Kyiv [Ukraine], February 2: Yesterday (February 1), Reuters quoted pro-Russian official Yan Gagin in Donetsk as saying that Russian forces had surrounded Bakhmut city and tried to control the road connecting this city with the town of ChasivYar.
The Ukrainian side has not commented on this information. The fighting in Bakhmut has raged for months, and Ukrainian officials recently described the city as "ruin".
Ukraine's Defense Security Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said on January 31 that Russia is preparing for a maximum escalation in Ukraine, which can be carried out in the next 2-3 weeks. In an interview with The Washington Post , the head of the General Intelligence Service of Ukraine's Defense Ministry, KyryloBudanov, predicted that Russia would focus on the two eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. Meanwhile, Russia may not attack from the direction of Belarus but only diversionary activities here.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned of a large-scale Russian attack, and called on the West to provide more powerful weapons. Reuters yesterday quoted two US officials as saying the country was preparing a military aid package worth more than $2 billion to Ukraine, including for the first time a ground-launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB). shot 150 km.
The aid package also includes equipment to support the Patriot air defense system , precision-guided weapons and Javelin anti-tank missiles. On the same day, The Wall Street Journal reported that General Atomics (USA) had offered to sell two MQ-9 Reaper drones to Ukraine for a "symbolic" price of 1 USD with some additional fees. However, this agreement needs to be approved by the White House. Meanwhile, according to El Pais newspaper , Spain is preparing to supply 4-6 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he was considering arms aid to Ukraine, including the Iron Dome air defense system, but was also ready to act as a mediator if asked.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper
