Between 1,200 and 2,000 of the soldiers will be organized into three regular battalion groups, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said. It is “very unlikely” that Vladimir Putin’s regime would make such a move unless it was forced to take desperate action as a result of the “unexpected losses” it suffered during its invasion of Ukraine, the ministry said. Britain and its allies have agreed to send more weapons – such as long-range artillery, ammunition and anti-aircraft weapons – to Ukraine, said Defense Secretary Ben Wallace. He told reporters on Thursday: “There will be more deadly aid to Ukraine as a result today. “Some countries have come up with new ideas or promised more money.” Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace (Ian West / PA) It comes just days after Russia said it would reduce its military operations to focus on the separatist-held Donbass region of eastern Ukraine. However, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that Russian forces were being reorganized and would not withdraw. He told reporters in Brussels: “According to our information, the Russian units are not being withdrawn but are being relocated. Russia is trying to regroup, resupply and step up its offensive in the Donbas region. “At the same time, Russia is putting pressure on Kyiv and other cities. “Therefore, we can expect additional offensive actions, which will bring even more suffering.” The situation remained “very difficult” in southern Ukraine and in the Donbas region, said Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian president reiterated that Russia is deploying forces near the besieged Black Sea port of Mariupol. “There will be battles ahead. “We still have a long way to go to get everything we want,” Zelensky said in a midnight video address to officials in Brussels. A “humanitarian catastrophe” has been caused in Mariupol that has killed thousands of people, he added. A total of 148 children have been killed in bombings and airstrikes by Russian forces since the beginning of the invasion, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said. More than 10 million Ukrainians have fled their homes, she said in a statement. Reuters said it could not independently verify the allegation.
