Ukraine: New offensives in the east with gains in territory

Amidst the crisis in Russia, the Kiev government announced new offensives in eastern Ukraine to repel the Russian army. The Ukrainian army is acting against Russian positions near towns such as Orikhovo-Vasilivka, Bakhmut and Klishchivka in the Donbass region, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Saturday. “There is progress in all directions,” she assured.

On Friday night, a long power struggle between the head of the Russian Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and the Russian military leadership intensified. Wagner’s fighters invaded Russia from Ukraine with the aim of overthrowing the military leadership in Moscow.

According to his own statements, Wagner’s mercenaries took control of military installations in Rostov on Saturday. According to Russian information, they would have advanced to the Russian region of Lipetsk, about 400 kilometers south of Moscow.

Deputy Defense Minister Maljar had spoken of a “unique opportunity” for Kiev in view of the Wagner mercenary uprising. The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valery Zalushny, assured that the Ukrainian counter-offensive to repel the Russian army was proceeding “according to plan”.