Ministry of Defense: Russians amassing forces in south, east of Ukraine

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar said this during the United News national telethon.

"They simply do not leave the key goal they set, which is the boundaries of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. At the time when they were unable to seize Kyiv with a blitzkrieg, they simply began to set targets gradually. And despite the fact that the offensive of our Armed Forces continues in several directions in the south, the Russians also have their own directions of attack, and they also go on the offensive. In the east, they have been going on the offensive in four directions, starting from January of this year. These are Maryinka, Avdiyivka, Lyman, and Bakhmut directions. And Kupyansk also. And now, in fact, they have intensified in Lyman and Kupyansk directions. And the east is essentially the direction of their main offensive, they do not abandon their goal – to reach the boundaries of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. They really build up reserves there," Maliar said.

She noted that the Russians amass reserves in the south as well, "but they strengthen them in the east as well."

In addition, according to her, the Russian invaders increase the number of shelling in the east.

In particular, the enemy launched 6,000 strikes, using more than 277,000 rounds, along the frontline in the east over the past week.

Maliar noted that fighting continues both in the east and in the south. The Ukrainian troops go on the offensive in some directions and hold the defense in others. "And our enemy is very serious and powerful. This must be understood," Maliar emphasized.

Earlier, Maliar reported that Ukrainian troops advanced deep in several areas in Bakhmut direction over the past week.