A British intelligence update reported Tuesday that the Russian military likely tried to resume major offensive operations in Ukraine in early January, with the aim of capturing Ukraine-controlled parts of Donetsk.
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However, the update added that Russia is still unlikely to be able to mobilize the necessary troops to significantly influence the outcome of the war within the next few weeks.
Russian reinforcements flowing
On his part, a Ukrainian governor said Russia was sending reinforcements to eastern Ukraine ahead of a new offensive that could begin next week along a front that has been fighting for months.
Ukraine expects a major offensive that Russia could launch for "symbolic" reasons as the anniversary of the invasion approaches on 24 February, which Moscow insists on calling a "special military operation."
Ukraine itself plans to launch an offensive in the spring to recover lost territory, but is waiting for the West to hand over its promised long-range missiles and combat tanks.
"We are seeing more and more Russian reserves being deployed in our direction, and we are seeing more materiel being introduced," Lugansk Governor Sergei Gaidai told Ukrainian television.
He added: "They bring ammunition that is used differently than before - there is no longer 24/7 bombing. They're starting to save their effort. The readiness of the attack is large-scale. It will probably take 10 days to mobilize reserves. after 15 February we expect (this attack) at any time ".