those who arrived were war refugees. In November, the country's precarious ministry explained that about 4.eight million Ukrainians, accounting for 712,000 children, had arrived in Russia since February.