Intense fighting continues in eastern Ukraine

Intense fighting continues in eastern Ukraine

Intense fighting continues on the frontline in eastern Ukraine. In the last 24 hours, Russian troops have bombed nearly 30 towns in the region, the general staff said. Ukrainian forces repelled attacks on Bakhmut and the southern village of Klishchivka in the Donetsk region. In the Kyiv region, a helicopter reportedly crashed near a kindergarten and a residential building. He said there were victims.

At the time of the accident, children and staff were in kindergarten, regional governor Oleksiy Kuleba said via the Telegram short message service. “All were evacuated.” The incident took place in the town of Brovary, about twelve kilometers northeast of the capital Kyiv.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russian forces fired four rockets, including two at civilian targets in the city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, west of the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka. In addition, the Russians carried out 13 air strikes and attacked 23 times with multiple rocket launchers. Portal could not independently verify this.

Is Putin declaring war?

According to the US Institute for War Studies (ISW), Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin may announce a second wave of mobilization for war against Ukraine in the coming days. The Washington-based think tank wrote in its latest report late on Tuesday (local time) that Putin could possibly already announce this at a presentation planned for Wednesday in St. Petersburg.

Putin could also use the opportunity to declare war on Ukraine, he said. In Russia, the invasion of Ukraine, which started at the end of February 2022, is officially known as a “special military operation”. Public use of the term “war” is punishable by criminal law. The ISW think tank cites, among other things, Russian military bloggers. However, both Ukrainian and Western secret services have repeatedly warned against Putin’s mid-January mobilization preparations, he said.

On Wednesday, in Saint Petersburg, the head of the Kremlin will participate in the celebrations for the breaking of the blockade of the metropolis sealed by German troops in January 1944. He will also visit an armaments factory. It is not yet known when and where Putin will deliver his speech on Wednesday morning. (apa, Portal, dpa)