Russia's 'creeping offensive' has already started – military expert Zgurets

He said this on the air of the Espreso TV channel.

"The enemy is really forced to intensify its actions to achieve at least some results on the front line. I believe that this creeping offensive of the Russian army has already begun. We see the accumulation of Russian forces both in the North and in the South, where the enemy is trying to conduct offensive actions that are holding back Ukrainian troops," noted Zgurets.

According to the expert, the number of engaged enemy forces determines the contour of hostilities.

"These are the enemy's attempts to advance on Svatove and Kreminna, where the fighting has intensified. An offensive on Bakhmut, with an attempt to encircle the city. The intensification of actions around Vuhledar are the main points of deployment of Russian forces, which are based on the accumulated resources of the enemy - about 320 thousand personnel engaged in combat. The strengthening of the occupiers' army can be based on the use of the 150 thousand that they still have. The enemy does not have a quantitative advantage that allows Russians to realize strategic breakthroughs in new directions," Zgurets noted.

• Previously, the publication Bloomberg wrote that despite the loss of the Russian army in the war with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning a new offensive, which may begin in February-March.

• Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of the NSDC, said that the Russians are preparing for a new wave of offensives in Ukraine by February 24 and are reconnoitering Ukraine's defense capabilities. Subsequently, he emphasized that the authorities understand the threat of a repeated attack by Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine and are vigorously preparing.

• On February 1, the NSDC Secretary stated: "The Russians are preparing for the maximum escalation of the war and no scenario can be ruled out in the next two to three weeks."

• On February 2, Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that enemy troops could launch an offensive in the East and South before the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

• According to the Financial Times, Russia intends to launch another large-scale offensive within the next 10 days to seize Donbas.