1 UKRAINE
New positions may signal start of spring offensive
Ukraine’s military has set up positions on the eastern side of the Dnipro River, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) cited Russian military bloggers as saying. Infiltrating the area could be a first step towards trying to dislodge Russian forces from positions they are using to shell and shoot at Kherson (below), which was liberated from occupation in November. Ukrainian military forays across the river could also mark the first steps towards launching a spring offensive.
“This is the first time ISW has observed reliable geolocated imagery of Ukrainian positions on the east bank along with multi-sourced Russian reports of an enduring Ukrainian presence there,” the thinktank said. The Russian bloggers reported Ukrainian forces had established stable supply lines and “regularly conduct sorties in the area”, the ISW said.
A Ukrainian military spokesperson declined to comment on the reports about footholds across the river. However, the head of intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said Russia had switched to defensive positions in all its areas of combat apart from Bakhmut.
2 RUSSIA
Fellow journalists appeal for Gershkovich’s release
More than 300 foreign correspondents who have worked in Moscow wrote to the Russian government to call for the immediate release of Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter being held on espionage charges, saying his arrest sends a “disturbing and dangerous signal” about the country’s attitude to independent media.
Gershkovich (above), who was detained in the
