Moscow [Russia], November 26: Ukrainian military spokesman Vladyslav Voloshyn said Russian forces are preparing for an offensive operation in southern Donetsk province to penetrate Kyiv's defense lines, The Kyiv Independent reported on November 25.
Mr Voloshyn predicted that the offensive would likely focus around Velyka Novosilka, one of the largest settlements in the area. The Russian military said yesterday that it had expanded its zone of control by 8 square kilometres in just one day as it advanced towards the settlement.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW, USA), Russia's recent victories near Vuhledar and Velyka Novosilka prove that the conflict in Ukraine is not at a stalemate. Instead, the front line in Donetsk, the eastern Ukrainian province , is increasingly volatile as Russian forces are advancing at a much faster pace than in the entire year of 2023. Ukrainian military commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi also admitted earlier this month that this was one of Russia's strongest offensives since the beginning of the war.
To stop that advance, the administration of US President Joe Biden recently said it would send Ukraine anti-personnel mines, or anti-personnel land mines (APLs). In a message to a conference yesterday in Cambodia on progress on the 1997 International Mine Ban Convention (also known as the Ottawa Convention), UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the threat posed by the re-use of these weapons by some countries that are signatories to the convention. According to AFP, Ukraine is one of 164 countries that have signed the Ottawa Convention, while the US and Russia have not.
Last weekend, US Congressman Michael Waltz, who was chosen by President-elect Donald Trump as National Security Advisor, said that the decision of the Biden administration has turned the conflict in Ukraine into a trench warfare like World War I.
Fox News quoted Mr. Waltz as saying that President-elect Trump is very concerned about the recent escalation in Ukraine. "We need to bring the conflict to a responsible end. We need to restore deterrence and peace , prevent this escalation instead of reacting to it," Mr. Waltz said. The congressman emphasized that the priority is to organize a dialogue between Russia and Ukraine to find a ceasefire or peace agreement. He mentioned the important role of international allies and partners in sharing the burden and resolving the conflict.
Meanwhile, British Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden yesterday warned of Russia's increasing cyber attacks on countries supporting Ukraine and the risk of artificial intelligence (AI) being weaponized for this purpose. Speaking about plans to develop a new research facility on AI security funded by the British government, Mr. McFadden called on London and its NATO allies to stay ahead in the "new AI arms race" to prevent any risk of cyber attacks. Russia has not commented on the above statement but has long denied the accusations of cyber attacks.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper