Zelensky says Russia's large-scale offensive in the Donbas has begun, setting off a decisive second phase of the war after Russian forces pulled back from Kyiv earlier this month.
on the Donbas. U.S. officials and analysts expect Russia to try to overwhelm and encircle Ukrainian forces after failing in its initial push to seize the capital."Now we can already state that the Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas, for which they have been preparing for a long time,” Zelensky said in a"A very significant part of the Russian army is now concentrated for that offensive.
The largely flat and wide open terrain is expected to favor Russia, however, removing some of the challenges created by urban warfare and exploited by Ukrainian forces in the initial phase of the war. Russia has concentrated tanks and heavy artillery in the east in preparation for a grinding battle for territory, which Ukraine's foreign minister has warned will produce scenes reminiscent of World War II.in additional military aid to Ukraine last week that contained supplies of heavy weaponry that were absent from earlier packages.
Russia claimed it hit hundreds of military supply targets around Ukraine in anticipation of the offensive, including in the western city of Lviv, where at least, the third-largest city in the Donbas, the last remaining Ukrainian forces were still holding out in a fortress-like steel plant under heavy bombardment from Russia.
A senior U.S. defense official told reporters Monday that fully capturing Mariupol would allow Russia to free up 12 battalion tactical groups — units generally made up of 700-900 soldiers each — to be deployed elsewhere.
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