Russia increases number soldiers in eastern Ukraine
2023.02.07 04:11
Russia increases number soldiers in eastern Ukraine
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – A Ukrainian governor stated that Russia was pouring reinforcements into eastern Ukraine in preparation for a new offensive that could begin next week along a front where there have been constant battles for months.
Ukraine anticipates Russia’s “symbolic” launch of a major offensive on the Feb. 24 anniversary of the invasion, which Moscow continues to refer to as “a special military operation,” in order to expedite the arrival of Western military aid.
According to some analysts, Ukraine is months away from being ready for a spring offensive to reclaim lost territory. However, the country is still waiting for the promised longer-range Western missiles and battle tanks.
Serhiy Haidai, the governor of Ukraine’s Luhansk province, which is largely occupied by Russia, stated, “We are seeing more and more (Russian) reserves being deployed in our direction, we are seeing more equipment being brought in….”
“They bring ammunition that is used in a different way than it was before; it is no longer used to shell continuously.” “They are getting ready for a full-scale offensive, and they are slowly starting to save,” Haidai told Ukrainian television.
They will probably need ten days to gather reserves. We can anticipate this offensive at any time after February 15.
As the war’s first anniversary approaches, Russia is advancing with hundreds of thousands of mobilized reserve troops and Ukraine is no longer gaining ground as it did in the second half of 2022.
Despite uncertainty regarding the future of his defense minister and Russia’s first advance in the east in six months, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that personnel changes on the border and frontline will support Ukraine’s military efforts.
Zelenskiy stated in his Monday evening address that he wanted to combine military and managerial experience in local and central government. However, he did not directly address the ambiguity regarding whether Oleksii Reznikov, his defense minister, would be replaced.
Zelenskiy’s parliamentary bloc leader David Arakhamia said on Sunday that Reznikov would be moved to another ministerial position; however, on Monday, he wrote that “there will be no personnel changes in the defense sector this week.”
Zelenskiy claims that his government is undergoing the largest political and administrative shakeup since Russia’s invasion nearly a year ago, and that he needs to demonstrate that Ukraine was a safe steward of billions of dollars worth of Western military and other aid.
“We will appoint leaders with military experience in a number of regions, particularly those near the border or on the front lines. “Those who are able to demonstrate that they are the most effective in defending against the threats that are currently present,” he said.
According to reports, Zelenskiy could be in Brussels as early as this week, making it only his second known overseas trip since the invasion. The European Union stated that Zelenskiy has been invited to participate in a summit of EU leaders.
Over the weekend, Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine’s Defense Minister, told Ukrainska Pravda that intelligence indicated any new Russian offensive would likely come from the east or south.
Their aspiration is to extend the land route to Crimea so that supplies can continue. Naturally, the most significant dangers are: the north, the east, and then the south,” he stated.
2014 saw Moscow acquire Crimea.
Oleksandr Kovalenko, a defense analyst from Ukraine, said that a new Russian offensive could come from one of four places: the regions of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mariupol, and the city and port of Mariupol in eastern Luhansk.
“The situation is more dire in the Donetsk region, particularly in the vicinity of Bakhmut and Avdiivka. Additionally, Russian equipment and paratroops will be added there, according to Kovalenko, who is a member of the “Information Resistance group” think tanks.
Bakhmut, where Russia’s state media claimed the Wagner mercenary group had established a foothold, has been Russia’s primary target in eastern Ukraine for months. On Monday evening, Ukraine reported that Russian forces had trained tank, mortar, and artillery fire there within the previous 24 hours.
According to Kovalenko, Mariupol, which Russian forces took over in May, could be used by the Russians to bring troops and equipment into a new offensive.
He mentioned that “it could serve as a transportation hub for the Russian occupation forces.”
Kovalenko stated that Ukrainian forces would be taking a defensive stance, particularly in Donetsk, and that the counter-offensive would not occur soon.
“It may be an active defense, but it is still a defensive position. He stated, “The idea will continue to be to stop any Russian advance.”
“In other areas, things might change more quickly. However, this situation could last anywhere from two to two and a half months, which is enough time to train the brigades, equip everything, and provide tanks to them.
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