Russian troops are ramping up pressure on exhausted Ukrainian forces to prepare to seize more land this spring and summer as muddy fields dry out and allow tanks, armored vehicles and other heavy equipment to roll to key positions across the countryside.
With the war in Ukraine now in its third year and a vital US aid package for Kyiv slowed down in Congress, Russia has increasingly used satellite-guided gliding bombs—which allow planes to drop them from a safe distance—to pummel Ukrainian forces beset by a shortage of troops and ammunition.
Last summer’s counteroffensive by Ukraine was doomed when advancing Ukrainian units got trapped on vast Russian minefields and massacred by artillery and drones. The Russians have no reason to make that same mistake.Last November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered his forces to build trenches, fortifications and bunkers behind the more than 1,000-kilometer front line, but analysts say construction work moved slowly, leaving areas unprotected.
After capturing the Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka, Russian troops are zeroing in on the hill town of Chasiv Yar, which would allow them to move toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, key cities in the Kyiv-controlled part of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. Russia illegally annexed Donetsk and three other regions in 2022, and the Kremlin sees fully controlling that region as a priority.
In a possible sign of a looming attack on Kharkiv, a city of 1.1 million about 30 kilometers south of the border, Russia has ramped up strikes on power plants in the area, inflicting significant damage and causing blackouts.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russia attacks Ukrainian electrical power facilities, including major hydroelectric plantSunStar Publishing Inc.
Read more »
Oil refinery in Russia on fire after drone attack: Russian news agenciesA fire broke out on Saturday at an oil refinery in Russia's Samara region following a drone attack, the regional governor said.
Read more »
Ukraine says it took down Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomberThe Russian defense ministry says the strategic bomber crashed in Russia's southern Stavropol region. Following the Russian statement, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk says Kyiv had 'destroyed' the warplane.
Read more »
Russia accuses IOC President Bach of conspiracy with Ukraine to exclude athletes from Paris GamesRussia accuses International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach of conspiring with Ukraine to exclude its strongest athletes from the Paris Games. The accusation comes after a recording of a conversation between Bach and Russian pranksters was published, in which Bach discusses the establishment of a panel to monitor and prevent Russian athletes who made political statements from participating in the Olympics. Russia claims that Bach colluded with Ukraine in this matter.
Read more »
Ukrainian navy says a third of Russian warships in the Black Sea have been destroyed or disabledKYIV, Ukraine—Ukraine has sunk or disabled a third of all Russian warships in the Black Sea in just over two years of war, the navy spokesman said Tuesday, a heavy blow to Moscow’s military capability.
Read more »
Ukraine ramps up spending on homemade weapons to help repel Russian aggression | Hanna ArhirovaKYIV, Ukraine—Ukraine needs any edge it can get to repel Russia from its territory. One emerging bright spot is its small but fast-growing defense industry, which the government is flooding with money in hopes that a surge of homemade weapons and ammunition can help turn the tide.
Read more »