Russia has dismissed Ukraine’s plan to hold a peace conference without its involvement, as Kyiv said its forces had abandoned a village near the recently occupied eastern town of Avdiivka and taken up strong defensive positions in Kupiansk to the north. Kyiv said its troops were also on the defensive in the Kupiansk area of Kharkiv region in the northeast, which was liberated in September 2022. “The main settlement [targeted by] the enemy there is still Kupiansk, where it continues to mass all its forces and reserves. In this area it also has quite a lot of different equipment and personnel… In addition, KAB [guided bombs] and Su-34 and Su-35 [fighter jets] are now being used very heavily,” said Ukrainian military spokesman Illia Yevlash. “The president is informed online about the situation at the front… He is made aware of everything instantly,” Mr Peskov said.

Source: The Irish Times February 26, 2024 21:54 UTC