Putin declares war on May 9? US Warning: Expected to announce escalation of attack

The West has long believed that Putin would use the symbolic significance and propaganda value of the day to proclaim a military achievement in Ukraine or a major escalation of the attack.

To date, Putin has insisted on referring to the brutal monthly conflict as a “special military operation” and an official declaration of war on May 9 could potentially strengthen public support for the occupation. Also, under Russian law, it would allow Putin to mobilize reserve forces and take on recruits, whom officials say Russia desperately needs due to a growing labor shortage.

Already Moscow, after more than 2 months of war, has focused its attacks on the Donbas region. Western officials say there are also possibilities, including annexing the breakaway territories of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, pushing for Odessa in the south, or declaring full control of the southern port city of Mariupol.

The United States says it has “very credible” intelligence reports that Russia will try to annex Luhansk and Donetsk sometime in mid-May. There are also indications that Russia may plan to declare and annex a “people’s republic” in the southeastern city of Kherson. All of these warnings come at a time when Russia on Monday attacked Odessa, leaving behind at least one victim, just 15 years old.

Also attacks in the Luhans and Donetsk region left at least 9 victims. While for the first time, after more than 60 days trapped in the Azovstal steel plant, the first evacuees arrived in the city of Zaporizhia on Tuesday. Nearly 101 people, including elderly people, men, women and children, successfully landed in the Ukrainian-controlled city, the UN confirmed.

Meanwhile the mayor of Mariupol says that more than 200 other people continue to be trapped there, while fighting is reported to continue with intensity.

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