Ukraine says it is preparing a counter-attack near the city of Bakhmut in the east of the country, which has been the subject of fierce fighting for months. Russian troops were “significantly losing strength” and “exhausted,” Ukrainian ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyj said on Thursday. “We will seize this opportunity very soon, as we did in Kiev, Kharkiv, Balakliya and Koupyansk.”
Russia wants to take Bakhmut at all costs and is not afraid of losing people or material, Syrskyj continued. His announcement came a day after a visit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Bakhmut front. Selenskyj had, among other things, visited soldiers who had been injured during the fighting and thanked them for their efforts. Later he also visited Kharkiv in the northeast.
Russians advance again near Kreminna
Meanwhile, in heavy fighting near the city of Kreminna in eastern Ukraine, Russian forces pushed back the Ukrainians. “Russia has partially regained control of the direct entrances to Kreminna,” Britain’s defense ministry reported Thursday, citing intelligence findings. “In some places, Russia has gained miles of ground.”
Russian “safe zone” in preparation?
Now Russian troops likely wanted to establish a “safety zone” west of their prepared defense positions, it said. In doing so, they would presumably include the Oskil River as a natural obstacle and also attempt to recapture the Koupyansk logistics hub.
In principle, however, Russia still follows a defensive approach in eastern Ukraine. “Commanders probably fear that this could be one of the front sectors where Ukraine could launch a major offensive.” The British Ministry of Defense publishes daily information on the course of the war since the beginning of the Russian offensive against Ukraine. Moscow accuses London of a disinformation campaign.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
