Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the situation in the eastern front-line city of Bakhmut is becoming “more and more difficult”.
Russian forces have been trying to capture the city for six months.
“The enemy is constantly destroying everything that can be used to protect our positions”, said Mr. Zielinski.
The Ukrainian leader’s comments came as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned China against arming Russia during a visit to Kiev on Monday.
Some of the fiercest fighting since Russia invaded Ukraine just over a year ago has taken place in Bakhmut, Ukraine’s Donetsk region, which is partly controlled by Russia and its separatist allies.
Recently, Russian forces have stepped up their efforts to capture the industrial city, with its troops on the ground.
“Practically all the roads into the city” were under [Russian] fire control, said Denis Poschelian, the separatist leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic.
Discussing the situation in his nightly address, President Zelensky said that securing a foothold in Bakhmut and securing its defense was being compromised by a new Russian offensive.
He was “grateful to everyone who is bravely holding this area”.
President Zelenskiy once again called for the deployment of modern warplanes to protect “the entire territory of our country” from “Russian terrorism”.
In her surprise visit to Kiev on Monday, Janet Yellen announced the latest transfer of $1.25bn (£1bn) in economic and budgetary aid to Ukraine.
Ms Yellen reiterated US President Joe Biden’s message – delivered during his own visit to Kiev last week – that Washington will stand by Ukraine as long as it takes to win the war.
Ms. Yellen added that while Russia’s economy has not yet been hit by the broad sanctions imposed on Russia by Western powers, she expects it to weaken over time.
He also said that Russia’s ability to replenish military equipment destroyed in attacks on Ukraine was “gradually under threat”, adding that China would continue to supply Russia with such weapons. Provision will have “serious” consequences.
“We have been very clear that we will not tolerate systematic violations by any country of the sanctions we have put in place to deny Russia access to military equipment for this war,” he said. “
“And we have been very clear with the Chinese government and made clear to Chinese firms and financial institutions that the consequences for violating these sanctions will be very serious.”
Last week, US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken said that China is considering supplying arms and ammunition to Russia. Beijing has vehemently denied the claim.
The meeting between China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last week is seen by many as a sign of China’s closer relationship with Russia.
