7/2/2023–|Last updated: 7/2/202309:00 AM (Makkah)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Ukrainian forces in the eastern city of Bakhmut continue to resist the ongoing Russian attacks in light of Moscow’s military reinforcements before an expected new attack, at a time when the European Union called on Zelensky to attend an extraordinary summit to discuss developments in the war in Ukraine.
Zelensky made it clear – in his daily video speech on Monday evening – that his country’s forces are standing in the face of the Russian attack, and added that a meeting of the Ukrainian Supreme Command had previously discussed the attempts of the “occupiers” to surround Bakhmut and penetrate the Ukrainian defenses.
He referred to new appointments on the fronts of Ukraine, and said, “We are recruiting commanders with military experience in a number of regions, especially the border and front lines.” Besides, he added, the formation of new brigades of the National Guard, Police and Border Guard is moving forward.
He explained that the Ukrainian army had to transfer forces to the front, which was already designated for subsequent offensive actions of its own, in order to counter the intense Russian attacks.
In the same context, said the governor of Ukraine in the Luhansk region, Serhiy Gaidai, that Russia is sending reinforcements to eastern Ukraine before a new offensive that may start next week along a front that has been witnessing fierce battles for months.
Ukraine expects a major attack that Russia might launch for symbolic reasons as the anniversary of the war approaches on February 24, which Moscow insists on calling a “special military operation”.
Ukrainian counterattack
Ukraine itself plans to launch an offensive in the spring to recapture lost territory, but is waiting for the West to deliver promised long-range missiles and battle tanks.
The war has reached a pivotal point as its first anniversary approaches, with Ukraine no longer making gains as it did in the second half of 2022 and Russia paying hundreds of thousands of reservists it has mobilized.
Meanwhile, President Zelensky said that changing the military personnel on the border and front line will enhance Ukraine’s military efforts amid uncertainty regarding the future of his defense minister, at a time when Russia is advancing in the east for the first time in 6 months.
In his speech yesterday evening, Zelensky said he wanted to combine military and administrative experience in local and central governments, but he did not directly address the confusion over the dismissal of his defense minister, Oleksiy Reznikov.
The head of Zelensky’s parliamentary bloc, David Arakhamia, said on Sunday that Reznikov would be transferred to another ministerial position, before writing on Monday that “there will be no changes … in the defense sector this week.”
Politically, the European Union said that Zelensky had received an invitation to participate in a summit of Union leaders in Brussels, while it would be his first trip – if it takes place – to the capital of the European Union and the second internationally since the start of the Russian military attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The Ukrainian presidency did not confirm who The destination of this visit.
An extraordinary summit of European leaders is scheduled to be held Thursday and Friday to discuss developments in the war in Ukraine and the European Union’s solidarity with Kyiv.
Zelensky visited Washington on December 22, on his first foreign trip, and at that time met US President Joe Biden and delivered a speech to Congress.
