Russian troops significantly slow down advance towards Zaporizhzhia – Arestovych

The relevant statement was made by Advisor to the Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office Oleksiy Arestovych at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“In the direction of Huliaipole and Zaporizhzhia, the enemy has significantly slowed down their advance. In some areas, they have not advanced at all,” Arestovych told.

Russian invaders are mainly focusing efforts on the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area and the city of Mariupol, Donetsk Region.

“Over the past day, the military and political situation around Ukraine has not changed significantly. Ukrainian forces are conducting a strategic defensive operation. Russian troops are mainly focusing efforts on the JFO area in the direction of Sloviansk-Kramatorsk and Mariupol,” Arestovych noted.

In his words, the enemy continues to make attempts to defeat the Ukrainian forces within the Mariupol-based Azovstal plant but has no success.

Ukrainian diplomats, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak are working in cooperation with international humanitarian organizations and partner countries to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to release the Ukrainian military and civilians, who are remaining encircled within the Azovstal plant.

A reminder that the Russian armed aggression has caused one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the city of Mariupol. More than 1,000 civilians and Ukrainian servicemen, including about 500 wounded, are remaining within the Azovstal plant. The Ukrainian side demands that Russia immediately ensure a humanitarian corridor.

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