In occupied Melitopol in southern Zaporizhia region, preparations are feverish for a possible Ukrainian counter-offensive in the coming weeks, and the Russians are already evacuating children from the southern Ukrainian metropolis, doing what they did Kherson last fall.

By all indications and information, a full-scale military conflict between Ukrainians and Russians in the south and east of Ukraine is coming in a few weeks, most likely in May, after a relatively calm winter, when heavy fighting took place almost exclusively in Bakhmut, western Donbass. .

The objective goal of the spring counter-offensive of the now significantly reinforced (Western weapons and tanks) Ukrainian forces is to cut off Crimea from the occupied Donbass, with the first goal being the liberation of Melitopol.

The occupation authorities in the largest occupied city of Zaporozhye have already begun the process of removing children, some of whom are even Ukrainian-speaking and leaving against the will of their parents, CNN reported on Wednesday.

In addition, fortifications are growing near the city, which is strategically critical as it controls traffic in the Sea of ​​Azov and is a key supply hub for Russian troops in eastern and southern Ukraine, while effectively connecting two large Russian-held territories of Ukraine, Donbass and Crimea. .

Large-scale counterattack

A summary of information from Russian, Ukrainian and British sources indicates that Ukrainian forces will launch a wide-ranging counter-offensive in Zaporozhye in the spring, starting from Energondar, home of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (held by Russia), with the ultimate goal of the operation to liberate Melitopol to completely drive out the invaders. from this region.

The city’s Ukrainian mayor, exiled from Melitopol, told Ukrainian state television that there were “heavy concentrations” of Russian troops near his city.

In particular, Ivan Fedorov said that the Russians were preparing for the forcible resettlement of citizens from the occupied parts of the region and that “in Energodar, they are trying to collect all the data about our children by the end of the week and from May 5 to announce the transfer of children somewhere on the mainland of Russia, or at least to the temporarily occupied Crimea.

For his part, the mayor of Energodar, Dmitry Orlov, said on April 11 that the Russian occupation forces had stepped up mining in the city, whose nuclear plant now serves as a military base for Russian troops to carry out strikes on controlled territories. Ukraine through the Dnieper.

Kiev Nezavisimaya Gazeta in the Ukrainian capital this week reports that the expected Ukrainian counter-offensive will have multiple targets, and the Zaporozhye region will be one of them.

Explosion in the city center

For the hundredth time on Thursday morning, Melitopolis was rocked by a powerful explosion, which was confirmed by both the occupying authorities and the Ukrainian mayor.

In his post, Mr. Fedorov said that “the morning in Melitopol was not quiet. An explosion was heard in the center of the city.” According to information, one victim was taken to the hospital. The explosion happened at 5:15 am.

Similar actions of Ukrainian resistance against the occupiers were recorded in several occupied cities of Ukraine.

According to CNN, Ukrayinska Pravda, Kyiv Independent, Ukrinform.