Ukraine Defense Minister: ‘Significant Progress’ In Obtaining Weapons

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Despite another night of shells pounding Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov was optimistic Monday.

Reznikov stated that “the government and international partners are working to enable the Armed Forces to defend the state even more effectively. Significant progress has been made on arms and ammunition supplies.”

Reznikov added in his Facebook message that “I will not comment on the supplies of weapons and ammunition – this is a delicate issue. Let it be a surprise for the enemy. Know this: there’s significant progress,” the minister assured.

Reznikov stressed that over the past three days, more than 50,000 helmets and body armor pieces have been delivered to Ukraine or contracted. In addition, the Ukrainian military will be provided with a uniform intended for NATO armies.

“We are ‘intercepting’ from suppliers the already produced uniforms intended for NATO armies. It doesn’t matter if our defenders will be dressed differently. The main thing is that it must be convenient for them to beat the enemy,” the minister said.

“Our soldiers in all defense zones demonstrate their high skills, destroying Russian invaders,” said Reznikov.

Reznikov is also bouyed by the estimated 140,000 Ukrainians who have come from abroad to fight the Russian incursion.

In other developments, Russia announced Monday a humanitarian cease fire from 10 AM and will hold fire in a number of Ukrainian cities to enable evacuation of civilians. The announcement was made by the Interfax Russian information agency and was granted at the request of French president Emmanuel Macron who is trying to mediate between the sides.

The humanitarian corridors will open in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol, three cities which have suffered the heaviest bombardment in the last few days as well as in Sumi- a large city in Eastern Ukraine. However the current maps for a humanitarian corridor from these countries lead to Russia and Belarus, destinations the Ukrainian civilians do not want to go to.

During Sunday night the city of Mikholayiv suffered heavy bombardments as Russia attempts to gain a larger foothold in the southern region of the country. Russia is still apparently trying to encircle the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Chernihiv and Ukraine is preparing for a massive assault on the capital.