Russia ramps up attacks on Ukraine to boost leverage as Munich Conference unfolds

Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko discussed the issue on his Telegram channel.

The Russian military command has ramped up assaults and brought back its mechanized units as much as its current capacity within the invading forces permits.

The losses of Russian tanks and armored vehicles have significantly increased, and the rate of artillery shelling has surged dramatically. On February 13 alone, 81 pieces of towed artillery systems were destroyed or damaged, marking a record since 2024.

“In other words, amid talks of 'peace,' the order was given to improve the position of Russian forces to strengthen the Kremlin's negotiation stance. Ultimately, since the activation of the invading Russian forces, they have only managed to improve their loss statistics,” Kovalenko noted.

In the past 24 hours, Russian forces expanded control by 1.2 km², with 1,180 casualties. Today, they continue pushing towards Udachne, Uspenivka, and beyond Dachne.

Russian forces are focused on closing the Kurakhove salient and concentrating efforts on Pokrovsk, hoping to create conditions for dialogue amid ongoing urban battles. The Kremlin may be shifting strategy, moving away from a wide encirclement of the city in favor of a frontal assault, particularly given the challenges posed by Ukrainian counterattacks that are preventing a faster advance.

“While one battle rages in Munich, another, unrelenting and desperate, intensifies in the combat zone,” Kovalenko concluded.

• Over the past day, 112 combat engagements were recorded on the Russian-Ukrainian front. Russian forces continue their offensive along nine key directions.
• Over the past day, the invading Russian army lost another 1,180 soldiers, along with hundreds of pieces of equipment and weaponry on the Russian-Ukrainian front.