KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces are digging in and Russia’s military is lining up more firepower ahead of an expected showdown in eastern Ukraine.
Experts say a full-scale Russian offensive could start within days and become a decisive period in the war.
However, questions remain about the ability of Russia’s depleted and demoralized forces to wage a successful campaign after Ukraine’s inspired defenders repelled their push to capture the capital, Kyiv.
Britain’s Defense Ministry reported Sunday that Russia’s military is trying to compensate by boosting troop numbers with personnel who had been discharged from service since 2012.
Russia-backed separatists have fought Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine for eight years and control parts of a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region.
