This Tuesday, the US Department of Defense said that the Russian army has already lost 25% of its combat power, which it sent to Ukraine on February 24, and, accordingly, is re-equipping ground combat units to be sent to Ukrainian territory.
Moreover, the assessment of the US Armed Forces regarding the new Russian offensive in the Donbass region is that it began in a limited manner, especially in the area southwest of Donetsk and south of Izyum.
Thus, Russian forces will take measures to increase the ability to conduct combat operations in that area and “prepare for what we believe will be even larger attacks in the future.”
The same source in the Pentagon added that the Russian forces have added two groups of tactical battalions to their battalion, which is why there are 78 battalions currently, instead of 65 last week.
With regard to the city of Mariupol, which has been surrounded by Russians since the beginning of March, it is still the scene of street clashes, the region’s governor said in an interview with CNN North America.
Pavlo Kirilenko declared that “the fighting is taking place in Mariupol. It is street fighting and not only light weapons, but also tank battles in the city streets,” adding that the areas where the Ukrainian fighters are “are under intense bombardment.” But the defenses are holding up.”
Control of Mariupol would allow the Russians to retain power along the various regions that meet the Sea of Azov, thus linking the Donbass region, partly controlled by pro-Russian separatists, with Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.
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