"We are aware of the nervousness felt not only in Kyiv, but also in European capitals and in the United States, due to the ongoing special military operation," commented Kremlin (Russian presidency) spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Antony Blinken arrived in Kiev today for an unannounced visit, his fourth since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

The US Secretary of State has already met today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, to whom he reaffirmed Washington's support for Kiev in the war against Moscow's troops.

Peskov reaffirmed that Russia intends to "achieve its objectives" in Ukraine, where Russian troops have regained the initiative with an offensive in October 2023, after an unsuccessful Ukrainian counteroffensive.

The Kremlin spokesman declined to comment on the advances of the Russian army, especially in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, where the situation is becoming increasingly critical for Ukrainian forces, as Kiev admitted.

Russian troops have already taken more than half a dozen cities, some of them just 40 kilometers from the regional capital, Kharkiv, in an attempt to reduce enemy artillery attacks on the border region of Belgorod.

The Kremlin also made no mention of the situation at the Ministry of Defense, where a senior official was arrested today on bribery charges.

The arrest came after Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was dismissed from his post on Sunday by President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian Senate will debate today the candidacy of economist Andrei Belusov to replace Shoigu, although Moscow says the change will not affect the strategy on the battlefield.

Due to the situation on the front line, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today asked Blinken to send two more "Patriot" missile systems to defend Kharkiv, the country's second city.

Blinken confirmed that part of the military aid approved by the United States three weeks ago has already arrived in Ukraine and that other equipment is on the way, acknowledging the difficulties faced by Ukrainian troops.

"Help is on the way and will make a real difference on the battlefield," Blinken promised at the start of the meeting with Zelensky, quoted by the French news agency AFP.

Russia launched an offensive near Kharkiv on Friday and managed to take control of five villages in that region and in Donetsk.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russia is achieving "tactical successes" and three dozen villages have been under enemy fire, forcing about 7,000 people to leave the region.

The operation has raised fears of a Russian advance against a Ukrainian army that is running out of resources and is already under heavy pressure on the eastern and southern fronts.

"People are under fire. They are worried, they are being targeted by Russian attacks," Zelensky insisted during the meeting with Blinken.

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