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Russia Builds Up 20,000 Troops for Planned Offensive in Southeastern Ukraine
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Russia is preparing for a new ground offensive in southeastern Ukraine.
To support this move, Moscow is pulling from its strategic reserves to add 20,000 more soldiers to its forces currently in the country, according to the Financial Times on April 16.
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As stated by Vadym Skibitsky, a representative of Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR), this buildup is part of a larger plan. Skibitsky noted that Russia currently has about 680,000 soldiers on Ukrainian territory.
The Kremlin’s primary goal is to capture the entire Donbas region by September. The addition of fresh troops is intended to replenish existing units and strengthen the front lines for the upcoming push.
This development follows months of heavy fighting across the eastern and southern fronts. Ukrainian officials continue to monitor the movement of these strategic reserves as Russia scales up its military presence for the planned operation.
“Every month we destroy the same number of occupiers as they mobilize, yet the size of their force on Ukrainian territory continues to grow. We believe they are increasing their troop numbers by drawing personnel from their strategic reserves,” as stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Previously, Russia planned to recruit an additional 409,000 soldiers in 2026 as it increased its activity along the frontline. According to a statement from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Russian military also intensified its recruitment efforts within the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
This campaign specifically targeted university students, where academic failure was used as a tool for mobilization.
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