Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: The Financial Times newspaper reported today (Wednesday) that Ukrainian officials admit that Russian forces have been advancing faster than ever in the Donbas since 2022 and that Ukraine's defense is collapsing amid a shortage of manpower.

According to the Novosti news agency, according to reports, Ukraine will try to consolidate its defense and strengthen its position to create more favorable conditions in possible negotiations with Moscow that it may be forced to do by US President-elect Donald Trump.

The Financial Times also quoted an unnamed Ukrainian military spokesman as saying that most of Ukraine's medical personnel would also be deployed to the eastern front ahead of heavy fighting in the coming days and weeks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was quoted as saying recently that Oleksandr Syrsky, the commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, had reported on the difficult situation for Ukrainian forces in some areas of Donetsk and that a decision had been made to significantly reinforce them.