Ukraine says it could strike airfields and depots inside Russia as part of anticipated spring counteroffensive; Russia transfers military personnel to hot fronts, carries out several unsuccessful attacks; UKR repels 81 RU attacks. downs 11 drones over past 24 hrs, LIVE UPDATES and MORE

Photo by Ihor Tkachov/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine says it could strike airfields and depots inside Russia as part of anticipated spring counteroffensive:

Ukraine is eyeing to launch a major counteroffensive in spring, which could include striking airfields and depots of rockets and artillery systems inside Russia, a top intelligence official said in an interview published on Feb. 26.

"It is one of our strategic military goals that we try to drive a wedge in the Russian front in the south – between (occupied) Crimea and Russia," Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of Ukrainian military intelligence, told the German newspaper Berliner Morgenpost.

“It is possible that we will also destroy arms depots or military equipment on Russian territory, for example around the city of Belgorod,” Skibitsky said.

The anticipated spring counteroffensive is aimed to “liberate the entire country” and push out about 370,000 Russian soldiers fighting across Ukraine, according to Skibitsky.

The statement about an anticipated spring counteroffensive came after top defense officials said Ukraine was preparing for a major push to change the dynamic of the war. Currently, Russia is pushing on the eastern front as it masses forces trying to finally capture the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast after months of intense siege.

Ukraine said recently that its striking distance has increased. After a series of explosions were reported in the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine last week, the military said that the area was “no longer completely unreachable” for Ukrainian forces.

Drone strikes targeting Engels air base in western Russia in December, which appeared to be Ukraine’s strategic attacks to undermine Russia’s missile capabilities, have signaled Ukraine’s increased willingness to hit behind Russian lines. --->READ MORE HERE

Illustrative photo of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Russia transfers military personnel to hot fronts, carries out several unsuccessful attacks – General Staff

The Russian Federation is increasing the number of personnel on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Shakhtarsk fronts, where it is conducting an offensive.

Source: operational information of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 18:00 on Monday, 27 February

Quote: "The 369th day of the Russian large-scale invasion continues. The Russian Federation continues to conduct full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine. The main efforts are focused on conducting offensive operations on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Shakhtarsk fronts, and increasing the number of personnel

According to available information, up to 200 conscripts from Rostov Oblast have been transferred to the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk Oblast."

Details: During the current day, the Russian army carried out 8 missile and 28 air strikes, 12 of them with Iranian Shahed-136 attack UAVs; and also carried out more than 55 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems.

The Air Force of the Defence Forces of Ukraine launched 4 strikes on the areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment of the invaders. Also, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed 9 out of 12 Iranian Shahed-136 and 1 Zala attack UAVs during the current day.

Rocket Forces and Artillery units attacked one control point, one area of concentration of Russian manpower and one air defence position. --->READ MORE HERE

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