Russia-Ukraine war: Russia suffering major losses in Donetsk, says Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia has been suffering major losses as the fighting takes place in the Donetsk region. Zelenskyy also said Moscow is gearing up for fresh attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

During his nightly video address Sunday, Zelenskyy said that the fighting remains intense in the Donetsk region, a key area partially controlled by Russia and pro-Russian separatists. Zelenskyy said that in the midst of heavy fighting in Donetsk, he believed that Russia is preparing a possible repeat of its barrage of attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.

“Very fierce Russian attacks on Donetsk region are continuing. The enemy is suffering serious losses there,” said Zelenskyy.

On Monday, Ukrainian defense minister Oleksii Reznikov said the country has received the first delivery of NASAMS air defense systems that will “significantly strengthen” the armed forces. The first delivery follows the fast-tracking by the United States of the shipment of the NASAMS systems to Ukraine following the missile bombardment by Russia.

Reznikov announced the delivery of the first shipment on the Telegram messaging platform. Reznikov also thanked Washington, Norway, and Spain for the shipments.

The delivery also follows Zelenskyy’s appeal to the G7 countries last week during the group’s summit. Zelenskyy asked the G7 leaders for more help with air defense following Russia’s strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving areas without power.

“We must ensure full protection of the Ukrainian sky and will continue to do so everything possible and impossible for this,” Zelenskyy also said Saturday.

On the same day, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was engaged in confidential talks with senior Russian officials seeking to lower the risk of a broader war over Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter. The source said the talks are still continuing and was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Back in September, Sullivan said that Washington has communicated both publicly and privately with the Russians about Vladimir Putin’s threats to use nuclear weapons on Ukraine.

While Sullivan publicly said there would be severe consequences should Moscow resort to using nuclear weapons, it remains to be seen whether this was relayed to the Russian officials in the private talks.