Russian military convoy enters eastern Ukraine
Satellite images show a Russian military convoy moving towards Kharkov province, eastern Ukraine, indicating a likely increase in hostilities in the region.
A satellite image released by US company Maxar Technologies on April 9 shows a Russian military convoy stretching nearly 13 kilometers southward through the town of Velkyi Burluk, eastern Ukraine, on April 8. The town is located in the eastern Kharkov Oblast, near Ukraine’s border with Russia.
According to Maxar, the convoy included “armored vehicles, trucks with towed artillery and support equipment”.
A satellite image shows a Russian military convoy moving through the town of Velkyi Burluk, Kharkov province, eastern Ukraine on April 8. Image: Maxar.
Ukrainian officials say major fighting is underway in the east of the country, with intense shelling reported across the Donbass region, ahead of what they are warning of could be a major Russian offensive, and urged people to evacuate. The director of Ukraine’s defense intelligence service said on April 8 that Russian troops were regrouping across the border and planning to move towards Kharkov.
According to the latest Ukrainian military activity report as of this morning, Russian forces are trying to break through Ukraine’s defenses in the city of Izum, Kharkov province, by moving additional units to this area, while trying to establish full control over the city of Mariupol in southern Ukraine.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that part of Kharkov was surrounded and shelling of the city continued. “The continuous increase in Russian soldiers’ injuries is putting strain on medical staff and overstretching medical supplies,” the report said.
According to Ukrainian officials, in the absence of a stable supply of spare parts, the Russian military is forced to “work around the clock” to restore and repair equipment.
According to reports, in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, Ukrainian troops blocked 8 Russian attacks, destroyed 4 tanks, 8 armored vehicles and 13 air targets, including three aircraft, one helicopter helicopters, 5 drones and 4 missiles.
Russia has not yet commented on the above information.
The latest information on the activities of Russian forces in Ukraine comes after Russia on March 29 announced a change of strategy in Ukraine, withdrawing from Kiev and Chernihiv to focus on “liberating” the Donbass region, eastern Ukraine. .
The Donbass region was once the center of Ukraine’s steel and coal production. Observers say Russia really means the entire two large regions in the east, Lugansk and Donetsk, stretching from the outskirts of Mariupol to the northern border, according to Paul Kirby, a veteran BBC analyst. .
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that Russia is likely to launch a major offensive in eastern Ukraine to “take over the entire Donbass region” in order to create a land corridor to Crimea.
After starting a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, Russia now controls 93% of the Lugansk region and 54% of Donetsk. Russian President Vladimir Putin still has a long way to go to control the entire region, because this is where Ukraine’s most elite forces are concentrated and has complex terrain.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has recorded 1,766 civilian deaths and 2,383 civilian injuries in the Ukraine conflict. The agency warned the actual number could be much higher.
The flashpoints of fighting in eastern Ukraine. Graphics: NY Times. Click on the map for details.
Huyen Le (According to Guardian, CNN)
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