city of Mahmoud. Let's get an
update from CNN senior
international correspondent Ben
wedeman. He's joining us live
from the war zone. So Ben, how
brutal are these latest Russian
assaults in the east? Well, it
does appear they're picking up
their tempo at the moment. Now
keep in mind that, for instance,
beginning last September wolf
the Russians change their
tactics and we're really
focused, focusing on Ukraine's
ability to generate power power
that provides electricity and
warmth to the population during
the harsh Ukrainian winters, but
the Ukrainians for one thing,
their ability their air defense
capabilities have drastically
improved, and they have also
proven very adept at sort of
solutions to situations created
when that infrastructure ah was
hit. So now the Russians seem to
be changing their focus focusing
on military targets. But in the
process we're seeing civilians.
More civilians are being killed
yesterday in slovyansk, two
civilians were killed more than
30 people injured when there was
a strike on that town. Now it
just so happens that the strike
also hit a military recruiting
center, so they are focusing
more on supply lines, military
infrastructure, but in the
process, many people are being
killed now as far as the battle
in Mahmoud, commander of
Ukrainian land forces. Says that
their focus at the moment is
trying to try to in his words
destroy as many of the enemy as
possible and prepare for a
counter or rather create the
conditions for a counter
offensive. Fighting continues to
be intense. Also in the town of
avdiivka, which is south of baja
mood there. The Ukrainians say
that the Russians are trying to
wipe that town. Of the face of
the Earth exactly like what?
They're doing. These images of
what we're showing. Our viewers
now are horrendous. Indeed,
civilian targets that the
Russians have unloaded on. As
you know. The Ukrainian
president, Zelinsky made another
stop in his unannounced visits
across Ukraine. That's been
going on these past few days. Is
this an attempt by him to boost
morale? Well today, he was in
Sumi in northern Ukraine, and
over the last seven days. He's
also paid visits to the regions
of her son and her kiev. Those
are regions that until quite
recently were under a Russian
control. Now, keep in mind.
These visits high profile,
unannounced visits come at a
time when more armor is new
armored tanks and other heavy
weaponry is arriving in Ukraine
, and certainly anticipation is
mounting about this possible
Ukrainian spring counter
offensive, and I think this is
his way of showing that he has
confidence in the future and
what the coming weeks and
perhaps months will bring wolf.
Stay safe over there. Thank you
very much. Let's discuss these
latest developments with CNN
military analyst retired U. S.
Air force colonel Cedric
Leighton and CNN contributor on
Russian affairs. Jill Dougherty
, colonel Leighton 24 Russian
attacks over the last day or so,
according to a Ukrainian report
. The heaviest combat
concentrated along the eastern
front. What is Russia's strategy
at this point in the fight
specifically targeting the
civilian areas? Residential
apartment complexes. Schools
kindergartens, for example, wolf
so the basic idea behind the
Russian strategy is to soften
things up for a continuation of
their offensive. Now it looks
like they're offensive has
basically been stalled around
bomb mood. But what the Russians
seem to be telling us is that
they're using towns like deepika
and volodya to actually move
their forces forward. Now
they're not successful at the
present time, but as their
softening things up in the
civilian sector, like with the
orphanages, the hospitals,
kindergartens they're looking at
trying to create those
conditions where they can
potentially bring their forces
into territory that's currently
held by the Ukrainians. I don't
think there'll be successful,
but that's what they're trying
to do. And Jill. As we noted,
these latest Russian strikes hit
a kindergarten, a school and a
hospital. We've seen this
brutality before from the
Russian military. This cruelty
is seems to be deliberate. But
what's your analysis? Well I
think it's obviously some of it
is deliberate. And then some of
it is simply there. Um
inadequate fighting techniques
and weapons that you know, are
not precise. I think you know, I
saw this wolf in chechnya where
they essentially flattened. You
know the capital grozny, and
this is a technique that they
use their using it in Syria as
well. So it's not surprising,
but I think some of the
interesting stuff is there a
projection of power in the far
east. East, which is you know
very far from Ukraine, but I
think very connected to that
that fight. You're going after
the civilian targets in Ukraine
clearly were crimes that are
under investigation right now.
Colonel Leighton, Ukrainian
commander says you can't trying
to wear down the Russian army
and Mahmoud. That's a key city
on the front lines. Of course,
is that strategy working? Well
it seems to be at least
partially working wolf because a
lot of Russians and Wagner group
mercenaries are actually falling
victim to this they are losing.
The Russians are losing quite a
few men. I in this fight. In
fact, there are huge cemeteries
that are being built up in the
south of Russia because of this,
so it does seem as if this is a
part of the Ukrainian strategy
that is, at least potentially
working on. Not sure it is the
most cost effective strategy.
But it is certainly something
that they're using right now.
And I noticed Jill that just a
few hours ago, a Russian fleet
fired missiles at a marked
target off the coast of Japan.
So what messages Putin sending.
I think there are a couple
number one force projection. We
can go anywhere. That's part of
it. But I also think, you know,
look at what happened just about
a week ago, the prime minister
of Japan, Mr kishida went to
kiev on a surprise visit very
strong show of support for
Ukraine. The Russians obviously
are quite angry about this. And
there you're getting, you know
action in the far east with last
week there were strategic by
bombers. They used the cruise
missiles coming from a submarine
. And I noted that the secretary
of the Russian security council,
Mr Patrick, chef said the U. S
is pushing Japan to militarize
just like World War two, he says
, and turn Japanese citizens
into kamikazes. So this is you
know more of the same that it's
all the United States behind
everything. Just as they say
that the United States is, you
know, trying to militarize
Ukraine and use it to attack
Russia. It's really I think