President Zelensky said that Russia is stepping up its offensive in the Donetsk region, making the situation difficult for the Ukrainian army.
“We have noted that the enemy has markedly intensified their offensive operations on the eastern front. The situation is becoming increasingly difficult,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech on the evening of February 1, adding that: Russian forces are trying to gain advantage before the full year of the outbreak of hostilities.
A Ukrainian unit deployed near the front line in Donetsk province on February 1. Photo: Reuters.
Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar earlier announced that heavy fighting was taking place in parts of the Donetsk region, as Moscow sought to control areas near Lyman, a key logistics city occupied by Kiev’s forces. regained in October 2022.
“The enemy is trying to widen its offensive in the direction of Lyman and carry out many powerful raids to break through the Ukrainian line. They also maintain an offensive operation in the Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Novopavlivka areas, despite the losses. severely damaged,” added Deputy Minister Malyar.
The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on the information.
Russia has been trying to control Bakhmut for months with some of the fiercest fighting in the Donbass region. The Russian Defense Ministry on January 30 announced the start of an offensive against Ugledar, a city located south of Bakhmut, occupying many favorable positions and causing damage to Ukraine’s 1st Tank Brigade.
British intelligence said that Russian forces carried out attacks around Ugledar and Pavlivka in order to open a new axis of attack in the Donetsk region.
Location of Soledar and Bakhmut. Graphics: RYV.
Vitaly Kiselev, a colonel of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) militia, said on February 1 that Russian forces were fighting fiercely around Bakhmut to close the pincers surrounding this city, said the war commanders Ukrainian military leaders and schools are trying to convince President Zelensky to order the withdrawal of forces from Bakhmut.
Vu Anh (Theo Reuters)