Russia’s top diplomat issued a chilling warning on Thursday that Moscow will “do everything” to “get the world’s attention” on the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine – as the Kremlin was told To preparing to launch a new attack Up to 500,000 conscripts.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that Moscow will take significant steps to cover up anti-Russian events allegedly planned by the West to mark the end of the war on February 24.
“Our diplomacy will do everything to secure the anti-Russian Sabbath scheduled for the end of February — special military To coincide with the anniversary of the operation, together with the Kyiv regime, lest this be the only event in the world’s attention.
Vladimir Putin’s chief representative has revealed that Russia is working on a “report” detailing the events of the past year surrounding its invasion of Ukraine.Baltic Sea.
Lavrov did not provide evidence of American involvement in the pipeline explosion, which Russia had previously blamed on Britain.
Lavrov’s saber rumble came just three weeks before the world marked the one-year anniversary of Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine.
Kyiv expects Putin to ‘try something’ on Feb. 24, says Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov told French BFM network.
According to Reznikov, Russia has amassed “nearly half a million troops” in preparation for an oncoming onslaught, which the minister said could occur on two fronts in the Donbass region in the east and south. .
“Officially announced 300,000 (conscripts), but when we see troops at the border, according to our assessment, it is much more,” Reznikov said in a television interview Wednesday night. ” he said.
The minister said the Ukrainian army would prepare for a counterattack ahead of Russian pressure, adding that Ukraine “cannot lose initiative” on the battlefield.
He emphasized Kyiv’s urgent need to obtain new weapons from its Western allies without delay.
“We are telling our partners that we also need to be ready as soon as possible,” Reznikov said.
President Biden Excludes provision of F-16 fighters To Ukraine, which the country wanted. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that the focus of US aid is to boost Ukraine’s military capabilities by sending artillery, armor and air defenses and training Ukrainian forces.
The United States is “focused on providing Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to be effective in counterattacks expected in the spring,” Austin said.
“So we’re doing everything we can to give them the ability they need now to be effective on the battlefield,” he said.
Washington was reportedly preparing a new package of military aid to Ukraine worth $2.2 billion, expected to include long-range rockets for the first time.
Lavrov said the Russian military would respond to the delivery of long-range weapons and try to keep Ukrainian forces away from the border.
“We are now trying to push the artillery of the Ukrainian army back to a distance that does not pose a threat to our territory,” he added. , we will have to push them back from the territories that are part of our country.”
The War Research Institute, a Washington, DC-based think tank, Said in the latest update on Wednesday Ukrainian military leaders expect Russian forces to try to capture Donetsk and Luhansk provinces, which make up the disputed Donbass region.
Putin may also be eyeing a cross-border raid into northeastern Ukraine, according to ISW analysts, with Kiev forces in the northern border areas to divert them from the front lines in the east. to be fixed.
The think tank has previously said the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine was the bloodiest in recent months and was “imminent”.
Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, said: sit with skynews Tuesday, when the next few months will be the “decision” of the war.
“Russia is preparing for the biggest escalation,” said Danilov. “We drill, we train, we collect everything we can.”
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Putin marked the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II as a justification for the conflict in Ukraine, calling it the bloodiest in history. citing what is regarded as a long and grueling battle.
Putin burns at the eternal flame of the Memorial to the Fallen Red Army Soldiers in Volgograd, now called Volgograd, where about two million people lost their lives in the five months between August 1942 and February 1943. I gave you a wreath.
Afterwards he said: Again and again we are forced to repel attacks by Western groups. ”
Referring to Germany’s recent decision to supply Ukraine with modern Leopard tanks, Putin warned that “a modern war with Russia would be very different for them.”
“It’s unbelievable, but it’s true. They’re threatening us again with German Leopard tanks with crosses on their armor,” Putin said.
“And they are going to fight Russia again on Ukrainian territory at the hands of Hitler’s loyal banderites.”
with post wire