According to Ukrainian sources, Russia is preparing a new offensive for the anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine. “It’s no secret” that the Russian army is preparing a new wave of attacks for February 24, Secretary of the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov told Radio Svoboda.
According to Ukrainian reports, Russian troops have recently stepped up their attacks in eastern Ukraine. Particularly heavy attacks are reported in the towns of Wuhledar and Bachmut, both sides reported bitter fighting around Wuhledar yesterday.
Hundreds of thousands of reservists mobilized
Only recently did Russian soldiers and fighters from the Wagner mercenary group take over the small town of Soledar, north of Bakhmut. It was the first notable victory for Russian forces and their allies after several setbacks in recent months.
According to the US-based Institute for the Study of War, Moscow is trying to disperse outnumbered Ukrainian forces with attacks to “create the conditions for a decisive offensive campaign”.
Russia has mobilized hundreds of thousands of reservists and convicts to try to break through the Ukrainian lines and take over all of Donbass, a vast industrial and coal area in eastern Ukraine.