Ukraine denounces 76 bombings and “bloody battles” in Donetsk town of Soledar during alleged cessation of hostilities
“Putin has no desire to end the war.” Ukrainian presidency adviser Mikhailo Podoliak said so on Thursday after the Kremlin chief announced a 36-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Christmases. A truce that, however, failed practically before it began. Yesterday remained belligerent, especially in Bakhmut, the epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine, and in other cities across the country. But Kiev already saw the cessation of hostilities as a “trap”.
Ukrainian President Volodímir Zelensky warned it was a “cover” to halt his army’s advance into Donbas and “bring equipment, ammunition and mobilized men closer to our positions”. This Saturday, his military intelligence service confirmed his words. And it is that, according to the British newspaper “The Guardian”, Russia will order the mobilization of up to 500,000 recruits this month, on top of the 300,000 it had called up last October, Vadim Skibitski, deputy head of the spy group, explained. who assured that they would be part of new spring and summer offensives in the east and south of the country.
However, Moscow denies that it is preparing a second wave of mobilization. Andrei Guruliov, a retired Russian colonel general and State Duma deputy, said on Wednesday that “there would be no reasons or conditions” for announcing such a move at least for the next “six months”.
But the United States does not trust Russia. While the Kremlin’s goal of seizing Ukrainian territory “has not changed,” the Pentagon warned, “its forces continue to suffer from military weaknesses, including the number of fighters they have.” Ukraine no longer believes the words of Putin, who today, in the midst of the Christmas truce, praised the Orthodox Church for supporting his troops.
Proof of this lack of confidence are the attacks that took place during the ceasefire announced by Moscow. “Bloody battles” took place this Saturday in Soledar, Donetsk region. Mercenaries from the Wagner group claimed the previous day that they were “very close” to taking the city under their control. As of today, “there have been 76 bombings by the invaders and 10 fighting,” said Eastern Group of Forces spokesman Sergei Cherevati. Soledar, he lamented, is almost “completely destroyed.”
Air raid sirens also sounded in the nearly deserted city of Bakhmut. The few inhabitants who remain have experienced with their own eyes the true meaning of Putin’s Christmas truce. “When he says there is a ceasefire, it is actually the other way around: there is no ceasefire,” complained Vasil Liesin, a 30-year-old humanitarian volunteer. “Yesterday we were bombed a lot. The night was more or less calm. But usually it’s like this: one day there’s shelling, the next day it’s quieter,” he told Reuters.
Kherson was also attacked. As described by the region’s Ukrainian governor Yaroslav Yanusevich, Moscow bombed the city on Friday up to “39 times”, killing at least one and wounding seven. Several residential buildings and a fire station sustained damage.
Source: La Verdad
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