LUGANSK, October 22. /TASS/. Ukraine is building up its forces near Kramatorsk and Slavyansk in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS.

"As for the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration, we see permanent deployment of fresh forces and weapons: the Ukrainian command regularly makes up for its losses. Currently, according to the incoming reports, additional forces have been deployed north of Druzhkovka, to the vicinity of the settlement of Malotaranovka. Furthermore, an increase in enemy forces and equipment has been observed east of Slavyansk - near the village of Nikolayevka. Consequently, the Ukrainian command continues focusing on this urban area," he said.

In an attempt to retain control of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, the Ukrainian command is sparing no troops or equipment and is sustaining huge losses in this agglomeration, he added.