Military analysts have said for days that Russian troops have “suspended” offensive operations in the Donbus region of eastern Ukraine. But tell it to Ukrainian fighters exposed to fire and dig into the defensive positions of towns and villages.
Ukrainian officials said Friday that skirmishes had intensified in at least 10 locations in Donetsk Oblast. Of the states they do not control.
Near the Russian border, a region of heavy industry, mining and agriculture, Donbus has been the focus of President Vladimirputin’s campaign in Ukraine because Russian troops were unable to occupy the country’s two most important cities, Kyiv. .. The early capital of the conflict and Kharkiv.
Donbus is composed of Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts. After weeks of fighting and bombardment, the last remaining city in Luhansk collapsed earlier this month. Since then, some experts have said Moscow has suspended a major operation in Donbus to reorganize and replace its troops.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ridiculed the idea this week, noting a series of deadly strikes on civilian targets and infrastructure. Some analysts claim a subtle understanding of Russia’s current approach.
Michael Kofman, Russian Research Director at CNA, an institute in Arlington, Virginia, said: Said this week “This is a very temporary amnesty. It’s not really an operational suspension.” Podcast “Waron the Rocks” He said Russian troops are still trying to put pressure on the fortified Ukrainian position around the city of Slovyansk as “less successful.”
He said the next Russian advance would probably target the city and further south of Kramatorsk, and the struggle for Donetsk Oblast could last for months. He and other analysts, including Western intelligence, emphasized that both Russia and Ukraine have suffered significant losses and are facing serious human resource problems.
This week, intelligence-savvy U.S. officials and others estimated that a total of about 20,000 Russians were killed and about 60,000 were injured. Russia sought to recruit more soldiers by offering large cash bonuses to volunteers, Ukrainians from separatist territories, mercenaries, and militarized National Guard troops.
Ukraine has also lost a significant number of soldiers. In June, government officials said Ukraine loses 100 to 200 soldiers every day.
The military is also facing a lack of equipment. Almost one-third of Russia’s equipment has been destroyed, according to Western officials, but the Kremlin retains a significant advantage in heavy weapons.
As a result, Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called for heavier weapons and ammunition from the West, stating that they need supplies to counter Russia’s long-range dominance. On Friday, Defense Minister Olexi Reznikov, welcome Introducing the first M270 Multiple Launch Rocket system, an armored vehicle that is a state-of-the-art artillery rocket launcher.
Reznikov said the weapon would “become a good company” for the US-provided high-mobility artillery rocket system or HIMARS. The United States has delivered eight and promised four more truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers. Ukrainian troops say they are using what has arrived to attack Russian bases and bases behind the front lines.
Still, some analysts say Ukraine needs dozens more to effectively fight Russian cannons, and Ukrainian authorities say they need as many as 300 multiple rocket launchers. ..
