Ukraine claims Russia has exhausted 60% of its stockpile of high-precision weapons

Russian occupiers have alrey used more than 60% of high-precision weapons stockpile, according to Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyiv Independent reported on May 25. Vym Skibitskyi, Deputy He of Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, furr ded that Russia cant replenish its reserves quickly.

"According to our data, if we talk about high-precision weapons, about 60% of stockpile has alrey been used. We see changes, and we understand that resource of high-precision weapons, high-precision ammunition in Russia is at border level," Vym Skibitsky stated.

Skibitsky is convinced that Russia currently lacks capacity to quickly restore spent stocks of high-precision weapons. According to him, due to Western ecomic sanctions, Russian industry is unable to obtain necessary number of imported components to equip high-precision missiles. tably, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defence, Anna Malyar, stated on May 9 that Russia still has eugh components to equip missiles and capacity to mass-produce m. Malyar stated in late April that Russia h launched over 1,300 missiles in Ukraine.

Putin signs decree to provide passports to residents of Russia-controlled regions

On May 25, Russian President Vlimir Putin signed a decree making it easier for residents of Ukraine's Russian-occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions to get Russian citizenship and passports. anuncement brings two territories closer to "Russification," since Moscow's battle in Ukraine has allowed it to construct a continuous land bridge linking Russia and Crimean peninsula, which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

sourn area of Kherson is completely under Russian control, whereas souastern region of Zaporizhzhia is only partially under Russian control. goverr of Kherson, Ukraine, has been ousted, and military-civilian ministration said earlier this month that it plans to ask Putin for permission to join Russia by end of 2022. Furrmore, both Kherson and Zaporizhzhia could become part of Russia, according to Moscow and pro-Moscow officials.

On May 23, officials in Kherson designated ruble official currency alongside Ukrainian hryvnia. On May 19, Moscow-installed officials anunced a similar step in parts of Zaporizhzhia region.  Ukrainian army has been under greater strain than at any or time since first terrible weeks following Russian invasion. It may be fighting a losing battle in Luhansk, in rthwestern corner of Donbass region.

(With ncy inputs, Im: AP)