Ukraine's army chief said the situation on the battlefield is "difficult" and Russian forces may be ready to strike deep into Ukrainian lines in the eastern Donetsk region, the Kyiv Independent reports.
Kiev's forces are on the defensive along the 1,000-kilometre frontline in the east and south of the country after Moscow made its first territorial gains in almost a year.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Sirsky said he had visited two brigades "where the situation is gradually becoming more complicated and there is a threat of enemy troops entering deep into our combat formations."
Ukraine is facing a shortage of manpower and ammunition amid a halt in Western aid and an internal debate over how to recruit more soldiers as the war continues into its third year.
"Overall, the operational situation on the eastern front remains difficult. The enemy continues to conduct offensive actions" in a number of areas of the Donetsk region, Sirsky said in a Telegram post.
"At the same time, probably due to the high level of losses, the enemy's activity in other areas of the front has significantly decreased," he added, without giving further details.
In an interview with French media on 11 March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia's offensive in the east had been "halted" and that the situation was "much better" than three months ago.
In February, Russian forces captured the symbolic frontline town of Avdiivka, adjacent to the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, after one of the bloodiest battles of the two-year war. /BGNES
