Ukraine's second largest city has been pounded by missiles and drones in recent weeks, but Kyiv's forces will be prepared to thwart any assault, Oleksandr Pivnenko said. Russia has been inching forward in the east, but long-delayed U.S. military assistance is finally expected to be approved this week and reach Ukraine soon, relieving critical ammunition shortages and air defences. Ukrainian officials say they expect a Russian in late spring or summer, and that they believe Moscow wants to seize the strategically important eastern town of Chasiv Yar by May 9 when it marks Soviet Victory Day in World War Two.