The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine added: “Beat the occupier! Together we will win! Our power is in the truth!”
Fighting near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has been intense in recent weeks as Vladimir Putin looks to press home Russia’s advantage before more Western aid makes its way to Ukrainian soldiers.
However, the tide could turn in the war after Western allies gave Ukraine the green light to strike Russian territory with their weapons.
On Sunday, Russian sources claimed that Ukraine used US weapons to strike Russian territory for the first time.
They claimed that Ukraine hit Belgorod, a city near the border with Ukraine, with the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, said Friday that “Ukraine and its NATO allies will receive such a devastating response that the alliance won’t be able to avoid entering the conflict” because of the new policy from NATO members.
Germany has also allowed Ukraine to use its weapons against Russian territory.
The German government statement noted that, in recent weeks, Russia has prepared, coordinated and carried out attacks on the Kharkiv region, in particular from areas just over the border in Russia.
In a statement, they said: “Together we are convinced that Ukraine has the right under international law to defend itself against these attacks.
“For this, it can also use the weapons delivered for that purpose in accordance with its international legal commitments, including the ones delivered by us.”