**Russian Forces Prepare to Break Through in Southern Ukraine**
Ukrainian forces are getting ready for a potential Russian breakthrough in the southern part of Donetsk Oblast. Vladyslav Voloshyn, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military‘s Southern Command, said on November 24 that Russian troops are preparing to attack.
The push is expected to happen near Velyka Novosilka, one of the largest settlements in the area. Russian forces are also gearing up to attack other parts of Ukraine, including Orikhiv and Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Voloshyn said that Ukrainian intelligence has detected Russian troops creating assault groups and conducting aerial reconnaissance with drones. This suggests that Russia is preparing for an upcoming offensive.
**Ukraine Prepares Defenses**
The Ukrainian military has been warning of a potential Russian attack in the south. Voloshyn said earlier this month that Russia could launch a renewed assault on Zaporizhzhia Oblast “any day.” Ukraine is now building heavy fortifications near Zaporizhzhia to prepare for an attack.
**Russia Gains Territory in East Ukraine**
Russian forces are currently gaining territory in eastern Ukraine at a rapid rate. They have been seizing towns in Donetsk Oblast, but at the cost of heavy personnel losses.
The situation on the ground is getting more intense, with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi saying on November 2 that Ukraine is now facing “one of the most powerful” Russian offensives since the start of the war.
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