Russia is planning a new offensive in Ukraine. This is supported by ISW, the Institute for War Research, claiming that “Russia is preparing to launch a new offensive in the coming weeks once the ground freezes in southern and eastern Ukraine.” According to the new ISW report, Russia is preparing air strike units in particular to land in the Ukrainian hinterland.
Some Russian sources believe the offensive could begin on February 2, when the ground is frozen and Ukraine will be “tired” of defending its position. On both fronts, harsh weather conditions appear to be affecting ground activities. Ukrainian forces in the south of the country also reported that the Russian Air Force was unable to operate in the region due to the freezing weather.
Seven people were injured in Russian attacks in the last 24 hours
Meanwhile, seven people were injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine in the last 24 hours. This was announced by the Kherson, Kharkiv and Donetsk regional authorities. Russian troops attacked Kherson Oblast 121 times last day and the city of Kherson was hit 42 times, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Four firefighters were injured when a Russian drone attacked a fire station in the village of Stanislav, Prokudin added. Moscow forces damaged a local ambulance staging area and injured a 69-year-old woman in her home, the Kherson region military administration said.
Russian forces have attacked more than 15 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. There, a 56-year-old man was seriously injured after a landmine exploded in a forest near the village of Zoluchiv, which is less than 20 kilometers from the border with Russia. He is in hospital in serious condition. Mine clearers found 148 explosive devices and cleared 3.3 hectares of land, Syniehubov added.
Donetsk Oblast Governor Vadim Filashkin said a civilian was injured in a Russian attack on the front-line settlement of Avdiivka. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, 19 towns and villages were affected by Russian attacks, said Governor Yuri Malashko. Although no casualties were reported, regional authorities received 13 reports of infrastructure damage due to the attacks. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a Russian artillery attack on the town of Marhanets damaged two pharmacies, a shop, two houses, five agricultural buildings and power lines, Governor Serhii Lysak said, adding that there were no reports of casualties but that over 5,000 people were left without power .
Kiev: “Russia has lost 370,980 soldiers since the start of the war”
Russia has lost 370,980 soldiers in Ukraine since the war began on February 24, 2022. This was announced by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, noting that the figure includes the 980 casualties suffered by Moscow in the last 24 hours.
According to the report, Russia also lost 6,089 tanks, 11,322 armored fighting vehicles, 11,698 fuel vehicles and tanks, 8,771 artillery systems, 955 multiple rocket systems, 650 air defense systems, 329 aircraft, 324 helicopters, 6,865 drones, 23 boats and one submarine.
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