Boris Johnson warns Russia is 'chewing through ground' in eastern Ukraine as he urges more support for Kyiv forces

  • Boris Johnson has warned Russia is making 'palpable progress' in Donbas region
  • The PM urged more military support for 'incredibly heroic' Ukrainian resistance
  •  Ministry of Defence says Putin's forces have taken several villages recently

Boris Johnson today warned that Russia is 'chewing through ground' in eastern Ukraine as he urged more support for Kyiv's forces.

The PM said Vladimir Putin's military is making 'palpable progress' in the Donbas region despite the 'incredible heroism' of the resistance. 

ADVERTISEMENT

In an interview with Bloomberg, he said more offensive weapons including long-range multiple-launch rocket systems are needed to help counter the threat.

The Ministry of Defence says Putin's invading troops have recently captured several villages as they attempt to surround Severodonetsk and Lysychansk in the Donbas.

Pro-Russian troops drive past a destroyed residential building in the town of Popasna in the Luhansk region yesterday
Boris Johnson (pictured today) said Vladimir Putin's military is making 'palpable progress' in the Donbas region despite the 'incredible heroism' of the resistance.

But it said President Volodymyr Zelensky's defending forces are holding 'multiple defended sectors' as Russia deploys 50-year-old Soviet-era T-62 tanks.

These, the intelligence update said, 'will almost certainly be particularly vulnerable' to anti-tank weapons and shows Russia's lack of 'modern, combat-ready equipment'.

Mr Johnson said: 'I think it's very, very important that we do not get lulled because of the incredible heroism of the Ukrainians in pushing the Russians back from the gates of Kyiv.

'I'm afraid that Putin at great cost to himself and Russian military is continuing to chew through ground in Donbas, he's continuing to make gradual, slow but I'm afraid palpable progress.

'And therefore it is absolutely vital that we continue to support the Ukrainians militarily.'

An injured man is carried on a stretcher after shelling in Kharkiv yesterday

Most Read News

Two 'seriously' injured runaway Household Cavalry horses undergo operations and are being 'closely...

Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction overturned over 'crucial mistake' by New York judge... and he...

Unbelievable moment policing minister Chris Philp leaves Question Time audience gasping as he asks...

Physically healthy Dutch woman hopes to become the latest person in the country to end her life by...

Cambridge student, 28, tortured to death after he was mistaken for a spy had legs, arms, seven ribs...

Russia threatens to strike POLAND: Kremlin says NATO nukes deployed in the country will be a...

Captain Tom's scandal-hit daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore is selling family's £2.25m Bedfordshire...

Astonishing moment 'out of control' wealthy businessman drags parish councillor by the hair after...

LIZ JONES: How the past few days have shown us the depth of Kate and Charles's special relationship...

Billionaire heiress, 16, whose mom founded Flickr and dad founded Slack vanishes in San Francisco's...

Abusive husband beat his wife to death with son's skateboard while police waited outside for...

Revealed: Teenage boy arrested for 'making threats with a BB gun' is the brother of Year 9 girl...

Kung Fu Pandas! Shocking moment zookeeper is mauled in front of screaming onlookers in China - until...

Humza Yousaf on the brink of being OUSTED as Scotland's First Minister as SNP's former coalition...

I worked at the same shoe shop for 68 years - then I was given the boot with just a few days'...

Horror after two people are stabbed on major north London high street: Woman in her 20s is rushed to...