On the 46th day of the war, Ukraine is preparing for a tough battle with Russian troops in the eastern regions. At the same time, 9 humanitarian evacuation corridors were agreed upon. Shelling of Mariupol and other cities continues. NATO is planning a permanent military presence on its border in an attempt to prevent future Russian aggression.
The Great Battle of the East will be the largest in Europe since the end of World War II. After several weeks of bombardments in northern Ukraine and Kyiv, Russian troops withdrew to regroup in the east and launch an offensive in the Donbass, which is also a priority for Moscow.
On the streets of Mariupol, which has become a neuralgic point of war, Russian tanks patrol the streets among the rubble of buildings, while people hide. Every day they live in fear of bombing.
World media reports that when the cameras appear, Russian soldiers use a different tactic – they distribute food to the locals and urge them to follow them to safety, not knowing where they are going. Two days after the brutal attack on the Kramatorsk railway station, more than 4,500 people left the region.
President Zelensky has said that Russian aggression has never been limited to Ukraine, but to all of Europe.
“Ukraine is ready for a tough battle as Russian forces gather in the east of the country. It will be an uphill battle, but we believe in this battle and our victory. We are ready to fight and look for diplomatic ways to end this war at the same time,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
In anticipation of a major Russian offensive in the east, Ukrainian troops are strengthening their positions and building new trenches near the city of Izyum, Kharkiv region. The roads are mined, anti-tank barricades have been set up at all intersections.