Russia launches summer offensive, intensifies attacks on 7 fronts in Ukraine

"If we take only the previous day, there were 46 Russian attacks in the Pokrovsk sector and 32 in the Novopavlivka sector. This is a lot for Novopavlivka, where the Russians are particularly active now. 14 in the Lyman sector, 11 in the Kupiansk sector, and 7 in the Kharkiv sector. This is also extremely unusual for Kharkiv. 15 - Toretsk, 10 - Kramatorsk," notes Trehubov.

According to him, the most intense combat actions are taking place in the Pokrovsk sector, where the Russians have concentrated several combined arms armies with a full range of equipment.

"This is high activity, it indicates that we have the kind of summer revival we expected and which was announced," notes Trehubov.

However, Russian attempts to take control of Pokrovsk ended in defeat with heavy losses.

"Now a part of their group, which we consider to be part of the Pokrovsk direction, is moving west and trying to break through in the direction of Dnipropetrovsk region, another part is trying to go the other way around in the eastern part of this direction, to break through to the north beyond the Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka highway to make some further advances there," he adds.

Trehubov also said that the Russians are actively using small infantry groups and light equipment, often penetrating Ukrainian positions through forest plantations.

During the attacks, Russian troops use guided aerial bombs.

Summer offensive

A number of Western news agencies reported in May that Russia was planning a summer offensive. According to The Washington Post, the large-scale Russian offensive will be concentrated in the eastern part of the Donetsk region. And this summer could be Vladimir Putin's last chance for a major offensive, the agency believes.

A US official told CNN that the likely Russian offensive would be aimed at gaining more territory in eastern Ukraine.

On May 22, Putin himself announced plans to seize part of Ukraine's territory on the border.