European leaders are increasingly concerned that Russia will launch a new offensive in Ukraine, at a time when they are discussing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the security guarantees they can offer Kiev, Bloomberg writes.
The Russian military has moved several elite units from the Sumy front to the Pokrovsk sector to put even more pressure on the Ukrainian fortress city.
At a meeting in Toulon last week, German and French representatives discussed the Russian troops that have gathered around the Ukrainian "fortress" the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, according to Bloomberg sources.
Zelensky said on Friday that Russia has moved 100,000 troops to the front line near the city that Moscow’s forces have been trying to surround and capture for more than a year, so far without success.
At a meeting in Toulon last week, German and French officials discussed Russian troops massing around the Ukrainian “fortress” city of Pokrovsk in the east of the country, according to Bloomberg sources. Zelensky said on Friday that Russia has moved 100,000 troops to the front line near the city that Moscow’s forces have been trying to surround and capture for more than a year, so far without success. The capture of Pokrovsk would pave the way for a Russian offensive against the major cities in Donetsk Oblast under Kiev control, Kramatorsk and Slavyansk, and towards the complete conquest of the region illegally annexed by Moscow.
Russia has moved elite units of the airborne forces and marines from the Sumy direction to the Pokrovsk sector, according to independent groups monitoring the war in Ukraine, cited by United24 Media.
WarUnitObserver reported the arrival of the 155th and 40th Marine Brigades, most likely together with the 177th Marine Regiment, in the Pokrovsk area. Analysts believe the axis of the offensive is likely to be towards the villages of Dobropiliya and Druzhkovka.
In addition, elements of the 11th Airborne Brigade and the 76th Airborne Division have been seen moving towards the same sector. These units participated in the battles of Kursk and Sumy.
The Russians have also brought new units to the Bakhmut area, where the objective is likely to put increasing pressure on the towns of Kostantinovka or Siversk.