Ukraine’s victory over Vladimir Putin’s army in the impending battle of Donbas is “quite possible,” Britain said on Tuesday. Armed Forces Secretary James Heappey said Ukrainian forces had already defeated “some of Russia’s best regiments and battalions,” so the next wave of attacks would come from less well-trained troops. He also warned Western allies not to “rush to exchange Ukrainian territory” to reach an agreement with Putin to end the war, stressing that such decisions should be left to the Kiev government alone. “Ukrainians have the wind on their backs right now,” he told Times Radio. “They have seen the initial progress.
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“In doing so, they have defeated some of Russia’s best regiments and battalions. “The next wave of Russian troops coming against them in Donbas will therefore not be the best for Russia. “They will not be equipped with the best equipment in Russia.” He stressed that while Russia may have more troops, it believed that the two sides were “very well matched”, with Ukrainian soldiers “well dug” in positions they held for up to eight years. “I do not think a Russian victory in the east of Ukraine is inevitable, in fact I think it is very likely to be the other way around,” he added. “Therefore, no one in the West should rush to exchange Ukrainian territory, this is something for President Zelensky and only for President Zelensky.” Russian troops have also suffered from low morale, fuel, ammunition and food shortages, as well as command and control problems sought by Mr Putin’s generals. Mr. Heappey also praised the “amazing” 36th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian forces holding out to Mariupol. He stressed their determination to fight to the “last man” and the “last bullet”. Earlier, the Defense Ministry’s latest intelligence update said: “Fighting in eastern Ukraine will intensify over the next two to three weeks as Russia continues to refocus its efforts there. “Russian attacks remain focused on Ukrainian positions near Donetsk and Luhansk with further battles around Kherson and Mykolaiv and a new impetus to Kramatorsk. “Russian forces are still withdrawing from Belarus to re-deploy to support operations in eastern Ukraine.” In an early morning briefing Tuesday from the conflict zone, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that in addition to trying to take control of Mariupol, Russian forces also intend to occupy Popasna, a city over two hours by car west of Luhansk. and were to launch an attack in the direction of Kurakhove, in the Donetsk region. The Ukrainian military says its troops repulsed attacks in both Luhansk and Donetsk regions, destroying four tanks, five armored vehicles, 26 vehicles and eight enemy artillery pieces. She also said that her forces shot down a Russian plane, two helicopters and four drones. These allegations could not be independently confirmed. As Russian forces advanced into Donbas, which includes areas of Donetsk and Luhansk controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for more weapons from the West to help end the siege of Mariupol and to repel the expected Russian attack on the east, as there were more reports of rape and barbarism against Ukrainian civilians by Mr Putin’s forces. In a televised speech late Monday, he said: “When it comes to essential weapons, we are still dependent on supplies, on our partners. “Unfortunately, we do not get as much as we need to end this war faster … In particular, to lift the blockade of Mariupol.”
