Russian Federation prepares for offensive - British general

Russia's massive shelling of Ukraine may have several purposes: to damage the country's economy, as well as to hit the morale of its citizens. It may also be a harbinger of a repeat offensive by the enemy, former NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Richard Shirreff has said, according to Sky News.

According to him, "This is the formation of a battlefield as the military would describe it."

Given intelligence and briefings, Shirreff said the massive strikes could be part of preparations for a repeat Russian offensive. He added that the Russians were "mopping up" the front lines and pointed out that Russia was mobilising a significant number of civilians. The military has added thousands of new recruits to its ranks in recent weeks.

He also stressed that those enemy forces which had left Kherson had already regrouped and were preparing to strike at other parts of the front