Zaluzhnyi holds first conversation with US General Milley this year

This was reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi on Telegram. 

On January 3, Zaluzhnyi held the first conversation this year with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley.

"I told him about changes in the operational and strategic situation, first of all in the ground and airspace of Ukraine. Heavy fighting is taking place on the borderline between Svatove and Kreminna, as well as in the direction of Lysychansk. The most difficult situation remains in the area Soledar - Bakhmut - Mayorsk,” Zaluzhnyi wrote.

The Commander-in-Chief told how Russian troops are trying to advance by basically walking over the corpses of their own, but the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding back the Russian offensive. In general, Ukrainian soldiers manage to hold their positions around Avdiivka in the Donetsk direction and continue the counteroffensive.

"We are holding the defensive lines strong in the Zaporizhzhia direction and are making efforts to defend Kherson, first of all civilians and critical infrastructure facilities of the city, from enemy shelling. The situation on the border with Belarus is fully controlled," the AFU Commander-in-Chief stressed.

From December 31, 2022 to the morning of January 3, Russia reportedly launched 14 cruise missiles and 94 Shahed-136 “kamikaze” drones.

Zaluzhnyi added that he discussed with General Mark Milley the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces to continue the fight against Russia.

"I thanked General Milley for the foreign-made anti-aircraft missile systems provided with his active assistance. Today they save the lives of Ukrainian civilians. I highly appreciate the leadership of General Milley in providing military assistance to Ukraine. Mutual trust and common vision help to increase the capabilities of the Ukrainian army to defend the peaceful cities and villages of our country, which is a guarantee of security throughout Europe," the AFU Commander-in-Chief wrote.

• On December 30, 2022, congratulating the Ukrainian defenders and their families on the New Year, Valerii Zaluzhnyi assured that Ukraine would have enough strength to defeat the enemy.
• On January 2, Zaluzhnyi summed up the results of the year: the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated 40% of the occupied territories, more than 20,000 soldiers were trained in 17 countries.