Moscow’s troops are regrouping in the occupied territories of eastern Ukraine before resuming a new offensive, General Oleksandr Sirsky, one of the commanders-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, said on Friday, Sky News reports.

“After a month of heavy fighting and significant losses in the Kupyansk and Lymansk directions, the enemy is regrouping forces and means, simultaneously throwing newly formed brigades and divisions from the territory of the Russian Federation into battle,” wrote Colonel General Oleksandr Sirskyi. his Telegram channel.

Sirskyi, who is the commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Army, said that the main goal of these actions of the Russians is to “increase the level of combat potential and resume active offensive operations.”

While he did not provide further details on the Russian redeployment, he said the Russians continued to bombard with heavy artillery and mortars and airstrikes.

“Under such conditions, we must quickly take all measures to strengthen our defenses on threatened lines and advance where possible,” General Sirski said.

Kupyansk, a town with a pre-war population of about 27,000, was captured by Russia in the early days of the invasion, which began on February 24, 2022, but was then retaken by Ukrainian forces in a lightning offensive last September.

At the beginning of this month, the Ukrainian regional authorities announced the mandatory evacuation of civilians from the front-line part of Kupyansk due to daily bombings by Russia.

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