Putin demands to seize new territories at Russian MoD’s closed session

He said this on Espreso TV.

"Putin has set a task to advance not only in the Toretsk direction and capture Chasiv Yar in the coming days, but also to develop tactical and, in the long run, strategic offensive operations to capture the entire Donetsk region. At a closed board meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry, Putin made a tough demand: either there will be personnel changes in the armed forces, especially in the Russian General Staff, or they will fulfill the task of capturing new territories," Malomuzh said.

According to the Ukrainian general, Putin needs to have more arguments for the negotiation process.

"That is why today the Russians are conducting more aggressive offensive operations. That is why Chasiv Yar is one of the important points, because its capture can deprive us of the tactical initiative to destroy the enemy in this sector. The Toretsk direction is another region where they can act from different angles, developing the situation not only within the nearest settlements, but also at the strategic level. The soldiers of the 24th King Danylo Brigade say that heavy fighting continues. Russia has significantly increased its forces, including professional units. At the same time, the enemy is using convicts who are in the forefront," explained Malomuzh.

The former head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service added that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are responding to the enemy with powerful fire and maneuvers, moving to more fortified positions that they have been preparing for several months.

"This allows us to hold our positions and destroy the Russian reserves," Malomuzh said.

• Defense Express CEO Serhiy Zgurets believes that there are no prerequisites for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to withdraw from Chasiv Yar.
• Roman Pohorilyi, co-founder of DeepState, noted that the situation is getting worse in the Toretsk sector.