KYIV, Jan 12 (Reuters) – Russia is build up its forces in Ukraine however Ukrainian forces are holding out in fierce preventing for the japanese city of Soledar, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar mentioned on Thursday.
She informed a information briefing that the variety of Russian navy items in Ukraine had risen to 280 from 250 every week earlier as Moscow tried to realize the “strategic initiative”.
“Preventing is fierce within the Soledar path,” Malyar mentioned. “They (the Russians) are transferring over their very own corpses.”
“Russia is driving its personal folks to the slaughter by the hundreds, however we’re holding on,” she mentioned.
One other senior navy official, Brigadier Common Oleksiy Gromov, informed the briefing that the navy scenario in Ukraine remained “tough”, with the heaviest preventing on the japanese entrance.
Russian forces had been making an attempt to chop via Ukrainian strains and encompass Ukrainian troops, he mentioned.
Gromov additionally mentioned the hazard of an assault being launched from Belarus, a Russian ally to the north of Ukraine, would stay all through this yr.
Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Enhancing by Timothy Heritage
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.
