According to a Ukrainian official speaking on Friday, Russia is amassing significant military forces in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine with the apparent objective of achieving a breakthrough in the Donetsk region.
As relayed by Illia Yevlash, spokesperson for the operational group supervising the eastern front line, to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russian troops are reportedly concentrating their efforts to mount a robust offensive aimed at capturing the crucial strategic city situated to the west of Bakhmut, which fell under Moscow's control last May. The intended advance, it is said, targets the cities of Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk, and Sloviansk.
Ukrainian forces engaged in repelling Russian advancements in the direction of Bakhmut have reported enduring a sustained assault over the past three weeks. They face relentless attacks from Russian forces, who reportedly deploy successive waves of infantry while employing diverse artillery and drone strikes.
With the conflict now entering its third year, Russian forces have been employing overwhelming firepower and troop numbers to breach Ukrainian defensive lines at specific points. While Russia's territorial gains have been incremental and resource-intensive, Ukraine finds itself grappling with a scarcity of reservists and a critical shortage of artillery ammunition, exacerbated by dwindling military aid from Western allies.
During a visit to Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region on Friday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy inked a bilateral security agreement, entailing 2 billion euros in military assistance from the Netherlands for the current year, with provisions for further defense support over the ensuing decade.
In a communication shared on the X platform, President Zelenskyy underscored that the agreement prioritized bolstering Ukraine's air defense, artillery, maritime capabilities, and long-range capacities, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the country's air force.
A spokesperson for the 17th separate tank brigade informed The Associated Press that despite limited resources, Ukrainian forces were endeavoring to adapt their defensive strategies to counter the evolving tactics of Russian forces. However, frontline troops acknowledged their inability to match Russia's firepower and manpower.
The commander of the tank company operating in the Bakhmut direction lamented the palpable disparity in firepower, remarking that while Ukrainian forces could manage 10 shots, their Russian counterparts could unleash 50, enjoying a clear advantage in ammunition and personnel.
Earlier this month, Russia seized the strategic eastern city of Avdiivka by overwhelming Ukrainian defenses with superior military forces and weaponry, including aerial bombardment and drone strikes, sparking concerns about the potential replication of such tactics across other fronts unless Western assistance, particularly in terms of air defense systems and long-range weaponry, materializes promptly.
Last August, Washington authorized allies to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The Netherlands and Denmark announced their commitment to provide these aircraft, contingent on the readiness of Ukrainian crews and infrastructure. President Zelenskyy affirmed on Telegram that the new fighter jets would be operational this year.
Highlighting Ukraine's efforts to fend off Russian aerial assaults, the defense ministry disclosed that the armed forces had successfully downed 13 Russian aircraft in February alone, comprising 10 Su-34 fighter-bombers, 2 Su-3 fighters, and 1 A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft. The ministry hailed this achievement as the most substantial since October 2022, expressing gratitude to both Ukrainian soldiers for their diligent service and international partners for reinforcing Ukraine's air defense capabilities.
