Fighting is fierce in eastern Ukraine in the Donetsk region as Russia intensifies pressure on various sectors of the front as the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine approaches, the Ukrainian president says Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his February 5 evening speech.
“There are already many reports that the invaders want to do something symbolic in February. To try to avenge their defeat of last year. We see this increasing pressure on various sectors of the front, as well as the pressure in the field of information,” said Zelenski.
Earlier, Zelensky noted that the situation in eastern Ukraine is becoming increasingly tense due to a new wave of Russian shelling in Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Lugansk, Donetsk and Mykolaiv regions. .
Ukrainian and Western journalists, citing knowledgeable sources, note that Russia is concentrating its forces in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine.
“It is very difficult in the Donetsk region – there are fierce battles. However, no matter how difficult it is and no matter how hard the pressure we have to endure. We have to use and use every day and every week to strengthen our defense at the front, strengthen our international position and increase the pressure on Russia. We must give our people the opportunity to get through this difficult period. We have no other alternative but to defend ourselves and to win,” Zelensky said in his evening video message.
On February 3, the United States confirmed that a new $2.2 billion military aid package to Ukraine would include long-range missiles.