Russia may launch an offensive on the Kherson region in southern Ukraine to try to shake off Kyiv’s momentum and has significantly strengthened its forces in the region, Ukrainian General Oleksiy Khromov said on Thursday, The Guardian reported.

Russia holds large swaths of southern Ukraine that it seized in the early stages of the invasion launched on February 24, but Kyiv has vowed to launch a major counteroffensive and has used modern Western weapons to strike Russian supply lines and ammunition depots, Reuters writes.

Khromov said that Russia has brought a huge amount of weapons and equipment to the strategically important northeastern Kherson region, a large part of which is occupied by Russia.

At the press conference he said:

“It is possible that the enemy could or will try to conduct offensive actions deep into our territory in order to seize the initiative and threaten our advance, thereby forcing the Ukrainian military to stop the expansion of the bridgeheads and go on the defensive.”

In the east, General Oleksiy Khromov says Ukraine has improved its tactical position around the city of Slovyansk, recapturing two villages, but Russian forces are trying to capture the city of Avdiivka and the village of Pisky.

Ukrainian forces were forced to cede territory there, moving to defense in the area south of the city of Avdiyivka and leaving the Butivka mine, he added.

• Read also: Russia and Ukraine claim heavy losses in Donetsk region

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