Zelenskyy urges US for help as Ukraine hits Russian arms depots

Ukrainian drones have destroyed several Russian arms depots, including weapons from North Korea, in a major attack. Ukraine’s military claims thousands of tons of weapons were lost in the strikes. This comes as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asks the US for more military support ahead of his visit to the White House next week.

Ukraine sent over 100 drones to target sites in Russia and the occupied Crimea region. One of the depots hit was in Toropets, northwest of Moscow, which had already been struck earlier this week. The explosions caused fires and forced evacuations as the destruction continued.

Zelenskyy asks US for more weapons

Zelenskyy is urging the US to send advanced weapons, including long-range strike capabilities, which he plans to discuss during his upcoming meeting with President Joe Biden. He says this will be part of a “victory plan” to help end the war and start negotiations with Russia.

Zelenskyy warned that delays in receiving these weapons would make them less effective. He hopes to convince Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to speed up the process when he meets them in Washington. He is also planning a possible meeting with Donald Trump.

Ukraine’s drones hit Russian supply lines

Ukraine is continuing to strike Russian supply routes. The attacks on arms depots in Russia’s Tver and Krasnodar regions have caused large explosions and forced evacuations. One of the targets in the Krasnodar region, near Tikhoretsk, saw fires lighting up the night sky for hours. Ukraine claims it destroyed 2,000 tons of ammunition, including North Korean missiles.

Russia has downplayed the attacks, but the UK Ministry of Defense says the strike on Toropets likely caused significant losses, as it is one of Russia’s biggest ammunition storage sites supporting its war in Ukraine.

Human cost and Western hesitation

Despite Ukraine’s requests, Western countries like the US and UK are hesitant to let Ukraine use their weapons to strike deep into Russian territory, fearing it might escalate the conflict. Zelenskyy hopes to change this view during his US visit.

Meanwhile, the war is taking a heavy toll on civilians. In Ukraine, Russian missiles killed a 12-year-old boy and two women in Kryvyi Rih, while airstrikes in Kharkiv wounded 15 people, including children.

Zelenskyy’s upcoming talks with US leaders could shape Ukraine’s military strategy and its chances for negotiating peace with Russia.

(With inputs from AP, The Guardian)

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