The Russian army is regrouping troops and is concentrating its efforts on preparing an offensive operation in eastern Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said, Report informs.
"The goal is to establish full control over the territory of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The enemy is trying to improve units' situation in the Taurian and Pivdennobuz fronts," the General Staff said.
The movement of units withdrawn from Polesie and Sivershchyna to new operational areas continues. The redeployment of the troops of the Central Military District from the territory of Ukraine has been completed.
"Certain aforementioned units, after the completion of the restoration of combat capability, will be moved to the area of the settlement of Valuyki and included in the offensive groupings of troops," the General Staff noted.
In addition, the movement of columns of weapons and military equipment across the territory of Belarus in the direction of the Gomel, Yelsk and Mozyr railway stations for loading onto railway echelons is noted.
"A significant part of the aircraft and helicopters of the Aerospace Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has been relocated from the airfields of the Republic of Belarus to the territory of Russia," the note says.
The Russian troops continue to blockade Kharkiv, with constant artillery shelling and further destroy residential areas and infrastructure of the city. In the direction of Slavyansk, the Russian troops are trying to resume offensive operations. In the direction of Barvenkovo, it has partial success, advanced 7 km, took control of the settlement of Brazhkovka, the General Staff said.