Hard times ahead: Ukrainian military expert on fighting in eastern Ukraine

He said this on the Espreso TV channel.

"The situation at the front is quite complicated. The General Staff reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were neutralizing from 600 to 1,300 enemy soldiers every day, but over the past two months, the enemy grouping has increased by at least 50,000 people. If two months ago we were operating with a figure of 400,000, now there are 450,000 Russian armed forces alone, not including volunteer movements and formations. We also need to add 30,000 Russian Guard soldiers who carry out the mission of the occupation authorities and certain activities deep in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. In other words, a grouping of almost half a million people is a fairly powerful force," Selezniov said.

According to the military expert, it is obvious that Russian enemy has not only manpower, but also material and technical resources. Ukraine can see that the enemy's activity to engage artillery and armored vehicles has intensified.

"There is not a single calm area along the entire 1,350-kilometre combat line. The enemy is trying to impose its agenda everywhere, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces are forced to reflect. The enemy is attacking at the Kupyansk and Lyman directions. Fierce fighting continues west of Bakhmut. Occupying Russian forces are trying to implement the tactics of the siege of Chasiv Yar. This means that we can already declare the start of an operation to defend this settlement, which is critically important for the protection of the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration. Obviously, we are facing turbulent times ahead. Despite the weather conditions, the enemy continues to put pressure. The key factor that will determine the ability of the Ukrainian army to resist is the availability of resources for our soldiers," said Selezniov.

• Over the last day, 89 combat engagements took place between the Russian troops and Ukrainian defenders at the front. Ukrainian defense forces repelled most of the Russian attacks in the Avdiivka sector and neutralized another 800 Russian soldiers.
• Soldiers of the 24th Detached Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo recaptured a spoil heap in the Horlivka sector, took prisoners and raised the Ukrainian flag.