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Zaporizhia in eastern Ukraine: London considers a Ukrainian offensive possible
Photo: Andriy Andriyenko / dpa
British military experts have observed in recent weeks that the Russian army has expanded its defense positions in Ukraine.
The daily briefing from the British Ministry of Defense states: "The way Russia has been working to improve its defenses suggests that commanders are very likely preoccupied with the possibility of major Ukrainian offensives - either in the northern Luhansk region or in Zaporizhia .«
According to the experts, a breakthrough by Ukrainian forces in the Zaporizhia region could jeopardize the functionality of the Russian "land bridge" that connects the Russian region of Rostov with Crimea.
Important rail and road connections and thus the supply of Russian troops in the region are in danger as a result.
A Ukrainian success in Luhansk would further undermine Russia's declared war goal of "liberating" eastern Ukraine's Donbass region.
Russia: Explosion at gas pipeline in Luhansk sabotage
According to the occupiers, the explosion of a gas pipeline in Luhansk is due to sabotage.
"For the preliminary reason: due to the blasting of the natural gas pipeline with a diameter of 300 millimeters at the open crossing over the Sukhaya River, the gas supply has failed for 13,315 customers in nine towns," said the civil defense of the Russian occupying power in the Luhansk region on social networks.
Heavy frost is currently prevailing in Luhansk.
The explosion happened on Sunday night.
The fire could only be extinguished in the morning.
There are no dead or injured.
50 prisoners exchanged
After the turn of the year, Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners for the first time.
"On January 8, as a result of the negotiation process, 50 Russian soldiers who were in imminent danger in captivity were withdrawn from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime," the Russian Defense Ministry said on its Telegram channel.
Shortly thereafter, the Ukrainian side confirmed the exchange.
There are now regular prisoner exchanges between Moscow and Kyiv.
Deaths and injuries in Ukraine despite the ceasefire announced by Moscow
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The ceasefire announced by Russia for the Orthodox Christmas has apparently proved to be largely ineffective.
In the contested Ukrainian regions, there was no significant calming of the fighting.
Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of Ukraine's presidential office, said that two people had been killed in the past 24 hours.
One of them died in the eastern Donetsk region, another in the northeastern Kharkiv region.
A total of nine people were injured in the two regions and in the southern region of Kherson.
The information cannot be independently verified.
London wants to advance the investigation of Russian war crimes
Great Britain meanwhile announced an international meeting of justice ministers on the Ukraine war.
The British government said the conference planned for March in London is intended to support the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating war crimes in Ukraine.
ani/dpa/AFP
