Volodymyr Zelensky has requested permission to attack with Western missiles as 'thousands' of Russian troops gather on Ukraine's northern border.
New formations of soldiers and 'expanded activities' in depots and warehouses in settlements north of Ukraine's second city, Kharkovhave been identified by the Institute of War Studies.
Volodymyr Zelensky warned that 'thousands' of troops were preparing for another attack, and made a new plea to the West to allow them to fire Western missiles at Russia to stop the advance.
An American think tank, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW)concluded, however, that the build-up could also be intended to “stretch and fix” Ukrainian forces, which are struggling to hold their positions on the front lines.
Ukrainian officials are frustrated because they are banned from attacking targets inside Russia with Western missiles, arguing that this has given Russian forces a safe area to prepare ground attacks and fire missiles at Ukrainian cities.
Following an attack on Kharkov on May 10, officials warned that the Kremlin also plans to attack Sumy, which is 100 miles from Kharkov.
On May 3, the British Foreign Secretary said Lord Cameron said it was on Ukraine to decide how to use British weapons and emphasized that it had the right to attack targets on Russian territory.
Meanwhile, Poland and Sweden gave permission this weekend Ukraine to hit targets inside Russiatogether with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
The pressure on the US is now increasing Britain to follow, despite concerns that this will escalate the war. Germany and Italy have both ruled out such permission.
Stoltenberg said that if Ukraine “Unable to attack military targets on Russian territory, it ties a hand of the Ukrainians behind their back and makes it very difficult for them to conduct defense,” during a NATO meeting on Monday.
During a visit to Spain on Monday, Mr Zelensky secured another £850,000 military aid package, but the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezdid not authorize Ukrainian commanders to fire Spanish weapons Russia.
“Spain supported Ukraine for two years. Unfortunately, Russian aggression continues and we must increase our support,” Sanchez said at a joint press conference.
So far, Ukraine uses domestic drones to hit targets anywhere Russia, mainly oil refineries, railways and military airfields. However, on Monday sources confirmed that it had hit a Russian nuclear bomb radar station near the border with Kazakhstan, 1,600 kilometers away.
This became the second Ukrainian attack against it Russia's nuclear missile infrastructure in four days, which is a concern for its Western allies, who are concerned further escalation.