Ukrainian army, which has been in defense positions for months, plans to launch a counterattack soon, while Russia’s offensive power appears to be waning, Reuters writes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has indicated that Europe should increase and speed up supplies of ammunition and weapons, as well as introduce additional sanctions against Russia. On Thursday, the 23rd of March, addressing the leaders of the European Union, Zelensky said: «If Europe waits, the evil may have time to regroup and prepare for years of war.»
At the beginning of the week, during the meeting of the leaders of the EU countries, the plan to send one million artillery shells to Ukraine was approved. The security of the global food market and sanctions against Russia were also discussed.
Slovakia reported on the 23rd of March that the first four MiG-29 fighters were delivered to Ukraine, and more will be delivered in the coming weeks. Ukraine’s top ground forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, informed that after the brutal Russian winter attack, his forces will soon launch a counter-offensive.
«Very soon, we will take advantage of this opportunity, as we did in the past near Kyiv, Kharkiv, Balakliya, and Kupiansk.»
Moscow has not responded to comments that its forces are losing an advantage near Bakhmut, but the mercenary group’s owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has warned of a Ukrainian counterattack. On the 20th of March, Prigozhin released a letter to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, saying that the Ukrainians were trying to split Wagner’s Group from the Russian regular army.
A slowdown in hostilities in Bakhmut could mean that Russia is diverting troops and technical resources elsewhere. On the 23rd of March, Great Britain reported that the Russian army had advanced in the north of Ukraine, partially regaining control over the Kreminna area.
Any shift in power at Bahmut would be crucial given the city’s symbolic importance. The bloodiest battles Europe has seen since World War II have been going on for months around the destroyed city, and the Ukrainians have refused to retreat.
Last week, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of war crimes. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU will work to find Ukrainian children deported to Russia and return them home. Leyen said that about 16,200 children were taken, but only 300 returned to Ukraine.
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