The Blubber

US will provide an additional $2 billion in foreign military financing to Ukraine.


Ukrainian forces retreated from some parts of the country’s northeast and engaged in battle with Russian troops in other areas on Wednesday, highlighting the severity of the threat faced by President Volodymyr Zelensky's soldiers as he postponed all upcoming foreign trips.

In the midst of these developments, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ukraine to offer reassurance of continued American support, announcing a $2 billion arms deal, the majority of which comes from a package approved last month.

Blinken's visit coincides with a new Russian offensive in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, which began last week and represents the most significant border incursion since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, leading to the displacement of thousands. Russian forces have also been advancing in the eastern region of Donetsk. These developments indicate a critical stage for Ukraine’s military, which is already stretched thin.

According to Ukraine’s General Staff, troops withdrew from two areas in Kharkiv – Lukyantsi and Vovchansk – "to save the lives of our servicemen and prevent casualties." Russia claimed to have captured Lukyantsi, but the claims from both sides could not be independently verified.

Vovchansk, located just 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Russian border, has been a focal point of recent fighting. Ukrainian and Russian troops clashed in its streets on Wednesday. Oleksii Kharkivskyi, head of the city’s patrol police, reported that Russian troops were occupying positions in the city, while the Ukrainian General Staff stated that their forces were attempting to drive them out.

Gunfire could be heard in the background of a video posted on the police official's Instagram page.

The Ukrainian presidential office announced that additional reinforcements, including army reserve units, were being deployed in the region.