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Russia Focuses on Eastern Ukraine 02/01 06:10
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- Russia is mustering its military might in the Luhansk
region of Ukraine, local officials said Wednesday, in what Kyiv suspects is
preparation for an offensive in the eastern area in coming weeks as the
anniversary of Moscow's invasion approaches.
The Kremlin's forces are expelling local residents from their homes near the
Russian-held parts of the front line so that they can't provide information
about Russian troop deployments to Ukrainian artillery, Luhansk Gov. Serhii
Haidai said.
"There is an active transfer of (Russian troops) to the region and they are
definitely preparing for something on the eastern front in February," Haidai
said.
Military analysts anticipate a new push soon by Moscow's forces, with the
Institute for the Study of War saying in an assessment late Tuesday that "an
imminent Russian offensive in the coming months is the most likely course of
action."
A new offensive might also coincide with the invasion anniversary on Feb. 24.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported Wednesday that
Russia is also concentrating its efforts in neighboring Donetsk province,
especially in its bid to capture the key city of Bakhmut.
Donetsk and Luhansk provinces make up the Donbas, an industrial region
bordering Russia that President Vladimir Putin identified as a goal from the
war's outset and where Moscow-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian
authorities since 2014.
The regional governor of Donetsk, Pavlo Kyrylenko, posted images of the
aftermath of the shelling in Bakhmut, showing huge black holes in residential
buildings in the embattled city.
He said that Russia is "actively deploying new military personnel to the
region."
Donetsk was one of four provinces that Russia illegally annexed in the fall,
but it controls only about half of it. To take the remaining half, Russian
forces have no choice but to go through Bakhmut, which offers the only approach
to bigger Ukrainian-held cities.
Russian forces have been trying for months to capture Bakhmut.
Moscow-installed authorities in Donetsk claimed Russian troops are "closing the
ring" around the city.
Russian shelling of Bakhmut, where most residents have fled and others spend
much of their time in cellars, killed at least five civilians and wounded 10
others on Tuesday, Ukraine's presidential office said Wednesday.
Ukraine is keen to secure more Western military aid as it tries to fend off
the much larger Russian forces. It has already won pledges of tanks and now
wants more.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,
tweeted Wednesday that talks are underway on securing longer-range missiles and
fighter jets from Ukraine's allies.
Asked to comment on media reports about a new package of U.S. military
assistance to Ukraine expected to be announced soon, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry
Peskov described it as "a direct path to inciting tensions and taking the
escalation to a new level."
"It will require additional efforts on our part, but it won't change the
course of events," he said in a conference call with reporters.
The Western allies are trying to broaden their coalition in support of
Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday in Tokyo that he
sought stronger cooperation and more "friends" for the alliance in the
Indo-Pacific region.
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