In some areas of the Zaporizhzhya sector, Russia is creating a more powerful grouping than it is necessary for defence. At the same time, there is no talk of an offensive grouping at the moment, the head of the joint press centre of the Defence Forces of the Tavriya direction, Yevhen Yerin, has told the telethon, Ukrinform reported.
"The enemy still continues to strengthen engineering structures on this front line, but at the same time, in some areas, they are regrouping troops and updating them. And in some areas there are signs of the creation of groups more powerful than usual for defence," Yerin said.
This area borders with the Donetsk sector, so Ukrainian intelligence is constantly monitoring the enemy, and the troops are preparing to repel any attempts to change the situation here.
Answering the question whether the Russians are preparing for the battle for Zaporizhzhya, he noted: "It is impossible to say that some powerful grouping is being prepared there. But I repeat - in certain areas of the front they change from time to time through rotations and regroupings. What can this indicate? The enemy can prepare for something or keep our troops in a certain tension and restrain our forces from moving to other more important areas of the front."
Yerin also said that there is no significant number of Wagner PMC members in the mentioned section of the front. The main forces are the Russian Armed Forces. The Russian Guard is also present in the depth of the echeloned defensive lines.
According to the spokesman, Russians continue to create obstacles for civilians to leave for the free territory of Ukraine.
Russian troops attacked Zaporizhzhya on Saturday afternoon, 31 December. As a result of the missile strike, two private houses were partially destroyed, about eight more were damaged. As a result of the explosion, the following were injured: one man, two women (one of them pregnant) and a child.