Zelensky: More soldiers and equipment are needed to stop the Russian offensive

Ukraine's president, Voldymyr Zelensky, has said Ukraine should prepare a large number of soldiers, including reserve, to stop Russia's latest offensive in the war already over two years.

The situation on the front line is “difficult, but stable” for now, Zelensky said in an interview that was broadcast April 6th on Ukrainian television.

However, Ukraine must prepare a large number of its members to repel Russian attacks, he stressed.

The brigade must be prepared to replace those fighting now, he underlined, adding that this means that a large number of reserveers must be ready.

“The reserve consists not only of young men and women, but of experienced people who have carried out military exercises and have experience in fighting”, Zelensky said.

Wars are being fought mainly east of Ukraine in different areas, not only in the town of Avdevka in the Donjeck region, from which Ukrainian forces withdrew two months ago, he indicated.

And wherever the Russian forces move forward, they back off, while the Ukrainian Army marks progress as well and “takes steps ahead of”, according to him.

According to estimates from Ukraine's General Staff on April 6th, 80 fighting took place on the front line on April 5th, and Ukrainian troops held back Russian attacks in six areas.

Zelensky's interview was broadcast hours after Russia attacked Harkivin with fear, killing at least seven people and injuring 10 others, officials said. Ukraine's second largest city has faced very frequent attacks in recent weeks.

Analysts at the American Institute for War Research suggested on April 4th that Russian forces are likely increasing the overall pace of offensive operations.

Zelensky, meanwhile, reiterated Ukraine's plea for Patriot antiaircraft systems, warning that Kiev could be left without missiles to protect cities, towns and energy networks from Russian air strikes.

If they continue to strike [Ukraine] every day as they are doing in the last month, we can be left without missiles, and our partners know this”, he added.

Ukraine has enough reserves to go out for now, but it is already having to make difficult decisions on where to use them and what to protect with them, according to Zelensky.

The sophisticated American antiaircraft system has been used to protect itself from Russian attacks with ballistic and hypersonic missiles. / REL/