- Is Russia Planning to Use Elite Units in Ukraine's Donbass Region?
Bachmut 2023: Smoke rises from buildings in Bachmut in the Donetsk region. Libkos/AP/dpa
According to German news outlet ZDF, Russia might be planning to move parts of its 7th and 76th Airborne divisions from the Zaporizhzhia region to the Donbass. This would prematurely thwart Ukraine’s advances which is waiting for U.S. military aid. The first arms deliveries from the U.S. have already arrived, but it will probably take weeks for quantities to be delivered that could significantly change the balance of power in favor of Ukraine.
Continued shortage
Ukraine is currently deploying newly delivered ATACMS missiles against Russian targets, including air bases and air defense systems. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian military still lacks weapons, ammunition, and soldiers.
Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu dampened expectations for a Russian summer offensive and reportedly told ZDF that Russian forces have only captured about 211 square miles of territory since the beginning of the year.
Reports of chemical weapons
Meanwhile, Great Britain has given Ukraine green light to use the delivered weapons against targets within Russia’s internationally recognized borders. This step increases Ukraine’s freedom of action on the battlefield.
In addition, there are reports that Russia may have violated the UN’s Chemical Weapons Convention. The U.S. accuses Moscow of using chloropicrin and various types of concentrated tear gas against Ukrainian positions.