Russia increases aerial reconnaissance, prepares for offensive in Horlivka sector - Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman Ievlev

He said this on the Espreso TV channel.

"Over the past two days, the enemy's activity in the Horlivka sector has significantly increased in terms of aerial reconnaissance. We can see a lot of UAVs, such as Orlan, flying overhead. It is probably not appropriate to name some of them. This indicates that the enemy may be preparing an offensive in the near future. That's why we were on alert all night long, and this alert has not been lifted," Ievlev said.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are trying to use their aerial reconnaissance to look as deep as possible into the Russian rear to see the accumulation of equipment, he noted.

"We observe this enemy dynamic with the help of aerial reconnaissance and our radar defense systems. We are trying to look into the enemy's rear to see what equipment the occupiers are pulling, to which flanks, etc.", the serviceman said.

However, so far there have been no positional assaults or advances in the Horlivka sector, Ievlev said.

"So, according to the testimonies, the fact is that the enemy has significantly increased the presence of its aerial reconnaissance above us. However, the enemy has not made any positional advances in this section of the frontline. The enemy has not carried out any positional assaults over the past day," he added.

• On April 8, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that over the past day, the Ukrainian Defense Forces eliminated 40 Russian artillery systems, 13 tanks and 890 soldiers. In the Avdiivka sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled eight attacks where Russian enemy tried to drive Ukrainian units out of their positions.