Zelenskyy and Ukraine's commander-in-chief discuss reinforcing Sloviansk and Kostiantynivka fronts
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi to discuss reinforcing the Sloviansk and Kostiantynivka front sectors. They also addressed a shortfall in army funding and drone needs.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address that he received a report from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi on the situation at the front. The two discussed the steps and resources needed to reinforce the Sloviansk and Kostiantynivka sectors in Donetsk region, both of which have recently come under increased pressure from Russian forces.
Zelenskyy said he expects at least 30,000 Russian soldiers to be killed in August.
Funding and drone needs
The president said he had also spoken that day with Defence Minister Denys Khmara about the country's need for drones and technological equipment. Both in that conversation and at a Staff meeting, officials discussed in detail the issue of army funding, stressing the need to cover the existing shortfall as much as possible.
Zelenskyy noted that the shortfall is substantial, since spending in the first half of the year was significantly higher than expected, making the search for additional funding a new challenge for Ukraine's leadership.
