Zelenski warns that Russia is preparing a new massive offensive in Donbas: “The concentration of troops there reaches 100,000”
The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, claims that Russian forces are preparing for a large offensive in the Donbas region, the east of the country, especially in the area of Pokrovsk.
The Kiev leader said that the situation is under control. Photo: Telegram
“The concentration (no troops) there reaches 100,000”, said Zelenski, according to the DPA agency, citing Ukraine Interfax. The Kiev leader said that the situation is under control and that the Ukrainian army is ready to face a possible attack.
Pokrovsk, an important mining city in the Donetk region, had about 60,000 inhabitants before the war. Most of them have left the town after several months of siege and bombing, but Russia has so far failed to capture the strategic settlement.
In parallel, the Russian Minister of Defense, Andrei Belousov, presented an optimistic vision of the Russian campaign, saying that his troops advance faster than at the beginning of the year. “After I released 300-400 square km every month at the beginning of the year, now I released 600-700 km”, he said.
Belousov also welcomed the air attacks on Ukraine, declaring that 35 strategic goals caused 146 strategic goals “Severe damage to military infrastructure” Ukrainian. He also claimed that Ukraine has lost 340,000 soldiers this year, figures that cannot be verified independently. However, both Russia and Ukraine tend to exaggerate enemy losses, DPA says.
After more than three and a half years of conflict, Russia controls about 20% of the Ukrainian territory. However, even at the rhythm mentioned by the Russian official, it would take about 60 years for Moscow to occupy the whole country, according to DPA estimates.
