Newly mobilised soldiers and Wagner mercenaries ceaselessly flow to occupied Melitopol – Mayor

The number of Russian forces grows in the occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, due to the arrival of newly mobilised Russians and units of the Wagner Group, the infamous Russian private military company. 

Source: Ivan Fedorov, the legitimate Mayor of Melitopol, during a briefing to Ukraine-Ukrinform mediacentre on 8 February; Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "As of the concentration [of the Russian forces – ed.], the local residents see a never ending flow of newly mobilised, new units of the Wagner PMC."

Details: At the same time, the Mayor of Melitopol reminded that a week ago, at least 1500 Wagner mercenaries have arrived to the settlement of Myhkailivka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast; they "are coming en masse, settling in houses, in [buildings of] social institutions and trying to disperse throughout the temporarily occupied vicinities of Melitopol".

"Unfortunately, they chose our city, our Oblast, as a logistical and administrative centre of the occupied south of our country, that's why they reside there en masse," he clarified.

At the same time, Fedorov emphasised that it would be more correct to assess the prospect of intensifying the offensive in the south by the "military, intelligence services — they are much more competent in this".

Earlier: Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, suggested on 7 February that Russia would make Kharkiv or Zaporizhzhia Oblast of Ukraine the targets of its offensive in the near future.

On 13 January, Fedorov reported that Russian occupation forces are continuing to gather in the temporarily occupied city of Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The number of Russians in the city exceeds the number of local residents who have not yet fled the occupation.

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