Ukraine-Russia latest: Biden approves landmines for Ukraine as US steps up aid to slow Russian advances

The US decision to supply Ukraine with anti-personnel mines
and to allow the US-supplied long-range missiles to be fired at Russian
territory might be coming too late, according to global affairs analyst at the Atlantic Council, Michael Bociurkiw.

He tells the BBC that these decisions show a recognition by the Biden administration
of what is happening on the frontline, but that “it is, I would say, too little
too late”.

He says that there is a lot of anticipation on the Ukrainian
side to start using these weapons – to strike Russian military headquarters and
“Putin’s pet project” the Kerch bridge, used to supply Russian troops.

But how big of a difference that will make this late in the
game is not certain, he says, adding that having been based in Ukraine
for most of the war, “I can say I have never been this anxious”.

He says scenes in Odesa, where he is normally based are “apocalyptical”
after a strike on a residential building in the Ukrainian port city on Monday killed at least10 people and injured 47 others, according to local authorities.

“As we’re talking, literally seconds ago I heard anti-aircraft
fire. We’re under drone attack right now in Kyiv as are many other Ukrainian
cities. There’s been no let-up in the violence in the past few days,” Bociurkiw
says.