Friday, Ukraine fought Russian troops attempting to breach its eastern and northeastern defences, and artillery bombardments intensified after Western partners assured the Ukrainian government they would send tanks to repel the invaders.
A day after at least eleven people were killed in missile and drone strikes interpreted in Ukraine as retaliation to promises by critical partners to supply tanks, Kyiv reported that violent fights were underway.
Germany and the United States said this week that they would provide Ukraine with dozens of modern tanks to assist in pushing back Russian forces, paving the stage for other nations to follow suit.
Poland gave Ukraine a further boost on Friday by pledging 60 tanks in addition to the 14 Leopard 2 tanks manufactured in Germany.
On Friday, several countries pledged 321 heavy tanks to Ukraine, the country's envoy to France, Vadym Omelchenko, said on BFM television.
Ukraine has also requested American F16 fighter fighters. John Kirby, a spokeswoman for national security at the White House, stated that the government was aware of Ukraine's request but added, "We don't have any additional weapons systems to speak to today."
Both sides in the conflict are expected to start spring offensives. However, Washington has counselled Ukraine to wait until the latest weapons are deployed and training is supplied - a process that is anticipated to take several months.
Moscow accused Vice President Joe Biden of prolonging the war by aiding the Ukrainian government. Ukraine asserts that the only way to end the war is for its allies to provide it with the means to prevail.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine stated that the situation on the front remained dire, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region.
In his statement on Friday evening, Zelenskiy stated that Russian soldiers were storming Ukrainian strongholds and burning the surrounding towns and villages.
In the Donetsk region settlement of Bohoiavlenka, soldiers reported that fighting had intensified around the nearby town of Vuhledar, with Russian forces continually attempting to capture it.
Reuters was informed by Yevhen Nazarenko, spokesman for the Ukraine army's 68th brigade, that Vuhledar had been subjected to severe shelling over the past day, destroying seven structures and two schools.
"They frequently employ artillery fire and aviation. There is not a single moment of peace here, "he replied.
Thick black smoke rose above Bohoiavlenka, and distant explosions could be heard. Some homes were damaged.
Oleh Synehubov, the governor of the Kharkiv area's northeastern sector, stated that intense fighting continued along the front lines, but Ukrainian forces were holding out.
Power shortages
Millions of Ukrainians endured electricity shortages due to Thursday's missile and drone strikes, which were the latest to target energy infrastructure and deprive people of heat, light, and water.
On Thursday, Russian airstrikes struck five high-voltage substations in Ukraine's centre, southern, and southwest regions, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. This year, Ukraine would require an additional $17 billion for energy repairs, demining, and infrastructure reconstruction, he noted.
Since October, Russia has targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure with frequent, intense airstrikes far from the front. Kyiv claims the attacks have no military objective and are intended to hurt civilians, a war crime. Moscow asserts that the strikes are aimed at diminishing Ukraine's fighting capabilities.
According to the report, the most recent strikes targeted "facilities that operate Ukraine's defence industrial complex and transport system" "The objectives of the huge assault have been accomplished. All designated targets have been eliminated."
After Ukraine reclaimed territory in the latter half of 2022, the battle lines have been essentially halted for over two months, with Russia attempting to gain progress in the east and safeguard a corridor of the territory it has acquired in southern Ukraine.
Oleskandr Musiyenko, the director of the Ukrainian Military and Strategic Research Centre, stated that Russia was deploying troops, primarily conscripts, to halt Ukrainian advances.
"But they do not have the level of artillery and tank support they had on Feb. 24," Musiyenko stated on Ukrainian television, referring to the day of Moscow's assault.
Children deported
Kyiv accuses Moscow of expelling youngsters and adults from seized territories and providing them with Russian passports.
This violates "the fundamental principles of child protection in situations of war", according to Filippo Grandi, the head of the U.N.'s refugee agency, and Russia must cease this practice.
Japan expanded an export ban list and froze the assets of Russian officials and businesses on Friday, tightening penalties.
However, Ukraine's hopes that the European Union would impose nuclear energy-related penalties were dashed when Hungary stated that it would oppose such a measure. Hungary aims to expand its nuclear power plant, which was constructed in Russia.
Ukraine's foreign ministry announced it would call the Hungarian ambassador to protest "unacceptable" remarks made about Ukraine by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. According to a ministry spokesperson, Orban told reporters Ukraine is a no-land man's and compared it to Afghanistan.
The Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor announced that the CIA and FBI websites had been blocked.
Russia asserts that it initiated its "special military operation" to repel an aggressive West. According to Ukraine and its allies, the invasion was an act of unprovoked aggression.
