Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavlyuk, announced on Friday that Russia is preparing 100,000 troops that could be deployed in a new offensive campaign in Ukraine this summer or to replenish its depleted units.
This statement was made on Ukrainian television following recent advancements by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, over two years into the widespread invasion, according to Reuters.
Pavlyuk stated, “It may not necessarily be an attack; they might be aiming to replenish their units that have lost combat capabilities. However, it’s likely that they will have specific forces ready to launch offensive operations by the beginning of summer.”
Amid escalating rhetoric in Russia, the Kremlin declared on Friday that it now considers itself in a state of war due to what it describes as Western intervention alongside Ukraine.
This choice of words goes beyond the previously used term “special military operation” and may indicate a shift in preparing the public mentally for a new phase of the conflict.
Russian Defense Minister also mentioned this week that Moscow plans to bolster its forces with two new armies and 30 new units by the end of this year.
Ukraine faces an ammunition shortage, exacerbated by a halt in new aid packages in the U.S. Congress. However, Kyiv hopes to secure sufficient ammunition by April, thanks to a Czech-led initiative to supply artillery shells.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Havryliuk, in televised remarks, noted that Russia has a seven-to-one ammunition advantage over Ukraine.
He added, “I believe that in a month or two, this gap will significantly decrease, and there won’t be such a large ratio in favor of the Russian Federation.”
