(Adds context to lead paragraph, counter-claims over village of

Novomykhailivka in paragraphs 7-9.)

       MOSCOW, April 23 (Reuters) - Russia will intensify

strikes on Ukrainian storage bases that house Western-supplied

weapons, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday, as the

United States prepares to approve and deliver a long-delayed

batch of new military aid.

    In remarks to defence officials, Shoigu said Russia had

"dispelled the myth of the superiority of Western weapons" and

its forces had gained the initiative along the 1,000 km

(600-mile) battle front.

    He referenced the fact that Washington was poised to supply

Ukraine with a new military aid package worth nearly $61 billion

following a vote by the House of Representatives on Saturday.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Kyiv will

soon receive more long-range ATACMS missile systems as part of

the package. U.S. officials say the aid will include ammunition

supplies and interceptors for air defence systems.

    "In proportion to the threats posed by the United States and

its allies, we will continue to improve the composition and

structure of the Armed Forces and increase the production of the

most popular weapons and military equipment," Shoigu said.

    "We will increase the intensity of attacks on logistics

centers and storage bases for Western weapons."

    Shoigu repeated Russia's assertion that it has captured the

villages of Pervomaiske, Bohdanivka and Novomykhailivka this

month. On Monday, a Ukrainian commander denied the fall of the

latter, saying his troops held 15-20% of the village.

        The Russian defence ministry said Russian marines

involved in the operation to take Novomykhailivka had captured

Western-made weapons, including Swedish grenade launchers,

American anti-tank Javelins and NATO electronic warfare systems.

        The ministry published video of what it said was the

operation to capture the village. Reuters could not verify when

the video was filmed but was able to confirm the location as

Novomykhailivka based on buildings, roads and a lake that

matched file and satellite imagery of the area.

(Reporting by Reuters; writing by Mark Trevelyan, editing by

Timothy Heritage and Bernadette Baum)