War in Ukraine: “difficult” situation in the East, but fewer Russian attacks in other regions

Ukraine’s controversial commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky admitted on Wednesday that the situation on the Eastern Front was “complicated” but that that was not the case in other Ukrainian regions. “The enemy continues to conduct offensive operations, concentrating his main efforts in the areas of Terny, Ivanovskoye, Berdichi, Tonenka, Verbovoye and Robotin,” the general explained. “At the same time, probably due to the high level of losses, enemy activity in other sectors of the front has decreased significantly,” he added.

Vladimir Zelensky already assured on Monday in an interview with French media that Russia’s advance has been “stopped” in the East and that the situation at the front is now “much better” than three years ago. “More than 1,000 km” of defensive lines have been built or are being built at the front in Ukraine, the Ukrainian president also said.

After capturing the fortified city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine in mid-February, after four months of intense fighting, Russian forces quickly captured several villages west of the city until “the end of February”.

“Extremely high losses” on the Russian side

The Ukrainian army suffered from severe ammunition shortages due to a lack of supplies from European and American allies, and was forced to retreat to defensive positions, sometimes built hastily.

But Russian attacks appear to have slowed since early March, with Moscow only claiming to have captured a small village southwest of Avdeevka.

“During two weeks of fierce fighting, the enemy suffered extremely heavy losses. However, all the settlements that he tried to conquer remain under our control,” said General Syrsky.