Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the country’s military forces on their presence He took control of the entire Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine.
“Military units must continue their mission in accordance with previously approved plans,” Putin said.
Russian state-controlled media followed it with wide coverage. They described it as an “important victory”.
The president previously said that the main goal of the war now is the control of the entire Donbass. The region consisting of Luhansk and Donetsk districts or regions.
Continuation: President Vladimir Putin says Russian military forces will move into Ukraine. Here during a meeting with the Russian Defense Minister yesterday.
Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev / AP
Ukrainian authorities now expect Russian forces to launch an all-out offensive to take control of this entire region. At present, the Russians control just over half of this area.
On the Ukrainian side, it is also said that the withdrawal from the last city of Luhansk is not critical to the course of the war.
– We will take back these lands, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the Reuters news agency.
Critical Threats of War and AEI/NRK Study Institute (Updated 05.07.2022)
How important are the new Western weapons?
The Ukrainian authorities have long called on Western countries to adopt more powerful and modern weapons. They say it is absolutely necessary in the fight against Russian troops.
There are also reports from the Ukrainian side that old types of weapons and ammunition from the Soviet era are running out.
Western Weapons: Ukrainian Soldiers Fire with a French Cannon.
Photo: ARIS MESSINIS / AFP
Only now Western guns and missile systems have begun to enter Ukraine.
These weapons have a greater range and are more accurate than the weapons that the Ukrainians already possess.
In order to be used, Ukrainian soldiers must complete training. It can take weeks and months.
It is also an open question whether there will be enough of these advanced Western weapons. And if they come in time to stop Russia’s military advance.
exhaustion war
In recent weeks, Russian forces have used massive amounts of grenades and rockets in attacks on Ukrainian units in the Donbass.
Military experts say exposure to such bombardment over time is a huge stressor.
Progress: Russia deployed powerful weapons in the war in eastern Ukraine.
Photo: Alexei Alexandrov / AP
The Ukrainians have their best and most experienced troops in the Donbass. He writes that it will not be easy to replace them CNN in analyzing developments.
Officially, the Ukrainian authorities say they are losing up to 200 soldiers every day in this war.
According to the Russian military blogger Jurij Kotjonok The pressure is also very high on the Russian forces.
He believes there is a huge shortage of soldiers along the nearly 1,000-kilometre front in the Donbass. This is one of the reasons why progress has been slow.
It is believed that 500,000 Russian soldiers are needed.
To get so many soldiers, Russia must mobilize militarily. Russian leaders know he will be unpopular and will strike the middle class in the big cities. Therefore, it is not done.
Experts disagree
Some Western experts believe that Russia does not have enough soldiers and weapons to continue this war over time.
American researchers say Washington Post Ukrainian forces do not appear to be collapsing. They think they will probably be able to fight back in a few months.
write two more Foreign Policy It is unrealistic to think that Ukraine will be able to win this war. One of the authors, former Democratic congressman Tulsi Gabbard, has been accused by many of being too friendly with Putin and has previously been critical of US contributions to the Syrian and Ukraine wars. She now believes that the United States and other Western countries should demand that the Ukrainian authorities do what they can to conclude a peace agreement with Russia.
The darkest field shows the area taken over by the Russian-backed rebels in 2014. Now, together with the Russian army, they have captured the entire Luhansk province. Russia is expected to deploy large forces to control the rest of the Donetsk region as well.
Other experts point out that it is difficult to say how the war will continue. Because both sides keep a lot of secrets.
This applies both to the actual casualty figures and to the condition of the troops four months into the war.
How much of Ukraine will Russia try to seize?
In Donetsk and Luhansk, Russian troops spent a surprisingly long time occupying relatively small areas.
And since 2014, Russian-backed rebels have controlled large parts of these two regions.
Violent demolitions: Rescue crews search a home that was blown up in the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine.
Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka / AP
On Russian state television, this is explained by the fact that the Ukrainian forces spent many years building defensive lines with solid trenches and concrete bunkers.
But all indications are that Ukrainian soldiers are motivated to fight hard, although they are numerically inferior and have fewer weapons and ammunition.
Thus, President Putin ordered his forces to continue advancing.
But he didn’t say anything about how far they would get in Ukraine.
When the invasion began, it was clear that the goal was to capture the capital, Kyiv, and possibly the rest of the country.
It is not said directly, but on state TV channels it may seem as if it is still the idea.
In an earlier version of this article, NRK did not mention that American politician Tulsi Gabbard was one of the authors of an article published in the popular magazine. Foreign Policy.
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