The Ukrainian minister of defense reaffirmed the notion that a fresh Russian offensive is anticipated later this month.
Oleksiy Reznikov claimed at a news conference that not all Western weapons would have arrived by then, but that Ukraine had enough reserves to fend off Russian soldiers.
He also mentioned that additional long-range weapons had been agreed to by Ukraine.
As of late, significant fighting has been reported to be affecting President Volodymyr Zelensky’s troops in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Bakhmut, Vuhledar, and Lyman.
Despite not having all of its resources prepared to launch an offensive, Mr. Reznikov claimed that Russia may still do so as a show of force on February 24, the day marking a year since Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
He stated that in order to establish a land corridor connecting all the areas it now controls, Russia is anticipated to prioritize capturing the entirety of the eastern Donbass as well as beginning offensives in the south and east of Ukraine.
The defense minister also stated that starting on Monday, troops will begin training with Leopard tanks built in Germany.
The new long-range missiles from Ukraine, according to Mr. Reznikov, will have a 90-mile (150-km) range, but they will only be deployed against Russian units in areas of Ukraine that are seized.
Reznikov declared, “I am confident that we will win this battle, but it will cost us more deaths without the delivery of Western fighter jets.”
Russia has gained ground recently near the Bakhmut region despite the flow of Western weapons into Ukraine as Russia’s army continues to send additional soldiers into battle.
The majority of the fighting in the region has been led by the Russian paramilitary mercenary company Wagner.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, its leader, claimed that severe street skirmishes were taking place in several parts of the city and that Ukraine’s armed forces were “fighting to the death.”
The fight to retake Bakhmut from Russian soldiers has lasted for months, making it the protracted conflict since Russia invaded Ukraine almost a year ago.
Taking the territory is crucial for Russia since it wants to dominate the entire Donbas region in the east of the country.
Additionally, it would represent a turnaround in Russia’s fortunes after it recently lost ground in Ukraine.
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