War Russia vs Ukraine

Brigadier General Oleksiy Gromov told a military briefing that while he didn’t expect Moscow to launch an attack from Belarus, there were indications that Russia was training new troops on nearby soil and had transferred military aircraft there.

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“The Kremlin is trying to turn the conflict into a protracted armed confrontation,” Gromov said, quoted by Reuters.

Gromov did not say what Russia’s goal was in prolonging the war by nearly 10 months.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar warned against complacency after Russia’s recent military setbacks during the same briefing.

“We and the world must not relax, because the ultimate goal of the Russian Federation is to conquer all of Ukraine and then be able to move forward,” Malyar said.

Ukrainian officials describe the Kremlin as desperate to reverse recent military setbacks – including the retreat from the southern city of Kherson after months of occupation – and secure a victory to justify war to the Russian public.

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General Valery Zaluzhny, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, told the Economist magazine that Russian troops were doing everything possible to prevent a counterattack from Kiev.

“This is why you see fighting along a 1,500km front. They are limiting our troops to not allow us to regroup,” Zaluzhny said.

“The next problem we face is, first of all, to defend this line and not lose ground again. This is important. Our troops are all engaged in battle now, they are bleeding,” he continued.

Zaluzhny also said that Moscow is preparing for a new offensive early next year, perhaps against Kiev.

(es)