Ukrainian and Russian forces have reported in the last few hours new fighting in eastern Ukraine, where tensions continue as they wait to see how Russia’s withdrawal of troops from Kherson will ultimately affect the situation and for clarification of a possible repositioning on new fronts.
The Russian Armed Forces have launched this week their biggest wave of bombardments since the beginning of the invasion in February, which has caused more than ten million people to be without electricity supply on Thursday, according to the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenski.
The latest Russian attacks have hit several regions, including Kiev, with the presidential office reporting that at least nine people have been killed in the Zaporiyia area alone. Two new bodies were found Friday under the rubble of a destroyed house in Vilniansk, according to the UNIAN agency.
In its daily military report, Ukraine has reported no changes on the various battle fronts that remain open, while the Russian Defense Ministry has assured that its troops have seized a locality in the Donetsk region, although such information is impossible to verify independently.
The departure of the Russian forces from the city of Kherson, the only provincial capital conquered after the invasion, was a symbolic victory for Kiev. This withdrawal involved a massive transfer of troops and civilians to the western bank of the Dnieper River.
According to UK Military Intelligence, following these moves, «Russian forces continue to prioritize the refurbishment, reorganization and preparation of their defenses.» Their sources have the construction of new trenches at several points that are dozens of kilometers from the current front line, in anticipation of further setbacks.
«It is likely that Russia will at some point attempt to resituate some of the troops recovered from Kherson to reinforce and expand its offensive operations near the town of Bajmut in the Donetsk region,» British Intelligence has stated.
