No threat seen from Belarus, but hostilities intensify in Donbas, military intelligence says
Andriy Yusov (Photo:Screenshot/YouTube/Suspilne Novyny)
Ukraine does not see any threat of a new offensive from Belarus, but hostilities have intensified in Donbas, Ukrainian Military Intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov said on Ukrainian national television on Feb. 2.
He reiterated that active events are expected in February and March.
According to Yusov, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has also set ordered his troops to capture all of Donbas by March, but the invaders will likely fail.
“The intensity we’re currently observing in Donetsk Oblast is an attempt to implement these plans,” the spokesman said.
“In addition to the loss of manpower and equipment, the enemy is trying to fulfill the dictator’s task. So, yes, there will be active events in the near future. The Ukrainian Defense Forces aren’t sitting idle.”
Yusov stressed Ukraine is ready for various scenarios, but intelligence does not see any preparations for a new offensive from Belarus.
“We continue to keep an eye on the Belarusian direction,” he said.
“If the situation changes, both the Defense Forces and society will know about it. As of today, the threat doesn’t come from Belarus.”
In a December interview with UK news magazine The Economist, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said that Russia could launch a new offensive in February. According to Zaluzhnyi, the of-fensive could take place not in Donbas, but in the direction of Kyiv from Belarus.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov earlier stated that a new large-scale offensive by invading Russian forces would begin in the spring 2023.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, said on Feb. 1 that Russia is preparing for the maximum escalation in its full-scale war against Ukraine.
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