British ministers have been told that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is heading into a new phase, which will most likely be an "attritional conflict" in the Donbas area.
A senior national security officer briefed ministers that this stage of the fight "may take several months," according to a readout of the UK government's cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Russian Forces Intensify Attacks on Donbas Region
Russia would "seek to leverage its soldier number advantage," albeit this was unlikely to prove crucial in the fight on its own, according to the senior official, who was not identified in the readout. Insider talked with a separate UK official about how the violence in Donbas would affect the humanitarian situation in the region. The person was offered anonymity to speak candidly about the British government's view of the situation.
They told Insider that they expect more people to migrate westward from the region to "considered safer parts of Ukraine." According to a senior US military official, Russia's fresh strikes in eastern Ukraine are a precursor to a massive offensive in the Donbas region
The strikes, which took place southwest of Donetsk and south of Izyum, came as Russia continues to beef up its soldiers in Ukraine and resupply those already there, according to an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence findings.
The Russians infiltrated two battalion tactical groups into Ukraine on the last day, bringing the total number of battalions in Ukraine to 78, according to the official. The strength of Russian battalions ranges from 800 to 1,000 soldiers, as per USA Today.
Officials from both Ukraine and Russia admitted on Tuesday that the war had reached a new phase. "The occupiers attempted to break through our fortifications along practically the whole frontline," Ukraine's military claimed, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the goal was "complete liberation" of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The Russian invasion, which began on February 24, has met with fierce and efficient opposition from Ukrainian forces, with Vladimir Putin's battle army losing nearly a quarter of its strength, according to the official. The source said Russian ground forces were assisted by artillery in the resumed battle in eastern Ukraine, and around 80% of Russia's artillery forces were ready for the conflict.
The Ukrainians will not be easily beaten in the east, despite being outmanned and outgunned. According to the official, the Ukrainians are familiar with the terrain and have adequate supply lines as well as the capacity to reinforce and restock their men.
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Ukraine Allies Vow Weapons
Meanwhile, Ukraine's allies reacted quickly to Russia's latest onslaught in the east. During a 90-minute video conversation on Tuesday, they promised to deliver artillery, anti-tank, and air defense help to Kyiv.
Per BBC, President Joe Biden of the United States, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and the leaders of France, Italy, Japan, and Germany, among others, attended the virtual meeting. In addition to weaponry, the leaders decided to impose further sanctions on Moscow. As the struggle for the Donbas area reached a crucial point, there were battles along a front line extending hundreds of kilometers.
While this fresh onslaught was predicted after Russia failed to conquer Kyiv, it might significantly impact the war's outcome. That's because if Russia conquers the Donbas, President Vladimir Putin will be able to claim some sort of victory from the assault.
However, Tuesday's confrontations demonstrated that Ukraine's soldiers could still maintain their own, and President Volodymyr Zelensky swore to "not give up anything Ukrainian" about the east.
