WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Trump, Ukraine's Zelenskiy plan phone call, sources say

Associates of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have discussed holding a phone call between the two leaders, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

One source said the call could occur on Friday, but Reuters was not able to immediately determine if the conversation, which would be their first since the former U.S. president left the White House in 2021, had been confirmed.

CNN reported earlier on Thursday that the two leaders had a phone call scheduled on Friday. The news organization warned that the schedule of the former president - who is in Milwaukee to accept the Republican Party presidential nomination - is subject to frequent changes.

Trump has said he would end the war in Ukraine before he even takes office in January should he win the Nov. 5 election, though he has not provided details of how he would do so.

A representative for the Trump campaign declined to comment.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russian troops strike Ukrainian military airfield infrastructure over past day

Russian troops struck Ukrainian military airfield infrastructure, enemy manpower and military hardware in 127 areas over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck military aerodrome infrastructure, Ukrainian manpower and military equipment in 127 locations," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts 160 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 160 casualties on Ukrainian troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 57th motorized infantry, 125th territorial defense and 13th National Guard brigades in areas near the settlements of Volchansk, Liptsy and Staritsa in the Kharkov Region. Over the past 24 hours, they repelled two counterattacks by formations of the Ukrainian army’s 92nd assault brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 160 personnel, six motor vehicles, a 155mm Bogdana self-propelled artillery gun, a 152mm D-20 howitzer and two 122mm D-30 howitzers, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts 520 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West advanced to better positions and inflicted roughly 520 casualties on Ukrainian troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup West units keep gaining more advantageous positions. They inflicted casualties on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 21st, 60th and 115th mechanized and 1st National Guard brigades in areas near the settlements of Torskoye, Ivanovka and Krasny Liman in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 520 personnel, an armored combat vehicle, a 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika motorized artillery system, a 122mm D-30 howitzer, a US-made 105mm M119 artillery gun and an Anklav electronic warfare station, it specified.

In addition, Russian troops destroyed six ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, the ministry said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts 540 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 540 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed five enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup South units improved their forward edge positions in active operations and inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 24th and 54th mechanized, 46th airmobile and 79th air assault brigades in areas near the settlements of Maksimilyanovka, Katerinovka, Chasov Yar and Verkhnekamenskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The Ukrainian army lost as many as 540 personnel, three armored combat vehicles and 10 motor vehicles," the ministry said.

In counterbattery fire, Russian troops destroyed two British-made 155mm FH70 howitzers, three 122mm D-30 howitzers, two US-made 105mm M119 artillery guns, a British-made 105mm L119 howitzer, a US-made AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery radar station and two Anklav electronic warfare systems, it specified.

In addition, Russian troops destroyed five ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, the ministry said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 290 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 290 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a US-made armored fighting vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units gained more advantageous positions and inflicted casualties on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 32nd, 110th and 151st mechanized brigades in areas near the settlements of Toretsk, Novozhelannoye and Vesyoloye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They repulsed seven counterattacks by formations of the Ukrainian army’s 41st mechanized and 144th infantry brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 290 personnel, a US-made MaxxPro armored fighting vehicle, a US-manufactured 155mm M777 howitzer, a 122mm D-30 howitzer and two 100mm MT-12 Rapira anti-tank guns, it specified.

Reuters/Tass