Ukraine Focus Returns to Battlefield as War’s First Anniversary Passes; ‘Elite’ Russian Unit Being Pummeled in Ukraine; Ukraine Says Russian Offensive Near Yahidne Unsuccessful; Ukraine Repels 71 Russian Attacks Over Past Day, LIVE UPDATES and MORE

By admin On Feb 28, 2023

WSJ: Ukraine Focus Returns to Battlefield as War’s First Anniversary Passes:

Kyiv says its forces repelled fresh Russian advances in the east

After a wave of new Western sanctions and commemorations to mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion, Ukrainian forces were again focused on repelling Russian attempts to advance in the crucial battlegrounds in the east.

The Ukrainian military Saturday said it had halted around 70 attacks in the east of the country, where Russia has ramped up efforts to seize the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions since last month.

Serhiy Haidai, the head of the Luhansk regional military administration, described the situation along the front line there as difficult, but said Ukrainian forces were withstanding Russia’s offensive.

Russian forces launched attacks around Bakhmut, the scene of some of the fiercest fighting of the war, and the towns of Lyman, Kupyansk, Avdiivka and Shakhtarsk, the Ukrainian military said.

Locked in a bloody war of attrition, both Russia and Ukraine are turning to allies to boost their combat power for a breakthrough.

Washington announced a new $2 billion military-aid package for Ukraine on Friday, though President Biden said it wouldn’t include the F-16 jet fighters Kyiv has been seeking. The latest pledge brings total U.S. security assistance for Kyiv to more than $32 billion over the past year.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials say China is considering supplying Moscow with artillery, drones and possibly other weapons to help Russian forces stave off an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. Beijing has responded by saying the U.S. and its allies are the biggest sources of weapons flowing to the battlefield. —>READ MORE HERE

U.K. military officials: ‘Elite’ Russian unit being pummeled in Ukraine:

An elite Russian infantry unit has been decimated following several costly operations near a mining town in Ukraine’s disputed Donetsk Oblast that has become a focal point of the Kremlin’s renewed offensive.

On Sunday, British military officials said imagery intelligence shows that Russia’s 155th Naval Infantry (NI) Brigade recently sustained a number of concentrated vehicle losses outside Vuhledar, located about 50 miles southwest of Donetsk.

The Russian Naval Infantry “has been tasked with some of the toughest tactical missions in the war and has suffered extremely high casualties,” British military officials tweeted.

According to reports, the Russian NI tanks may have been disabled after driving through minefields created by the U.S.-supplied Remote Anti-Armor Mine System (RAAMS), a 155mm artillery shell filled with nine anti-tank mines each.

The U.S. has supplied Ukraine with more than 10,000 RAAMS shells as part of security assistance packages since the invasion a year ago. —>READ MORE HERE

Follow links below to +++++relevant+++++ and related stories:

+++++Russia-Ukraine News LATEST UPDATES: (REUTERS) (AP) (NY POST) and (WSJ)+++++

+++++General Staff: Ukraine repels 71 Russian attacks over past day+++++

+++++Ukraine says Russian offensive near Yahidne unsuccessful+++++

Ukraine Counters Wagner’s Claims of Advances Near Bakhmut

GOP blasts Biden for refusing Ukraine F-16 fighter jets: ‘Real blunder’

On Ukraine front, civilians cling on as troops repel Russia

Opposition group: Explosion at Belarusian military airfield damaged Russian aircraft in reported partisan attack

How Ukrainians are learning to live with the war sirens

US House Foreign Affairs Head: Congress ready to ‘prioritize’ advanced weapons for Ukraine

On Ukraine front, civilians cling on as troops repel Russia

Ukraine says spring counteroffensive to target south