Russia is expected to stage an attack in Zaporizhzhya Oblast in the southeast as part of its major spring offensive, a Ukrainian intelligence official has claimed.
Vadym Skibitskyi, the spokesperson for the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, suggested that roughly half a million Russian soldiers were expected to enter the conflict zone imminently, attacking not just Ukrainian positions in the Donbas, which includes the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. , and has been the subject of fighting since 2014, but also further south.
He said: “In January 2023, we saw that Russia intended to mobilize 300,000 to 500,000 people into the army to support offensive operations in the east and south of Ukraine in the spring and summer of 2023.
“The relevant order to mobilize 500,000 conscripts in January is in addition to the 300,000 called up in October 2022.
“This is another clear sign that the Kremlin has no intention of ending the war. We have determined that the Russian offensive efforts may be launched in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and, possibly, in the Zaporizhzhya region.
“At the same time, Russian troops will further defend (part of – ed.) Kherson region and Crimea.”