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Zelensky expects Russian offensive in northeast Ukraine to intensify

Ukrainian servicemen get ready to fight against Russian forces in Ukraine's Luhansk region on Feb. 24. [AFP]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an exclusive interview with AFP on Friday he expects Russia to step up its offensive in the northeast and warned Kyiv only has a quarter of the air defences it needs to hold the front line.

Russian forces, which made only moderate advances in recent months, launched a surprise assault in Kharkiv region on May 10 that has resulted in their biggest territorial gains in a year-and-a-half.

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