UKRAINIAN troops and tanks have launched an assault into Russia while Vladimir Putin has unleashed a mighty flamethrower weapon, reports claim.
Claims of fresh fighting come as Donald Trump and Putin are set to speak on the phone and hash out a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Russian soldiers strike Ukrainian positions with a TOS-1 ‘Solntsepek’ flame thrower[/caption]
Flamethrower missiles fly into the sky[/caption]
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are set to talk on Tuesday[/caption]
Russian Telegram channels have claimed Ukraine has attacked over the border into Belgorod – but Kyiv has rubbished it.
Ukraine’s military said it is beneficial for Russia to make the Americans believe the attack was happening to discredit President Volodymyr Zelensky and isolate him from Trump.
Meanwhile, Moscow is continuing to attack and has deployed TOS-1A Solntsepek heavy flamethrowers in support of advancing troops in the Kupyansk direction in Kharkiv region.
The weapon has been called “the most terrible [conventional] weapon in the world” using munitions that disperse a fuel aerosol and explode the resulting gas cloud.
Footage released of the attack shows the missiles being fired from tank-like vehicles before huge explosions erupt when the rockets land.
Trenches, fortified structures and armoured vehicles offer little protection to the flames.
Whether Ukraine is possibly opening up another front, conducting a raid, or trying a diversionary tactic remains unclear.
A small number of Ukrainian armoured vehicles is being “systematically destroyed” seeking to enter Belgorod region across the international frontier, said one account.
“The Ukrainians tried to get into the Belgorod region on several tanks and armoured vehicles,” said Telegram war channel Voevoda Veshchaet.
“The enemy is being systematically destroyed.”
Loyalist Russian account Shot media said that the Ukrainian attack had been suppressed.
They posted: “Four armoured vehicles and three T-72 tanks were destroyed.
“About 20 Ukrainian military [personnel] were killed. The survivors retreated.”
The report said: “Now the activity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been suppressed. The state border has not been breached.”
Russian soldiers riding atop a self-propelled gun at an area in the Kursk region[/caption]
Ukraine’s Central Military District only said: “Fighting here has been continuing throughout the war.”
Ukraine withdrew from its incursion into Kursk over the last week after the Russian Army was able to push them out of their positions.
The reports of fresh fighting came hours before Trump and Putin begin talks.
The call is expected to last around two hours – but the Kremlin said it will last as long as needed to thrash out a possible deal.
The US president believes he has a “very good chance” of finally convincing Putin to accept a ceasefire – with Ukraine again left out of crunch talks over their future.
Trump wrote last night: “Tomorrow morning I will be speaking to President Putin concerning the War in Ukraine.
“Many elements of a Final Agreement have been agreed to, but much remains.”
The Kremlin also confirmed that Trump will speak to Vladimir Putin on Tuesday with the pair set to discuss “dividing assets” and land in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s hero war leader Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Putin is seeking to “drag out” the war.
He said: “For a week now, Putin has been unable to squeeze out ‘yes’ to the ceasefire proposal.”
Could Trump’s call with Putin decide Ukraine’s fate?
By Sayan Bose, Foreign News reporter
The world holds its breath for Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s chat on the phone, which is mere hours away.
Both leaders are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine at great length.
Trump believes he has a “very good chance” of finally convincing Putin to accept a US-led 30-day ceasefire deal that has already received a green light from Kyiv.
Putin has still given no clear indication if he is willing to accept a truce deal and has instead raised “serious questions” over the proposal.
So far, he has delayed the ceasefire plan to seemingly extract concessions from Trump.
The despot is expected to put up demands in exchange for his approval of a peace deal, which he insists should be long-term.
That includes Kyiv’s Nato membership, peacekeepers inside Ukraine and territory.
The call could end up being a historic chat if both leaders get on the same page and Putin agrees to accept a ceasefire, but that may come at a high cost for Kyiv.
Zelensky and other diplomats from Kyiv have not been invited to be a part of the conversation.
Trump – who is desperate to crack a deal and stop the bloody war as he once promised – could perhaps agree to some of the demands from Russia if it means a ceasefire deal.
He said “many elements” of a final agreement have been agreed to, but much still remains to be discussed.
It is now known that he is already considering to recognise annexed Crimea as Russian territory.
The White House also indicated that Trump plans to discuss “land,” “power plants,” and “dividing up certain assets.”
In a turn of events, Russia may also not agree to the terms laid out by the US – which Kyiv has already agreed to.
Trump is said to be willing to hit Russia with further sanctions if the call does not end well.
Either way, there is a high chance Kyiv’s fate will be decided based on the discussions of today’s call.
It remains to be seen if that favours Ukraine and its hero leader Zelensky, or undermines their position.
