The Ukrainian military holds the north of Maryinka

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, said at a briefing on December 26 that the Ukrainian military is still in the northern part of the city of Marinka, in the Donetsk region.

Zaluzhny was asked to comment on the statements of the Russian side that Marinka has completely come under the control of the Russian army. He insists that the northern part of the city is still held by the Armed Forces. Also, according to him, a defensive line has been prepared outside this settlement.

Valery Zaluzhny noted that the city “held on for almost two years.” “This is a war. And the fact that we have now moved to the vicinity of Maryinka, and in some places – a little further, it seems to me that there is nothing in this that could cause a public outcry,” RBC Ukraine quotes Zaluzhny.

Speaking about the current state of the city after active fighting, the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said: “Marinka is no more.”

On December 25, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported on the capture of Maryinka at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. On the air of the telethon on the same day, the representative of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Shtupun, called Shoigu’s words about the complete capture of the city incorrect. Stupun claimed that the fighting continues and Ukrainian servicemen are in the administrative borders of Maryinka.

In addition to the situation around Maryinka, Valery Zaluzhnyi confirmed on the air of the Ukrainian national telethon on Tuesday that the plans of the Ukrainian command for 2023 include the mobilization of 400–500 thousand people. According to him, this figure takes into account “the coverage of the current shortage, which arose during the formation of new military units”, as well as “forecasted losses for the next year”.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, during the final press conference last week, said that the military had received a request for the mobilization of 450-500 thousand people and that he asked to refine the plan for the recruitment of fighters, and gave him “more arguments.”