The British intelligence agency stated today, Thursday, that Russian forces have begun to advance towards the city of Kramatorsk in the Donbas region, noting that they are intensifying their missile attacks. According to the latest British military update today, high levels of Russian aerial activity continue as it seeks to provide close air support for its assault in eastern Ukraine and to suppress and destroy Ukrainian air defense capabilities.
The tweet added, "Russia may wish to demonstrate significant successes before its annual Victory Day celebrations on May 9. This could influence the speed and strength of their operations in the period leading up to this date." Reuters has been unable to verify the news.
It is worth mentioning that Ukraine had offered Russia unconditional negotiations in the besieged city of Mariupol, stating that the aim is to rescue those trapped. Chief Ukrainian negotiator and presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that Ukraine is ready for a special round of unconditional negotiations, indicating that the goal of the proposed negotiations is to save those trapped.
For his part, the Head of the Chechen Republic and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ramzan Kadyrov, stated that Russian forces will fully control the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol by Thursday. Kadyrov added in a voice message posted online early Thursday, "Before lunch or shortly thereafter, the Azovstal plant will be fully under the control of the Russian Federation forces."
