Ukrainian forces say they have killed 1,030 Russian soldiers in the past 24 hours. According to Kiev, these were the deadliest 24 hours for Russian troops to date. In total, the Ukrainian military is now said to have killed 133,190 Russians.
The Ukrainian military also reports that it has destroyed 25 Russian tanks in the past two days. Ukrainian figures not confirmed by Russia. Although Moscow denies that Russian losses are large, it hardly publishes figures on soldiers killed.
Heavy fighting is raging in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, with multiple attacks by Russian troops reported. Russia’s defense ministry says its forces recently defeated Ukrainian troops at a settlement north of Bachmut, a town that has been the subject of fierce fighting for months.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian governor of the largely Russian-occupied Luhansk region warns that Russia is sending tens of thousands of new soldiers and mercenaries to eastern Ukraine ahead of the big offensive. It could start as early as next week.
Russian reserves
“We see more and more Russian reserves being deployed in our direction, we see more equipment being brought in,” Governor Serhiy Haidai said on Ukrainian television. ‘They’re bringing in used ammunition differently than before: it’s no longer a 24-hour fire. They’re slowly starting to save up, preparing for a large-scale offensive.’
According to the governor, it will probably take the Russians ten days to gather reserves: “After February 15, we can expect this offensive at any time.” The British Defense Ministry confirms that Russia appears to be making efforts to take full control of Donetsk.
However, according to the British, this is unlikely to be successful in the short term. The military gains only a few hundred meters of land a week. Russia lacks the munitions, equipment and experienced manpower to launch a successful offensive in the coming weeks, British authorities said.
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Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
