Today, US Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby spoke of an imminent intensification of hostilities in eastern Ukraine. “We believe that the Russians decided to focus on Donbass and southern Ukraine. And units that were previously active around Kyiv and in the north are being formed for new operations in these areas,” Kirby said in a conference call with European journalists.
The Pentagon spokesman said the United States believes that much of the firepower of the Russian armed forces that amassed around Ukraine earlier this year is still available. After not achieving strategic goals in Kyiv, Chernihiv and other parts of the north and returning the Russians to the south in Mykolaiv, they are now setting new priorities in eastern Ukraine. Specifically, Kirby spoke of the observed caravans north of the city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region and the signs of supplies in the Donbass itself.
“Because Russia is concentrating its firepower in a smaller area, there is the potential for the fighting to be more intense and protracted,” Kirby said. It remains to be seen whether Russia will achieve military success in this matter. However, the Ukrainians will bravely defend themselves.
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