According to him, Russia’s military leadership has been instructed by the Kremlin’s political leadership to plan and prepare offensives against the two cities. However, there is currently no evidence that Russian troops are massing for such an offensive.
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Palisa noted that Ukraine’s main objective is to prevent conditions from emerging that would allow Russia to launch any offensive operation.
The remarks come amid reports that Russia is testing new mobilization capabilities. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, meanwhile, said Russia continues to escalate and that the next six months will be decisive from a security perspective.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said Russia is attacking Kyiv with jet-powered drones almost continuously and stressed the need to accelerate the production of missiles capable of destroying Iranian-made Shahed drones.
