Four training grounds spring to life, Mariupol shows signs of offensive prep – official

He shared this information on Espreso TV.

"If we talk about the military situation, we’ve seen a lot of changes recently. The Russians are reinforcing the Zaporizhzhia region and parts of Donetsk, including the Kurakhove and Vremivka directions. Earlier last week, they tried to meet these needs by moving forces from Crimea and Kherson, but now trained units are arriving directly from Russian territory," Andriushchenko explained.

The Mariupol-Berdyansk agglomeration is now packed with new Russian contract soldiers. Activity has picked up across four training grounds. According to Andriushchenko, the last time such movement was seen was in the summer, ahead of the preparations for the Vuhledar offensive.

"One particularly active training ground is on the border between the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, where cannons are constantly firing and explosions can be heard. Barrel artillery, which hasn’t been used for some time, is now in action. Another training ground, originally built by North Korean instructors, is north of Mariupol near the villages of Sartana and Zorya. The level of activity there is unprecedented — explosions and barrel artillery firing are constant. Two other training grounds — one near Berdyansk in the Novopetrivka area and the other closer to Mariupol — are more focused on small arms and assault unit training," he added.

Military boats spotted in Mariupol

Earlier, columns of military equipment were moved through Mariupol in different directions.

Andriushchenko reported that on Sunday, December 22, two large military boats were transported on trawls through Mariupol toward Berdyansk.

These boats are likely intended for use in the Kherson region to attempt crossings over the Dnipro River. They resemble river transport vessels, designed for calmer waters, and already carry tactical markings. Like the troops, they are also being brought in from Russia.