Putin continues to show interest in eastern Ukraine - British Defense Ministry

The British Defense Ministry wrote this in its latest defense intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

“President Putin’s speech on Tuesday highlighted his continued interest in the Donbas where Russia is striking Ukrainian forces in preparation for a renewed offensive,” the report says.

It is noted that urban centres have faced repeated indiscriminate attacks from Russia throughout the conflict. “The towns of Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka are likely to be Russian targets for similar levels of violence,” the report says.

The ministry added that the combination of widespread missile and artillery strikes and efforts to concentrate forces for an offensive represents “a reversion to traditional Russian military doctrine, however, this will require significant force levels.”

At the same time, Ukraine’s continued defence of Mariupol is “currently tying down significant numbers of Russian troops and equipment.”

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles.