Moscow seems to have drawn some conclusions after the heavy losses at the beginning of the invasion and is changing its behavior on the battlefield in Donbas.
Having launched the invasion in February, Russia was hoping for a faster advance your tanks and attack helicopters to break inland. All this did not work. Moscow suffered heavy losses.
Now Russia has launched a new campaign with a narrower goal, focused on capturing the Ukrainian east. It is trying to act more methodically, as Ukrainian and American representatives say. This was reported by the New York Times. Instead of quick attacks, Russian forces, deployed half an arc from Izyum to Severodonetsk, intensified artillery fire and sent small groups to test Ukraine's defensive lines. Many units of the Armed Forces in the Donbass have been defending themselves in the trenches for almost a decade. These Russian attacks in small groups usually precede the onset of large formations or distract from attacks on other fronts. In the last few days, Russia has sent about 11 additional battalion tactical groups to the Donbas, increasing their number to 75, the Pentagon said. Each group consists of about a thousand soldiers.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry says the Russian army is preparing for a future offensive. More surface-to-air missiles have been deployed near the front line to defend important positions. In addition, Moscow has increased the presence of its artillery. At this stage of the war, long-range weapons, such as howitzers and multiple rocket launchers, will play an important role in capturing and holding territory. Russia's new offensive in Donbass relies heavily on such weapons.
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Ukrainian defense is also strengthening artillery. In occupied Horlivka, a local told the New York Times that the lull had been going on for a week. But now Russian heavy artillery is firing again, and Russian planes are constantly flying overhead.
The publication reminds that the last few days have escalated. Russian artillery fired on a residential area in Kharkiv, killing three people. In addition, the Russian army fired cruise missiles at Zaporizhia, Lviv and Kyiv. A resident of Kramatorsk, a city still under Ukrainian control but a victim of a Russian offensive, told the newspaper he had witnessed artillery bombings northwest of the city. On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian army had begun the battle for Donbas.
Earlier, CNN reported that the next key battle of the Russian-Ukrainian war will be the battle for Slavyansk. Because the city is of key strategic importance. If the enemy can take control of it, he will have the opportunity to surround the Ukrainian army in Donbass.
In turn, the New York Times wrote that the battle for Donbas will be extremely fierce. It will be very different from the fighting on the outskirts of Kiev, Kharkiv and Sumy. Because here the enemy knows the area better. And its logistics chains are shorter.
See special topic: NATO “condemns Russia's aggression” and strengthens the defense of its allies – Stoltenberg According to the established tradition, they decided not to talk about literal assistance to Ukraine in NATO. The European Union will establish a fund for Ukraine's reconstruction and continue to strengthen sanctions – Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen Our country will continue to be supported in the humanitarian, financial and military spheres. Ukraine needs to be armed so that Russia does not dare to invade again – Johnson He promised to provide Kyiv with even more artillery. The Czech Republic will help Ukraine to repair and put into operation armored vehicles – Czech Ministry of Defense The first contract was the repair of T-64 tanks. A closed meeting of world leaders on the situation in Ukraine has begun In total, eleven world leaders of states and organizations are participating.
