ZAITSEVE, Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukraine’s army is prepared and capable of repel any assault, says Ukrainian soldier Oleksander, standing in a trench only a few hundred meters from pro-Russian separatists.
Ukraine’s army intelligence mentioned final week that Russia had greater than 92,000 troops massed round Ukraine’s borders and was getting ready for an assault by the tip of January or starting of February.
Russia’s international intelligence chief mentioned on Saturday that such strategies had been “malicious U.S. propaganda”.
However Ukrainian forces who management the borders are ready for any escalation between the 2 sides.
“If there’s an assault, we have now means for defence. We’re well-prepared. We’re preparing, higher day-to-day, contemplating totally different choices. We are able to repel an assault with out large issues and we’re not afraid of it,” mentioned Oleksander.
Ukraine, which needs to affix the NATO army alliance, has blamed Moscow for supporting separatists in a battle in its east since 2014.
Russia has mentioned it suspects Ukraine of desirous to recapture separatist-controlled territory by power. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned on Friday that Kyiv had no such plans and Russia’s rhetoric opposing Ukraine’s bid to affix NATO was worrying.
Ukraine obtained a big consignment of U.S. ammunition and Javelin missiles earlier this 12 months and troopers say additionally they have mortars and Turkish assault drones.
“It is a unhealthy concept to be afraid when somebody involves your own home and also you disguise in your basement. It will not work. One ought to stand up and go to battle,” one other soldier Vlad mentioned.
“We’re preventing right here to not allow them to come, after which it is luck of a draw.”
(Reporting by Anatoliy Stepanov; writing by Pavel Polityuk; modifying by Christina Fincher)
