Russia seizes new territories of Ukraine while Zelensky fights corruption
2023.02.02 02:00
Russia seizes new territories of Ukraine while Zelensky fights corruption
By Ray Johnson
Budrigannews.com – In a somber assessment, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that the battle on the front lines in eastern Ukraine “has become tougher” as Russian forces strive for gains they can demonstrate on the first anniversary of their invasion on Feb. 24.
Russia has picked up momentum on the battlefield and announced advances north and south of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut in Donetsk, determined to make progress before Ukraine receives newly pledged Western battle tanks and armored vehicles.
The Ukrainian military reported late on Wednesday that Russian fire struck Bakhmut and ten nearby towns and villages. For months, Russia has repeatedly bombarded Bakhmut.
The military added that Avdiivka, another major Russian target, Maryinka, a nearby town, and a few nearby settlements were also hit.
On Wednesday, a Russian missile struck Kramatorsk, which is about 55 kilometers (34 miles) northwest of Bakhmut. It destroyed one apartment building and damaged seven others, killing at least three people and injuring 20, according to police.
“The offensive operations of the occupiers on the front in the east of our country have seen a significant increase. Zelenskiy stated, “The situation has become more difficult.”
In an evening video address, he added:
“The enemy is trying to achieve at least something now to show that Russia has some chances on the anniversary of the invasion.”
As authorities continued raids ahead of a meeting with more than a dozen high-ranking officials from the European Union on Friday in Kyiv, Zelenskiy promised additional anti-corruption measures, demonstrating a determination to demonstrate that Ukraine can be a dependable steward of billions of dollars in aid.
The meeting is significant to Ukraine’s hopes of eventually joining the bloc, which can take years.
Security personnel had earlier carried out a search of the residence of businessman Ihor Kolomoiskiy, a former ally of Zelenskiy, in what the media reported was an investigation into a possible financial crime.
At 9:45 p.m. (1945 GMT), police in Kramatorsk reported that a Russian Iskander-K tactical missile struck.
“There were damages to at least eight apartment buildings. In a Facebook post, police stated, “One of them was completely destroyed.” post.
“Perhaps people will remain beneath the rubble.”
A Russian missile struck an apartment building in Dnipro city in January, killing at least 44 people.
According to Ukraine, a Russian missile struck the Kramatorsk train station in April 2022, killing 57 people. The missile was Ukrainian, according to Russia, which denies targeting civilians.
According to Reuters, a former commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group who fled to Norway in January stated that he was speaking out in order to bring those responsible for atrocities to justice and that he wanted to apologize for fighting in Ukraine.
Andrei Medvedev, 26, stated, “First of all, repeatedly, and again, I would like to apologise.”
Russian forces have been accused of war crimes by Ukraine and its Western allies. Russia disagrees.
In Donetsk, the Wagner group has been locked in a losing battle.
Ukraine’s industrial region of Donbas is made up of Donetsk and Luhansk, which were declared annexed by Russia in September following sham referendums. These two cities were the target of Russian forces after they failed to advance on Kyiv, the capital, early in the campaign.
According to Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov, Ukrainian forces have repelled attacks on several Donetsk centers over the past 24 hours, including Bakhmut, Krasna Hora, and Blahodatne.
On Tuesday, Russian forces claimed to have captured Blahodatne, which is located just north of Bakhmut.
According to Ukrainian military analyst Yevhen Dikiy, they were also pushing south of Bakhmut with more troops in an effort to cut it off from resupply and drive the Ukrainians out.
Dikiy stated to Espreso TV, “This is the most difficult scenario for us,” referring to the Russian forces’ “measure of success.”
“The enemy is able to use its men, its one and only resource, which it has more than enough of.”
According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, a Russian push could begin around the symbolically significant date of February 24. Both Russia and Ukraine are thought to be preparing new offensives.
“We keep repeating to our partners that we must be prepared for this as soon as possible.” And that’s why we need weapons,” Reznikov told France’s BFM TV while he was in Paris on Tuesday.
Ukraine has received promises of new capabilities from the West in the form of weapons, the most recent of which is expected to include rockets from the United States that would nearly double the range of Ukrainian forces.
The United States’ use of longer-range rockets, according to the Kremlin, would not alter the course of the conflict.
Last year, President Vladimir Putin launched a “special military operation” to “demilitarize” and “denazify” Ukraine, but now he views the campaign as a fight to protect Russia from an aggressive West.
Russia is accused by Ukraine and the West of waging an illegal war to expand its territory.
