(Kyiv/Moscow) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine will establish arms export and joint weapons production offices in Berlin, Germany, and Copenhagen, Denmark, to expand its domestic defense industry.
Zelenskyy said on Monday (November 3) that Ukraine will raise funds through the sale of naval drones and artillery systems to produce supplies that Ukraine lacks.
While Ukraine still relies on allies for fighter jets and air defense systems, it has made progress in developing drones and missiles. He said Ukraine plans to begin mass production of domestically produced missiles—Flamingo and Ruta—by the end of this year.
According to sources, the British government recently supplied Ukraine with more Storm Shadow cruise missiles, enabling Kyiv to continue long-range strikes against Russian territory.
An analysis by AFP of data from the US think tank Institute for War Studies shows that over the past month, Russian forces have made steady progress on the Ukrainian front, with the main offensive concentrated in Donetsk in the east. The region is experiencing the most intense fighting since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, with Ukrainian forces fighting desperately to hold the strategic city of Pokrovsk.
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The Russian Defense Ministry stated on Monday that Russian forces had made progress in Pokrovsk, eliminating Ukrainian troops near the city's train station and industrial areas, and establishing a defensive line in the Prigorodny district.
However, Ukraine maintains that its forces have not yet fallen.
Zelensky said that despite no progress by Russian forces in the past day, Pokrovsk remains under immense pressure, with approximately 300 Russian soldiers currently engaged in fierce fighting within the city. "About 30% of the frontline fighting is taking place in Pokrovsk," he said.
Furthermore, Russian forces are massing troops in the neighboring city of Dobropillia.
Ukrainian Army Commander-in-Chief Sersky said that Ukrainian forces have intensified their offensive in Dobropillia to divert Russian forces and alleviate pressure on Pokrovsk.
