Russia claimed on Tuesday July 5 that military equipment delivered by Western countries to Ukraine was now present on the black arms market as well as in the Middle East, without however providing proof.
Some of the weapons delivered to Kiev "
spread to the Middle East, and also end up on the black market
", Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a speech broadcast on television.
However, he did not provide any concrete evidence to support his assertions.
“In the hope of prolonging the conflict”
The deliveries of tanks, artillery pieces and other military equipment by Western countries to Ukraine have aroused the ire of Russia, which has been leading a very costly military offensive against its neighbor since the end of February.
Sergei Shoigu accused Western countries of having so far delivered more than 28,000 tons of weapons to Ukraine "
in the hope of prolonging the conflict
" and bleeding Russia.
After encountering fierce resistance in northern Ukraine and around the capital kyiv, Russia has concentrated its forces in the east, where it has made significant gains in recent days, including the capture of the city of Lysychansk.
After this conquest, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops on Monday to continue the offensive in the East, where Moscow aims for total control of the Donbass region.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: the Ukrainian army announces its withdrawal from Lyssytchansk, a key city in the Donbass
The Russian offensive "
will continue until the objectives set by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
(Vladimir Putin, editor's note)
are fully achieved
," Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday.
