Early reports suggest that Ukrainian troops have breached Russian defences northwest of the city of Artyomovsk in the Donbass. Russian war correspondent, Evgeny Poddubny, stated that the attack was part of Kiev’s much-touted spring offensive.
The city has been a battleground between Russian and Ukrainian forces for several months. Other Russian war reporters also added that simultaneous strikes were launched north and south of Artyomovsk.
Additionally, Ukrainian troops reportedly used tanks to strike the city of Soledar, which was captured by Russian troops in January. In the Zaporozhye region, Kiev’s troops also attacked Russian positions near the city of Guliay-Pole, seeking to break through the Russian forces’ first defensive line.
Allegedly, a large column of heavy military equipment was seen moving towards the Ukrainian side of the border with Russia’s Belgorod Region in the northeast. Kiev has not commented on these movements.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky claimed earlier in the day that his military still needed more time to prepare before the attack, citing the high cost of the offensive in terms of human life.
The long-awaited counter-offensive was expected to start in the spring but has been repeatedly postponed due to unfavourable weather conditions and the need to stockpile more Western weapons and equipment before the operation.
The Russian Defense Ministry has yet to make any statement regarding the alleged Ukrainian counteroffensive.
However, some Russian news agencies are claiming the the Russian Ministry of Defence has denied all claims that Ukraine has started its spring offensive.
The conditions for a massive operation in Ukraine were also stated to not be in place by the German Armed Forces chief, General Carsten Breuer, earlier this week.
