Destroyed Russian military vehicles are seen at a compound of an agricultural farm, which was used by Russian troops as a military base during Russia鈥檚 attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv Region, Ukraine July 17, 2022. REUTERS
KYIV 鈥� Ukraine鈥檚 President Volodymyr Zelensky sacked the head of the country鈥檚 domestic security service and state prosecutor, citing hundreds of cases of alleged treason and collaboration with Russia, as Moscow appeared set to step up military operations.
Zelensky said more than 60 officials from the SBU security service and prosecutor鈥檚 office were working against Ukraine in Russian-occupied territories, and 651 treason and collaboration cases had been opened against law enforcement officials.
The sackings on Sunday of Ivan Bakanov, head of the security service, and Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova, who led efforts to prosecute Russian war crimes, and the sheer number of treason cases reveals the huge challenge of Russian infiltration as Kyiv battles Moscow in what it says is a fight for survival.
Ukrainian military paramedic attends Ukrainian serviceman who was wounded during shelling at the frontline, amid Russia鈥檚 attack on Ukraine, in the Donbas region, Ukraine July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
鈥淪uch an array of crimes against the foundations of the national security of the state 鈥� pose very serious questions to the relevant leaders,鈥� Zelensky said. 鈥淓ach of these questions will receive a proper answer.
In his nightly speech to the nation, Zelensky noted the recent arrest on suspicion of treason of the SBU鈥檚 former head overseeing the region of Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014 that Kyiv and the West still view as Ukrainian land.
Zelensky said he had fired the top security official at the start of the invasion, a decision he said had now been shown to be justified.
鈥淪ufficient evidence has been collected to report this person on suspicion of treason. All his criminal activities are documented,鈥� he said.
3,000 cruise missiles
After failing to capture the capital Kyiv early in the invasion, Russian forces using a campaign of devastating bombing now control large swaths of Ukraine鈥檚 south and east, where pro-Russian separatists already control territory.
Zelenskiy said Russia had used more than 3,000 cruise missiles to date and it was 鈥渋mpossible to count鈥� the number of artillery and other strikes so far.
Raisa Shapoval, 83, cries in front of the site of a military strike in Chuhuiv, about 6 km from the frontline, amid Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine July 16, 2022. REUTERS
But Western deliveries of long-range arms are beginning to help Ukraine on the battlefield, with Kyiv citing a string of successful strikes carried out on 30 Russian logistics and ammunitions hubs, using several multiple launch rocket systems recently supplied by the West.
The strikes are causing havoc with Russian supply lines and have significantly reduced Russia鈥檚 offensive capability, according to Ukraine鈥檚 defense ministry.
Ukrainian officials say the new U.S.-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) they began receiving last month allow them to reach targets in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, and other areas occupied by Russia.
鈥淕ood morning from HIMARS,鈥� Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukraine鈥檚 president, wrote on Telegram on Sunday alongside a video showing a large explosion which he said was another destroyed Russian ammunition depot in southern Ukraine.
Russia intensifies operations
Ukrainian servicemen take part in a training exercise not far from front line, amid Russia鈥檚 attack on Ukraine, in Donbas region, Ukraine July 15, 2022. REUTERS
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Saturday ordered military units to intensify operations to prevent Ukrainian strikes on areas held by Russia, according to a statement from the ministry.
Ukrainian military intelligence later reported shelling along the entire frontline and what it said was preparation for the next stage of the Russian offensive.
The Ukrainian military said Russia appeared to be regrouping units for an offensive toward Sloviansk, a symbolically important city held by Ukraine in the eastern region of Donetsk.
The British defense ministry said on Sunday that Russia was also reinforcing defences across areas it occupies in southern Ukraine after pressure from Ukrainian forces and pledges from Ukrainian leaders to drive Russia out.
A local boy stands with a Ukrainian serviceman near a military vehicle not far from the front line, amid Russia鈥檚 attack on Ukraine, in the Donbas region, Ukraine July 17, 2022. REUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion on Feb. 24 calling it a 鈥渟pecial military operation鈥� to demilitarize its neighbor and rid it of dangerous nationalists.
Kyiv and the West say it was an imperialist land grab and attempt reconquer a country that broke free of Moscow鈥檚 rule with the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The biggest conflict in Europe since World War Two has killed more than 5,000 people, forced more than 6 million to flee Ukraine and left 8 million internally displaced, says the United Nations.
Ukraine and the West say Russian forces are targeting civilians and been involved in war crimes, charges Moscow rejects.
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