Russia focusing on preparing offensive in Ukraine’s east - Ukraine Army’s General Staff

That’s according to an operational update regarding the Russian invasion as of 06:00 on April 5, Ukrinform reports.

“The goal is to establish full control over the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Russian enemy is trying to improve the position of units in the Tavriya and Pivdennobuzhsky operational areas,” the report reads.

“The units withdrawn from Polissya and Sivershchyna are moving to new operational areas. The redeployment of troops of the Central Military District from the territory of Ukraine has been completed. The designated units of the above, after the completion of the restoration of combat capability, will be moved to the area of ​​the settlement Valuyki and included in the offensive groups of troops,” the General Staff wrote.

The movement of columns of armaments and military equipment on the territory of Belarus in the direction of the railway stations Gomel, Yelsk, and Mozyr for loading onto rail cars. A significant part of the aircraft and helicopters of Russia’s air and space forces were relocated from Belarus airfields to Russia.

“The Russian enemy focused its main efforts on preparations for resuming the offensive with the help of separate units of the 6th and 20th All-Armies, 1st Tank Army, Baltic and Northern Fleets, as well as on the attempts to encircle the Joint Forces. The enemy is replenishing supplies of food, fuel, and ammunition,” the report reads.

The Russian occupiers pursue their efforts to besiege Kharkiv, further destroying residential neighborhoods and infrastructure in artillery shelling.

In the direction of Sloviansk, the Russians are trying to resume offensive operations. In the direction of Barvinkove, they see partial success, having advanced 7 km and taken control of the village of Brazhkivka. Also, they attacked the area toward the settlement of Sulyhivka, where their advance was repulsed.

The Russian forces are working to restore the bridge in Izium to improve their mobility in the area by crossing the Siversky Donets River.

“In the Donetsk and Luhansk areas, the Russian occupiers are focusing their efforts on taking control of the Popasna and Rubizhne districts, establishing full control over Mariupol, and preparing offensive operations near the Zolota Nyva settlement,” the report reads.

In the areas of Borivske, Novoluhanske, Solodke, Marinka, and Zolota Nyva, the enemy continued artillery shelling of Ukrainian Army positions and civilian infrastructure.

The Russians carried out assault operations near the settlements of Novotoshkivske, Nyzhne, Popasna, Kalynove, Stepne, Rubizhne, Troitske, Novobakhmutivka, and Novoselivka Druha, none of which saw success.

Russian invaders inflicted massive artillery and air strikes on the city of Mariupol.

In the Pivdennobuzhsky direction, the occupying forces carry out assault missions with artillery support, aiming to take control of the settlement of Oleksandrivka, where they have partial success. In the area of ​​the settlements of Lyubyne, Myrne, and Kopani, the Russian occupiers fired artillery at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Russian troops carried out attacks on Mykolayiv, using cluster munitions proscribed by the Geneva Convention. Civilian quarters and medical facilities, including a children's hospital, came under enemy fire. A number of civilians, including children, were killed and injured in the strikes.

Meanwhile, the Russian occupying forces continue to suffer losses. They have huge issues with replenishing combat and support units with manpower. The enemy soldiers are demoralized, which led to an increase in the number of desertions and disobedience.