Ukrainian emergency workers clear the rubble on the roof of a residential building hit by a Russian rocket in Kharkiv on Monday
(Picture: AP)Russia is preparing for “maximum escalation” in its war on Ukraine, a top Kyiv security official has warned as the anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s invasion approaches.
Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, said Moscow was “gathering everything possible” for a major offensive.
In an interview with Sky News, Mr Danilov said: “Russia is preparing for maximum escalation.”
He said he could not rule out Putin launching a concerted attack on multiple fronts in the coming days and weeks.
“We do understand everything is on the table… I can say that we are not excluding any scenario in the next two to three weeks,” he said.
However a western official said they have not seen any sign Russia is planning anything to coincide with the February 24 anniversary.
“We will continue to monitor that,” the western official said in a briefing to journalists.
“Traditionally they [Russia] have tried to do things on dates. The Ukrainians come from a similar culture as well in that regard, but I haven’t seen anything from either side to suggest they do have plans afoot.”
President Zelensky’s top security official said he expected about half of more than 320,000 soldiers mobilised by Russia last September would be involved in a second wave whenever it comes.
“I’m conscious the main fights are yet to come and they will happen this year, within two to three months. These will be defining months in the war,” Mr Danilov said.
He said Ukraine was receiving significantly more from western partners than it did 12 months ago.
“Those countries who help us in our struggle have started to provide us maximum help.”
Western allies have in recent weeks agreed to send battle tanks to Ukraine for the first time to fight Putin’s forces.
The UK stepped up first, pledging around 14 Challenger 2s, with Germany and the US agreeing to send Leopard 2 A6 and M1 Abrams tanks.
However the US and UK have ruled out sending F-16 fighter jets as Ukraine pushes for more help to defeat Russia in the skies.
On the ground, a Russian-installed official in eastern Ukraine claimed Putin’s forces were encircling the key eastern city of Bakhmut and were battling to take control of the highway that connects the city to the nearby town of Chasiv Yar.
Russia claims to have taken control of several locations around Bakhmut, where its troops and mercenaries from the Wagner group have been locked in a battle of attrition with Ukrainian forces for months.
