French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that Paris plans to provide Ukraine in its war against Russia with a new aid package that includes "hundreds" of armored vehicles and anti-aircraft missiles. Lecornu said in an interview with the newspaper "La Tribune," published late Saturday, "To control such a wide front line, the Ukrainian army needs, for example, our VAB vehicles: they are crucial for troop mobility." France is currently phasing out these vehicles, some of which are over 40 years old, to be replaced by the new "Griffon" armored vehicles; however, Lecornu noted that the older vehicles "are still operational." He added, "We are talking about hundreds of them for 2024 and early 2025."
Paris will also provide Kyiv with more "Mistral 30" anti-aircraft missiles, suitable for SAMPT-type launchers similar to the U.S. Patriot air defense system. Lecornu revealed, "We are also working on an extremely tight timeline to develop remotely controlled munitions to deliver to Ukraine starting this summer." The French government is urging arms manufacturers to increase production to meet the needs of its army and ensure continued support for Ukraine after more than two years of war with Russia. Kyiv has warned that its ammunition stocks are running low and urged Washington in particular to end the political crisis that has stalled a new $60 billion aid package.
On the Ukrainian side, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his evening video address on Saturday that Russia is carrying out "devious strikes" aimed at causing "bleeding" of Ukraine's energy supply. He added, "America and Europe and our other partners, everyone knows what we need... everyone knows how important it is to help us protect ourselves from these strikes right now."
Zelensky dismissed an assistant and several advisors on Saturday in an ongoing ministerial reshuffle while Russia unleashed new nighttime attacks. Zelensky fired his chief aide Serhiy Shefir from his position as first assistant, a role he had held since 2019. The Ukrainian president also dismissed three advisors and two presidential representatives who oversee volunteer activities and soldiers' rights. No immediate explanation was provided for these recent changes in the large-scale reshuffling of officials in recent months.
On the battlefield, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Saturday that Russia launched 12 "Shahed" drones during the night, of which nine were shot down, and launched four missiles at eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian armed forces stated on social media that Russia launched a barrage of 38 missiles, conducted 75 airstrikes, and 98 attacks from multiple rocket launchers over the past 24 hours. Ukrainian Donetsk Region Governor Vadym Vilaskin announced on Saturday that two people were killed and one injured in a Russian shelling of partially occupied Donetsk. The Ukrainian energy company Centrenergo also announced on Saturday that the Zmiiv thermal power plant, one of the largest thermal power plants in the eastern Kharkiv region, was completely destroyed after Russian shelling last week, and repairs could take about 18 months.
Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in recent days, causing significant damage in several areas, which it claimed is a response to Kyiv's attacks on its border regions. In the face of these bombings, Kyiv is urging its Western allies to send more military aid, particularly air defense systems.
