Russia is preparing a new ground offensive in southeastern Ukraine. For this purpose, Moscow is deploying strategic reserves of about 20,000 fighters.
This was reported by the Financial Times, citing a statement by Vadim Skibitsky, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and a member of the Ukrainian delegation for the negotiations. It is noted that currently there are approximately 680,000 Russian soldiers on the front line.
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate, Russia seeks to seize the entire Donbas by September.
Skibitsky noted that Moscow is currently producing approximately 60 Iskander missiles per month. The country has expanded its missile production capacity, while Ukraine does not have enough resources to defend its entire territory.
The GRU representative recalled that during the winter strike campaign against Ukraine, critical infrastructure, in particular energy facilities, suffered significant damage. Currently, the power grid remains extremely vulnerable, while Moscow is improving its strike tactics.
All logistical routes around occupied Donetsk are under the control of drones of the Ukrainian defense forces. According to the “Azov“ brigade active drone operations are being conducted in the areas of Zugres, Andreevka, Starobeshevo, Gorlovka, Lysychansk and the Donetsk Ring Road.
Meanwhile, in Volchansk, Kharkiv region, Ukrainian troops have regained control of some streets, and "a large number of enemy infantrymen who had infiltrated the city have been eliminated", UNIAN reports.
In June, the Netherlands will hand over an "Alkmaar" class mine countermeasures ship to Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced.
"I met with our military personnel training on the "Alkmaar" class mine countermeasures ship in the Netherlands. Together with Prime Minister Rob Jeten, I spoke with them about the training and discussed our future plans,” he wrote.
According to him, the Netherlands will fully train the crew and hand over the ship to Ukraine in June.
“It will be named “Genichesk“, in honor of our ship, which was lost during a combat mission in June 2022 near the Kinburn Spit. This is the fifth ship in our future mine countermeasure fleet and the second from the Netherlands. Thank you for this help. We greatly appreciate the support of the Dutch people for this. I presented awards to the Chief of Defence of the Netherlands, Ono Eichelsheim, and to our defenders,” Zelensky added.
The partner countries have recently announced new support packages for Ukraine, with a significant portion of the contributions earmarked for the critically important Priority Requirements List for Ukraine (PURL) mechanism, as well as for strengthening air defence, developing drone capabilities and providing ammunition.
Following a meeting of the Rammstein-format Defence Contact Group, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry announced the volume of assistance.
Meanwhile, the US President commented on the massive Russian strike on Kiev on the night of April 16.
During a press conference, he was asked what he thought about the night shelling. Trump responded rather succinctly.
“I think it's terrible“, said the American leader.
Trump did not say anything more about the Russian shelling.
On the night of April 16, Russian forces launched a massive strike on various regions of Ukraine. Kiev, Dnieper, Odessa and Kharkiv were hit, and among the 16 people killed was a child, and dozens were injured.
The Ukrainian Air Force noted that the Russians used a large number of ballistic missiles.
The press secretary of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Yuri Ignat, said that Ukraine urgently needs to replenish its stock of interceptor missiles for the “Patriot“ anti-aircraft missile systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles. These are the PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles.