KYIV (Reuters) -- Russian forces bombarded Ukrainian positions along the frontlines in eastern Donetsk region on Tuesday in what appeared to be early salvoes of a new offensive as NATO allies met in Brussels to plan stepped-up supplies to the Kyiv government.
The Donetsk region city of Bakhmut, a major target for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s troops, was in a precarious position.
Tegional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko told Ukraine’s national broadcaster that Russian artillery was hitting targets all along the frontlines in Donetsk, which along with Luhansk region makes up the Donbas, Ukraine’s industrial heartland and a main objective for the Russians.
With the first anniversary of the war approaching, the Kremlin has intensified operations across a broad area of southern and eastern Ukraine and a major new offensive has been widely anticipated.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that the bombardments and ground attacks indicated the offensive was already underway.
Ukraine’s military said on Tuesday its forces had repelled attacks in five settlements in Luhansk and six in Donetsk, including in Bakhmut, over the past 24 hours.
They had also beaten back an attack on a town in Kharkiv region, which borders Russia in northeast Ukraine.
The capture of Bakhmut would give Russia a new foothold in Donetsk and a rare victory after months of setbacks.
Ukrainian officials said the Russians had suffered big losses around Vuhledar, a town about 150 km southwest of Bakhmut, including tanks and armored vehicles as well as personnel.
With Ukraine desperate for more weapons, defense ministers from several NATO allies will meet at the organization’s headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss more military aid.
On the eve of the meeting, Ukraine’s top general and the most senior U.S. Army commander in Europe discussed military aid and training in a telephone conversation. Ukraine says it needs fighter jets and long-range missiles.
Stoltenberg said he expected the issue of aircraft to be discussed but that Ukraine needed support on the ground now.
A NATO source said it would increase the stockpiling of ammunition as Ukraine was burning through shells much faster than Western countries could produce.
Training of Ukrainian forces on the Leopard 2 and other modern battle tanks that are to boost their defenses is underway in several European countries, including Poland, Britain and Germany.