Russia on Tuesday claimed the “success” of its recent offensive in eastern Ukraine, at a time when Kyiv expects a Russian attack of magnitude and demands that the West increase tenfold and accelerate its military aid .
“Currently, the fighting is successfully progressing in the areas” of Bakhmout and Vougledar, said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, according to a statement issued after a meeting with army and military officials. his ministry.
He cited the recent conquests of seven localities including Soledar, a neighboring town of Bakhmout and which the Ukrainian forces ceded in January.
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Mr Shoigu also warned the West against increasing its aid to Ukraine, which he said could “lead to an unpredictable level of escalation” in the conflict.
Americans and Europeans have recently decided to send heavy tanks to the Ukrainian army so that it can better oppose a Russian offensive and organize its own.
The United States also promised weapons with a range of up to 150 km, which Kyiv demanded to be able to strike far behind the front at Russian ammunition depots and supply lines.
On Saturday evening, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that the situation was “complicating” on the front, in particular in Bakhmout, which he had earlier sworn to defend “as long as possible”.
The Russian army, supported by mercenaries from the Wagner group, has been trying since the summer to seize Bakhmout, a city largely destroyed and where the two belligerents suffered heavy losses.
Since January, the Russian army has had successes on the ground and hopes to besiege the city, now largely destroyed, or to force the Ukrainian troops to retreat. The capture of this city is supposed to open the way to an offensive towards Kramatorsk, the main city of Donbass under Ukrainian control.
Moscow has also been on the offensive in recent weeks at Vougledar, a rail hub serving southern and eastern Ukraine.