Russia transferring arms, forces to occupied Donbas, Ukraine reports

The Russian military has transferred to the occupied Donbas in the vicinity of Mariupol, a strategic Ukrainian city on the Azov Sea, its naval infantry forces of its Black Sea Fleet based in Crimea, reported on March 8 the Main Reconnaissance Administration of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine. The same day, the Russian military transferred engineering hardware, explosives and ammunition to the occupied region of Donbas. The convoys were led by senior Russian military officials, Ukrainian reconnaissance reported. The prior day, it published the names and photos of several Russian military officials commanding forces in Donbas.

Illegal armed formations in the occupied territory of Donbas violated the ceasefire regime more than 1,400 times in February, reported Ukraine’s Defense Ministry on February. “In many cases, the fire from soldiers was conducted with arms that were supposed to be removed, according to the Minsk accords,” Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak reportedly informed top NATO officials.

Pro-Russian forces attacked Ukrainian forces 15 times on March 8 using arms forbidden by the Minsk Accords, including mortars and grenade launchers, the Anti-Terrorist Operation headquarters reported that evening. In a March 7 attack on the industrial zone of Avdiyivka, nine Russian soldiers were killed and 13 were injured, Ukrainian reconnaissance reported. Two Ukrainian soldiers were reported killed the prior day in fighting at Avdiyivka.

Zenon Zawada: Russian President Putin has typically intensified fighting in the Donbas war ahead of negotiations with Western leaders. With no major talks currently taking place, it’s hard to pinpoint the reason for the intensified fighting and military positioning in recent weeks other than taking control of strategic sites like Avdiyivka and Mariupol, with their industrial potential. The Russian military could already be engaged in a mid-term strategic offensive, given the futility of the negotiating process.