Russia is said to be planning a major offensive to try and break the impasse on the battlefield ahead of the Feb. 24 anniversary of the invasion.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is amassing its forces in the Luhansk province in eastern Ukraine ahead of what could be a major new offensive meant to break the stalemate in the fighting ahead of the war’s first anniversary, officials loyal to Kyiv said.
That information echoed remarks made by Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council,“Russia is preparing for maximum escalation,” said Danilov. “It is gathering everything possible, doing drills and training.” The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported Wednesday that Russia was also concentrating its efforts in the neighboring Donetsk region, where the Kremlin’s troops have been trying for monthsRussian shelling of Bakhmut, from which most of its 75,000 residents have fled while others spend much of their time in cellars, killed at least five civilians and wounded 10 Tuesday, Ukraine’s presidential office.
Moscow-installed authorities in Donetsk claimed Russian troops are “closing the ring” around the city, but the Wagner Group, the private mercenary force doing Kremlin’s bidding, denied Wednesday that the city was surrounded.
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