Rising tensions along the eastern Ukrainian frontline have prompted the Ukrainian government to pivot more of its armed forces eastwards, with the defence minister saying he expected an offensive.
This follows major reinforcements of armour, artillery and troops for separatist forces crossing the border into the rebel-held Donbass region from Russia, affirmed by Kyiv, the OSCE and NATO, but denied by Moscow.
“We are repositioning our armed forces to respond to unexpected actions of armed groups located on territories that are not under our control,” said Defence MInister Stepan Poltorak.
OSCE monitors say the two-month ceasefire, during which more than 100 Ukrainians and an unknown number on the other side have been killed, is now all but virtual, and around Donetsk especially the fighting and artillery fire on Wednesday was intense and sustained.
