Ukraine's establishment of footholds on the Russian-held bank of the Dnieper represents a small but potentially significant strategic advance in the midst of a war largely at a standstill. The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces said its troops there had repelled 12 attacks by the Russian army between Friday and Saturday. In response, the Russian military used "tactical aviation," including Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones, to try to pin down Ukraine's troops, Humeniuk said. Elsewhere, air defenses shot down 29 out of 38 Shahed drones launched against Ukraine, military officials reported. "The first priority of our budget — local budgets and the central budget — should be the army."

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Persons: Natalia Humeniuk, Humeniuk, Maria Barbash Organizations: 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade, General, Southern Operational Command, Armed Forces Locations: Kherson, Ukraine, footholds, Russian, Russia, Crimea, Kyiv