Free Republic

Ukrainian forces have for months been holding at bay a gruelling Russian offensive in battered towns and heavily shelled trenches spanning the eastern front line.But now, with the Kremlin's forces running out of steam after making only incremental gains over the winter onslaught, Ukraine is preparing to hit back."If our senior military staff say we have enough troops, enough shells -- enough everything -- to attack, then we're ready," a Ukrainian serviceman, who identified himself as Mark, told AFP in the Donetsk region this week.Russia was beaten back in embarrassing defeats near the capital Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson last year...