Russia says ‘threat’ grows and will increase power near Finland

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced today that “by the end of the year, 12 military units and divisions will be created in the Western Military District.” The decision to increase military strength in the region came at a time when Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Finland has a border of about 1,300 kilometers with western Russia.

“The ongoing organizational measures are in line with the provision of modern military weapons and equipment to the troops,” Shoigu said at a meeting of the Russian military council. He also noted that “the situation in the western strategic direction is characterized by the growth of military threats near the Russian borders.”

Finland and Sweden decided to apply to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine. Today, the Russian war on the territory of Ukraine completes 86 days.

Talking about the escalating tension on Russia’s western border, the minister said that “the intensity of the US strategic bombers in Europe has increased 15 times in the last eight years.” “The visits of US ships to the Baltic Sea with guided missiles have become systematic,” he said.

Referring to the candidacy of “our closest neighbors” Finns and Swedes to join the military alliance, Shoigu said “tensions continue to rise in the area of ​​responsibility of the Western Military District”. “We are taking the necessary countermeasures”

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (centre) on Friday – Russian Defense Ministry (750×421)

“Under pressure”

After nearly three months of fighting in Mariupol, UK Defense Intelligence intelligence said today that Russian forces “need to be re-equipped and re-equipped before they can be effectively redeployed” and that “it could be a long process”. .

But the charge for the advances the Russian military is taking is a factor that could play against the clock. “But Russian commanders are under pressure to achieve operational objectives,” British intelligence said. Said. “This means that Russia will quickly redeploy its forces without adequate preparation, which risks further attrition of forces.”

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine still states that the east of its territory is currently a priority for Russian forces.

After the Ukrainian resistance forces surrendered at the Azovstal complex in Mariupol, the British, allies of the Ukrainians, “probably claimed that their [russos] “Move your forces to strengthen operations in Donbass, citing the region where separatist forces are located in eastern Ukraine,” he said. The Ukrainian army, still in Azovstal, was ordered to stop the war.

movements

In its report published today, the Defense of Ukraine stated that the country has been attacked more by Russian forces, mainly referring to the actions in Lugansk and Donetsk. Russian Defense Minister Shoigu explained that Russia thinks it has almost completely captured the Lugansk region, something that the Ukrainian authorities have not mentioned so far.

Ukrainians are also aware of the movements in the Kharkov region, where the country’s second largest city, the city of the same name, is located. According to the Ukrainian Defense, Russia is “trying to counterattack to regain lost positions” in the region. For this, he conducts aerial reconnaissance of the region.

A damaged car with ‘Z’ symbol appears on the road in Staryi Saltiv village, captured by Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv region – Ricardo Moraes/Reuters (750×421)

In Kherson, in the south of the country, Ukraine says that “there is a high probability of continuing hostilities in order to improve the tactical situation and reach the administrative border of the region.” The Ukrainian Defense also noted that civilian transportation in the Black Sea and Azov seas is still blocked.

In the report published today, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that while confirming the attacks in the Kharkov and Kherson regions, attacks were carried out against the commands of the Ukrainian forces in various parts of the country.

At least three people were killed in an attack on a school in Sievierodonetsk – Reproduction/Facebook/sergey.gaidai.loga (750×421)

school deaths

At least three people were killed in an attack on a school in the city of Sievierodonetsk in the eastern Ukraine’s Lugansk region.

More than 200 people, including children, took shelter here. Local authorities are now trying to move them to another shelter.

“New Mariupol”

Lugansk Governor Sergey Gaidai said the town of Rubizhne had the same “fate” as Mariupol, a port municipality in southeastern Ukraine that was destroyed by Russian forces. “Not all buildings are gone. Many homes cannot be restored. Backyards are cemeteries.”

According to the governor, about 60,000 people lived in the city, located about 715 kilometers east of Kiev, before the Russian invasion. According to Gaidai, there are still citizens living in basements amid the Russian attacks.

(with AFP)