Russia is reportedly assembling a combat force of about 100,000 troops to launch a massive attack in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, Kyiv reports.
Colonel Serhi Cherevaty, spokesman for the Ukrainian military, confirmed a strong Russian presence in the region, which he says is focused on recapturing the city of Kupyansk.
The city was a major logistics center and supply route for Russian forces invading in the east until it was recaptured by Kyiv in last fall's counteroffensive.
"The enemy concentrated a very strong group," Colonel Czerewaty told Ukrainian media. "Over 100,000 men, over 900 tanks, over 550 artillery systems, and 370 blank rocket systems." added: "They are concentrating everything to breach our defenses. Our soldiers are firmly on the defensive. They will not allow the enemy to take the initiative.”
Moscow troops are said to have been in the area, but the recent spike in attacks appears to be recent.
“This problem is not new; "For many months, our defense forces have consistently hampered their advances with strong counterattacks," Czervaty said.
“The presence of 100,000 employees is not new. The approximate figure has long been known [to Ukrainian military intelligence]. »
« Yes, it's big. You have to consider its size. However, this number does not indicate an imminent threat nor a cause for concern,” he added.
His comments followed reports that Vladimir Putin had raised the maximum age for military service to 70 in a bid to regain leadership of the conflict with a major victory. In 1, Cherevaty's claims were backed up by the commander of the Ukrainian army's ground forces, General Oleksandr Syrski, who confirmed by telegram that Russia had concentrated
Syrsky. The commander of Ukrainian forces in the east said Russia has recently strengthened its positions around Bakhmut with additional forces but is gradually losing ground to the Ukrainians. Meanwhile, Hanna Malyar, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister, hinted that the attack on Kupyansk could be a diversionary tactic to increase pressure on sectors of the southern battlefield where Ukraine is stationed. "As soon as we take the operational initiative and begin the advance, the enemy will immediately engage in other directions to distract and attract our forces," he said. Kremlin sources
also seemed to confirm the move to Kupyansk, although there was no consensus on the size and shape of the attacking forces.
According to a Tuesday report, the Russian military said its troops had advanced on a "limited sector of the front" near Kupyansk after "successful offensive operations". The announcement did not specify when the attack or attacks took place.
that "our progress is not going as fast as we would like". that the battle ahead will be long and bloody.