Wagner Group leader Yevgeni Prigozhin has claimed that Ukraine has 200,000 reservists mobilising to attack along the entire line of the eastern front. However, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War have suggested that Prigozhin’s statements are exaggerated and intended to gain additional supplies and reinforcements from Russia’s Ministry of Defense to protect his forces at Bakhmut. Despite Russia’s claims that it is fighting against NATO in Ukraine, Prigozhin asserted that Russia is fighting solely against Ukrainians and some mercenaries that he referred to as “Russophobes,” rather than against NATO forces. Ukrainian forces are continuing to weaken the mercenaries, with the Wagner Group still maintaining a numerical advantage. Additionally, the Russian military continues to mobilize personnel and form new brigades to attack Ukrainian positions around Avdiivka. Despite Russian attacks, the top commander of the Ukrainian ground forces has stated that they will soon begin a counteroffensive after withstanding the harsh winter campaign.
