Russian forces are currently focusing their attacks in eastern Ukraine in an attempt to capture the towns of Popasna and Rubizhne in the Luhansk region, a Ukrainian military assessment said on Friday, writes news agnecy MIA.
However they have not succeeded, according to the Ukrainian General Staff’s military situation report.
Kyiv expects a large-scale Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine in the coming days.
Ukrainian sources repelled attacks in eight places in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, destroying several Russian tanks and an artillery system during the past day, the report said.
Ukraine has stationed strong troops there to counter the Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk.
However, Moscow has been increasing the number of troops in the area over the past few days. Some Russian troops previously deployed near the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv were now stationed around Zyverodonetsk, a major city near Rubizhne, the Ukrainian military report said.
If confirmed, this would be the first unit to have been withdrawn and redeployed to eastern Ukraine from fighting in north-eastern Ukraine, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
“These units likely remain degraded, and Russian forces will face challenges integrating units from several military districts into a cohesive fighting force,” according to the ISW’s assessment.
