Russia says Ukraine is launching major attacks; Kyiv accuses Moscow of misinformation

Moscow-appointed officials reported on Monday that Ukrainian forces were escalating their efforts to breach Russian defensive lines in southeast Ukraine for a second consecutive day, after Russia’s Defense Ministry stated it had repelled an assault in an unlawfully annexed region of the country under invasion.

The Kyiv government, however, has countered these attack reports, suggesting they are part of a Russian disinformation strategy as Ukraine’s military gears up for an expected counteroffensive.

Vladimir Rogov, a representative in the Russian-backed administration of the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia province in Ukraine, noted that combat recommenced at the border with the eastern Donetsk region on Monday, following a successful Russian defense against a Ukrainian advance the previous day.

Rogov highlighted that the attacking force was larger and more organized than on Sunday, with the new attempt to penetrate the frontline being broader in scale. He reported that a battle was in progress.

Rogov interpreted the Ukrainian military maneuvers as an initiative by Kyiv to access the Sea of Azov coast and sever the land pathway to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014. Experts have long predicted this strategy, as it could split Russian forces and heavily impact supply lines to Crimea, which has been a crucial Russian military hub since the war began on Feb. 24, 2022.

These remarks from Rogov came after Moscow also claimed to have deterred significant Ukrainian attacks in the eastern Donetsk region, near its border with Zaporizhzhia.

Donetsk is one of the four provinces that Russian President Vladimir Putin declared as Russian territory last autumn, which Moscow partially governs.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that it had successfully defended against a “large-scale” attack at five locations in the Donetsk province on Sunday. The claim could not be independently confirmed, and Ukrainian officials did not acknowledge any assaults. Still, the reports have led to speculation about a possible major Ukrainian ground operation as part of the expected counteroffensive.

A video shared by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry featured soldiers gesturing for silence. The on-screen caption read, “Plans love silence,” adding, “There will be no announcement of the start.”

The Center for Strategic Communications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated via Telegram that Russian forces were intensifying their information and psychological campaigns.

“To demoralize Ukrainians and deceive the public (including their own citizens), Russian propagandists will disseminate false information about the counteroffensive, its course, and Ukrainian army losses, even if there is no counteroffensive,” a Telegram statement read.

Ukrainian officials have kept Russia uncertain regarding the timing and location of a potential counteroffensive, or if it has already begun. A prospective counteroffensive, employing advanced weapons provided by Western allies, could significantly boost Ukrainian morale, over 15 months since Russia initiated a full-scale invasion.

Recent military actions, including drone strikes on Moscow, cross-border incursions into Russia, and drone attacks on infrastructure behind Russian lines, have created anxiety among Russians. Analysts suggest these activities could mark the beginning of the counteroffensive.

On Monday, the Russian military reported that it had turned back a fresh Ukrainian intrusion into Russia’s Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine. Russians claiming to be fighting alongside Ukrainian forces said they attacked on Sunday, but were repelled by airstrikes and artillery fire, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Kyiv faces a formidable challenge in expelling Kremlin’s forces. Russia has constructed comprehensive defensive structures, including trenches, minefields, and anti-tank barriers.

Analysts suggest that Ukraine could initiate simultaneous pushes in different regions of the nearly 700-mile frontline.

Michael Clark, ex-chief of the Royal United Services Institute think tank, suggested that the “increased tempo” of recent activity likely signifies the onset of the counteroffensive, and June could mark the commencement of Ukraine’s ground operation.

“There’s something going on,” he shared with the BBC.

Igor Konashenkov, spokesperson for the Russian Defense Ministry, claimed that 250 Ukrainian personnel were eliminated in the Donetsk province combat, and 16 Ukrainian tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, and 21 armored combat vehicles were destroyed.

“The enemy’s goal was to penetrate our defenses in what it perceived as the most vulnerable sector of the front,” Konashenkov stated. “The enemy did not accomplish its objectives. It had no success.”

The alleged Donetsk attack began on Sunday morning, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, but the reason for delaying the announcement until early Monday remains unclear.

Ukraine often waits until its military operations are concluded before confirming its actions, imposing media blackouts in the meantime.

For months, Ukrainian officials have discussed plans for a counteroffensive to retake territory occupied by Russia during the full-scale invasion, as well as the Crimean Peninsula.

Timing considerations have included improved ground conditions for troop and equipment movement post-winter, and the deployment of advanced Western weapons and training of Ukrainian troops to use them.

Ukraine’s Western allies have provided over 65 billion euros ($70 billion) in military aid to assist in its fight against Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson claimed that Ukraine utilized six mechanized and two tank battalions in the Donetsk attacks. The ministry shared a video purportedly showing the destruction of some equipment in a field.

In a rare explicit reference to the presence of Russia’s top military leaders in battlefield operations, Konashenkov announced that the chief of the general staff of the Russian armed forces, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, was present at one of the forward command posts.

Publicizing Gerasimov’s direct involvement could be a response to criticism from Russian military bloggers and Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russian mercenary group Wagner, that Russia’s military high command hasn’t been visible enough at the front or assumed enough control or responsibility for their nation’s military operations in Ukraine.

A previous version of this story incorrectly located Donetsk; it is in eastern Ukraine.

For ongoing coverage of the war in Ukraine, follow AP: https://bigbignews.net/russia-ukraine

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