Tanks for Ukraine, battles for Soledar: highlights of the day

Tanks for Ukraine

Polish President Andrzej Duda said that Poland will send Ukraine a "company of Leopard tanks" as part of the international coalition.

"[The tanks] will be provided within the framework of the coalition, because you know that it is necessary to obtain certain official consents. But first we need to build an international coalition and we have decided to form this international coalition," Duda said.

The Office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom also confirmed that the British government plans to provide Ukraine with tanks. It said that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had asked Defense Secretary Ben Wallace to "work with partners" in the coming weeks to move "further and faster on support for Ukraine, including the provision of tanks".

In addition, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda announced that his country will donate air defense systems and anti-aircraft guns to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained that they should strengthen the protection of the energy system, in particular from attacks by Iranian drones.

Situation in Soledar

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar reported that heavy fighting continues in Soledar. After suffering losses, the Russian troops have once again replaced their units, increased the number of Wagner mercenaries, are trying to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops and completely capture the city, but are unsuccessful.

According to the General Staff, Russia is trying to take control of Soledar and supply routes for Ukrainian units: the fighting continues, the occupiers are suffering heavy losses. Russians are conducting offensive actions on the Bakhmut and Avdiyivka axes. At the latter — to no avail.

Moscow changes commander once again

Russia has appointed a new commander of the occupation troops - Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces Sergei Surovikin, who headed the occupation troops before, will become Gerasimov's deputy.

In Ukraine, Gerasimov was charged back in 2015. Investigators found out that he was already involved in the unleashing of the war in Ukraine, and he was also allegedly involved in the Ilovaisk tragedy.

Other news:

• Defense forces shot down a Ka-52 helicopter and hit three Russian ammunition depots. In addition to the helicopter, Ukrainians shot down two reconnaissance drones, the type of which is being specified.
• The European Commission believes that Ukraine can become an EU member only after the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country. Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans said that now it is important to start the "pre-accession process", i.e. to help Ukraine to implement various reforms and adopt new laws that will pave the way to EU membership.
• Russian troops attacked a perinatal center in Kherson. As a result of the Russian attack, an employee of the perinatal center was injured, patients and children are alive and unharmed.