Kiev acknowledged on Monday that the Ukrainian army is currently in a “very difficult” situation facing Russian forces, which are launching attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine after taking control of the city of Avdiivka last weekend.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily message, “The situation is very difficult at several points on the front line, where Russian forces have concentrated the largest possible number of precautions. They are taking advantage of the delay in Western aid” to Ukraine.
He added that his country lacks artillery and needs air defense as much as it needs long-range weapons, considering, on the other hand, that the blockade imposed on the border with Poland by Polish truck drivers and farmers shows the “erosion of solidarity” with his country.
On the ground, the Ukrainian army explained that Russian soldiers moved to the attack in the east and south after taking control of Avdiivka, which represented their first major gain since their seizure of Bakhmut in May 2023.
In the southern part of the front, “the enemy carried out 10 failed attempts against the positions of the (Ukrainian) defense forces in the village of Robotny,” said the Ukrainian army spokesman in this area, Dmytro Lykhovy, adding, “The situation here is changing. The enemy is firing intense fire.”
Multiple Russian attacks
According to him, the Ukrainians repelled attacks launched “with a large number of armored vehicles,” but the Russians are now attacking “with small groups,” supported by armored vehicles and air force that is “actively operating.”
For his part, General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, commander of the Ukrainian forces in the region, confirmed that “these attack attempts were stopped, and the enemy was eliminated on the outskirts of Robotny.”
The DeepState channel, which is close to the Ukrainian army, reported via Telegram on Sunday evening that the Russians were able to penetrate the Ukrainian defenses a few kilometers east of Robotyn.
This village, like other areas completely destroyed by artillery fire, was retaken from the Russians in August, in what was described as an important success for Ukraine in the counter-offensive it began in the summer.
The Russian attacks on this part of the southern front began last weekend when the Russian army took control of the city of Avdiivka, about 150 kilometers northeast of Robotini, after four months of repeated attacks.
Local residents worried
In the Donetsk region, the Russian army “strengthened” its positions, especially by “completely liberating the Avdiivka coke plant,” the last sector that was controlled by the Ukrainians before their withdrawal, as Moscow announced on Monday.
In the Avdiivka area, Ukrainian army spokesman Dmytro Lykhovy confirmed that “the Russians are regrouping and have achieved their tactical goals,” and “it is possible that they will transfer units (from Avdiivka) to other sectors.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of an “important victory” after taking control of Avdiivka, a few days before the second anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.
In Selidovy, 30 kilometers east of Avdiivka, this Ukrainian defeat raises questions that worry residents: Should they flee now or continue to pin their hopes on Ukrainian forces in difficulty?
Olena (42 years old) said: “I hear a lot of people in the city wondering whether they will leave or not. People are afraid. My daughter asks me every day to leave, but I tell her that it is not time yet.”
For his part, Zelensky visited a brigade defending the Kubyansk region on the northeastern front, where the Russians have also been launching an attack for months.
In parallel, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Monday that it is trying to “shed light on the fate of 23,000 people who went missing” in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Diplomatically, French President Emmanuel Macron’s circles said that he “intends to visit Ukraine by mid-March,” while a rumor circulated on social media in Russia regarding a planned assassination during this visit.
Macron’s circles told Agence France-Presse: “There were no security problems at the timing of the visit. This question was never asked.”
A video clip attributed to France 24 was broadcast on social networks in Russia, but the channel said it was “fake.” According to this clip, Macron canceled his visit, after “French intelligence” discovered a plan to “assassinate” him.
Zelensky: Closing Polish borders shows ‘erosion of solidarity’
Ukrainian President Zelensky on Monday denounced the closure of the Polish border by truck drivers and farmers, while officials warned that this move threatens the security of Ukraine, which continues to face the Russian invasion.
Polish farmers close crossing points in front of Ukrainian trucks in protest against what they consider unfair competition.
The dispute has disturbed relations between the two neighboring countries, although Poland has been one of Ukraine’s most prominent supporters since the start of the Russian invasion of its territory in February 2022.
The Ukrainian president said, “The things that are happening on the western border, the border with Poland, cannot be considered normal or normal,” noting that this situation “demonstrates the erosion of solidarity at a daily rate.”
Exporting products overland across the Polish border to the European Union constituted a lifeline for Ukrainian companies after Russian forces took control of the main trade routes in the Black Sea.
But the increase in land shipping has angered Polish farmers and logistics companies in Poland, complaining of Ukrainian competition.
“Actually, the situation is not about grain, but about politics,” Zelensky said, noting that only five percent of agricultural exports passed through the Polish border.
On Monday, Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov said that six border crossings were closed on the Polish side.
He said in a post on Facebook: “Closing the border constitutes a direct threat to the security of a defending country.”
He said in a statement to state television, “They are blocking everything. There are fuel tanks. A few days ago, the demonstrators did not allow several trucks loaded with weapons to pass.”
A Polish official spoke of a queue of about 600 trucks parked waiting to be allowed to leave Poland for Ukraine at the Dorohosk crossing.
“The waiting time for the departure of this number of trucks is estimated at about 232 hours,” said Michal Deros, spokesman for the Tax Administration Chamber in Poland’s Lublin.
He explained that more than twenty trucks crossed the border into Ukraine at night, but “not a single truck entered Poland.”
“Therefore, it should be assumed that this is a complete siege,” he added.
The situation is expected to worsen on Tuesday, with Polish farmers calling for a complete halt to transit movement on the border with Ukraine.
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