Motuzianyk on offensive in Donbas: Russia recruiting mercenaries from Syria, Afghanistan, Chechnya

Russia is trying to increase the number of troops by four-five times to conduct an offensive in eastern Ukraine.

Oleksandr Motuzianyk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, said this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

"According to all the rules of offensive operations, the attacking side must have at least three times as many troops. However, given the current combat actions, the current level of weapons, equipment, aviation capabilities, this advantage should be at least four-five times greater. This is exactly what Russia is trying to do now,” Motuzianyk said.

According to him, for this purpose the enemy is moving weapons and military equipment to Ukraine from the central and eastern regions of Russia.

In addition, there is a covert mobilization, active recruitment for high financial remuneration of former combatants in Syria, Afghanistan, and Chechnya.

It is also known about attempts to mobilize people living in temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Most of these people often never held weapons in their hands.

"That is, everything is being done to gather such a group. But whether Russia will manage to do it - time will tell," the spokesman said.

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