(Dan Tri) – Russia is trying to collapse Kiev’s defense line to advance to the cities of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove in the Donetsk region, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky said on May 6.
The war in Ukraine has entered its third year without seeing `light at the end of the tunnel` (Illustration: Skynews).
Accordingly, the Russian armed forces are conducting fierce attacks in many areas on the eastern front, covering most of the Donetsk region, after capturing the city of Avdiivka in February.
Ukraine’s military reported in March that Moscow forces were concentrating their efforts near Chasov Yar, an area they considered crucial to reaching the large urban chain that forms Kiev’s final defensive belt at Kostiantynivka.
General Syrsky said he spent two days working with units deployed in eastern Ukraine in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove regions, which he called `Russia’s main attack direction.`
`The main enemy attack force is concentrated here in an attempt to break through the defenses of our troops and, after a successful breakthrough, they will advance to the cities of Kurakhove and Pokrovsk,` the general said.
According to the head of the Ukrainian army, in a state of inferiority in the number of soldiers and weapons, Kiev forces are facing daily attacks from the Russian army.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said he met with brigade commanders and other officers and `took all necessary decisions to strengthen defense with reserves, allocate additional soldiers
General Syrsky added: `Our task in these conditions is to maintain the current battle line and position, inflict maximum damage on the enemy, exhaust them, thereby disrupting our plans.`
Ukrainian troops withdrew in late April west from the villages of Berdychi, Semenivka and Novomykhaidivka in the Donetsk region.
Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR), said that the country’s army may face a new large-scale Russian military campaign in late spring or early summer.
Oleksandr Pavliuk, Commander of the Ukrainian Army, said Russia aims to gain complete control of Donetsk, Luhansk and, if possible, Zaporizhia by 2024.
Previously, President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 6 held a meeting at the Supreme Command, where he heard a report from the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian army, Alexander Syrsky, on the situation on the front lines.
Mr. Zelensky: `I just held a meeting of Headquarters. First is the front. Report of the commander in chief: he is on the front line, directly down to the brigades. He reported on the challenges
According to the president, supplies from partners were discussed separately at Headquarters in terms of timing and the possibility of accelerating the receipt of weapons and artillery shells.
`Behind political decisions there must be real logistics – the delivery of real weapons to our fighters. Everyone involved must now work 24/7 with partners,` he emphasized.
