Russian reinforcements enter eastern Ukraine

Ukraine is desperate for Western military aid and fears that Russia will launch a major offensive to force it to do so. This could be around the 24th anniversary of the invasion.

Kyiv: Russia is bolstering eastern Ukraine in preparation for a new offensive, which could start next week at a front where there have already been constant battles for months. A Ukrainian governor stated Tuesday.

Ukraine is desperate for Western military aid to arrive. Russia could launch a major offensive for symbolic reasons around the February 24th anniversary of the invasion. Moscow insists that it is a "special military operation".Ukraine is planning a spring offensive in order to recapture territory lost. However, it awaits delivery of promised long-range Western missiles, battle tanks and other weapons. Analysts have indicated that the country could be months away from being ready." They bring ammunition that is used differently from before - it's not round-the clock shelling anymore. They are slowly saving up and getting ready for a full-scale attack. They will likely need to accumulate reserves for 10 days. We can expect this offensive at any time after February 15.

As the war approaches its first anniversary, it is at a critical point. With Ukraine not making as many gains as it did in 2022's second half, and Russia moving forward with hundreds of thousands mobilised reserve troops, the war is entering a crucial phase.

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, personnel changes at the border and frontline will help Ukraine's military efforts amid uncertainty about the future of Oleksii Reznikov (defense minister), as Russia advances in the East for the first time since June.

Zelensky stated in his Monday evening address that he wants to combine military and managerial experience in local government and central government, but did not address the confusion over Reznikov's replacement.

Zelenskiy's head of Zelenskiy’s parliamentary bloc David Arakhamia said that Reznikov would move to another ministerial position on Sunday. However, he wrote Monday that there would be no personnel changes in defense sector this week.

Zelensky stated that he had to show that Ukraine was a safe recipient of billions of dollars worth of Western military aid and that his government was involved in the largest political and administrative shakeup since Russia's invasion almost a year ago." We will appoint military-experienced leaders in a number regions, especially those near the border or front line. He said that those who are able to demonstrate themselves to be the most effective in protecting against existing threats will be appointed.

According to the European Union, Zelensky was invited to participate in a summit of EU leaders. This is despite reports that he could be in Brussels as early as this week in what would only be his second foreign trip since the invasion began. Zelensky's office didn't respond to a request for comment.

Russia launched five missiles and 12 air strikes as well as 36 shelling incidents in 24 hours, hitting southern targets like Kherson, the General Staff for the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated in a Monday evening statement.

Oleksandr Kovalenko, a Ukrainian defense analyst, said that a new Russian offensive could be launched from one of the following four directions: the eastern Luhansk area, Donetsk, the Zaporizhzhia regional, the Donetsk and the city and port at Mariupol." Things are worse in Donetsk, especially around Bakhmut or Avdiivka. The Russians will be boosting their troops there as well as equipment, paratroops, Kovalenko, from Information Resistance Group, told Ukrainian radio NV.Bakhmut has been Russia's main target in eastern Ukraine for months. The state media claimed that the Wagner mercenary organization had gained a foothold there. Ukraine claimed Monday evening that Russian forces had been training there tank, mortar, and artillery fire in the last 24 hours." Things could shift more quickly in other areas. This situation could last for up to two-and-a half months, depending on how long it takes to provide the tanks for brigades and train the troops.