Ukraine condemns Russia’s maximum offensive on the Donbass front

Ukraine condemned on Thursday a “maximum escalation” in the eastern region of Luhansk, less than two weeks after the first anniversary of the outbreak of hostilities, in what some analysts say could be a sign that the much-anticipated Russian offensive has already begun. in the Donbass.

“The number of attacks by the occupiers has increased significantly,” the head of the Regional Military Directorate Sergei Gaidai said on Telegram, noting that “the Russians are trying to move towards Kremennaya,” although they have not had “significant success.” .

Maximum ascent in Lugansk

The U.S. Institute of War Studies (ISW) found that “Russian forces have regained the initiative in Ukraine and launched their next big offensive against Lugansk.”

“The pace of Russian operations along the Svyato-Kremennaya line west of Lugansk has picked up markedly over the past week,” added the ISW, according to which the Russian army made “a minor advance along the Kharkiv-Luhansk Oblast border.”

US analysts noted that the presence in the area of ​​”at least three large Russian divisions conducting offensive operations” indicates that “the Russian offensive has begun.”

Haidai, who previously described the situation as “maximum escalation”, noted that the Army Russia it also continues to shell towns in the area, such as Makiivka, which have been “destroyed to the ground”.

Over the past few months, Russian forces have focused their efforts on the Lugansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine, which are annexed by Ukraine. Russia in September 2022, with a special focus on the cities of Ugledar and Bakhmut.

The capture of these cities and, above all, the latter, would open the way for the Russians to Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, the main Ukrainian strongholds in the Donbass.

Kyiv warns about Russia’s preparations

In Kiev, the Russians believe that the Russians will focus mainly on the complete capture of Lugansk and Donetsk, but they can also deploy operations in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, in the south of the country, as well as those annexed by Moscow.

Andrey Yusov, representative of the Ministry of Defense Ukraine (DIU) warned today during a speech on Ukrainian television that “the main target (Russian) is, in fact, the east and the Donbass.”

“Other areas may also be affected, but with these attacks (Russia) will basically try to divert and draw in Ukrainian forces,” he explained.

According to Yusov, there are currently 300,000 “occupiers” in Russia. Ukrainerepresenting “an increase in the number, but not the quality, of the Russian army”.

“The highest quality units and the highest quality (Russian) weapons have mostly been disabled or destroyed on the territory of Ukraine over the past year. And it will definitely not be possible to prepare an adequate force of the same level in the short term. , indicated.

In addition, he did not rule out that the Russian army is considering the possibility of launching an offensive in the north. Ukraine or land in the south, a decision he called “suicidal”.

“Such a landing on Ukrainian soil would be quickly destroyed,” he said, recalling heavy Russian losses during their attack on the Gostomel airfield north of Kiev at the outbreak of hostilities last February.

More Russian tanks for war

And while the President UkraineVolodymyr Zelenskyy asked today at the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels “quick and reliable solutions” to stop the advance RussiaFormer Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited a tank plant in the Omsk region of Siberia.

Medvedev, also vice president of the Russian Security Council, returned to his usual belligerent rhetoric and pointed out that “while our enemy is begging for planes, missiles and tanks abroad” Russia he should “increase the production of various types of weapons, including modern tanks.”

“We are talking about the production and modernization of thousands of tanks,” he said in a video broadcast on Telegram.

According to the Dutch intelligence analytical group Oryx, Russia lost 1,688 tanks in the Ukrainian conflict, 1,000 of which were destroyed by Ukrainian troops; 544, taken prisoner; 79 received minor damage and 65 were abandoned.

This figure only includes cases documented through photo or video, but experts believe it could rise to more than 2,000.

For its part, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine claims that it has destroyed 3255 Russian tanks, and Kyiv is pinning its hopes on the next deliveries of European and American tanks and armored cars, which can turn the tide of the conflict.

(As reported by EFE)

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