Kyiv: Plan to turn war against Russians hinge on holding Bakhmut until offensive drive in spring
, but Ukrainian commanders say the planning for a renewed offensive to reclaim land in the Donbas has not been affected.
“It was necessary to buy time to accumulate reserves and start a counteroffensive, which is not far off,” the general told Ukrainian reporters in Kyiv on March 11.Despite a disastrous first year of fighting, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be betting that his smaller adversary cannot long sustain a war of attrition and that popular support in the U.S. and Europe will inevitably weaken if the fighting produces a stalemate.
“It’s easier to train someone to stand in a trench and defend and shoot someone coming at them, but it’s much more difficult to train them to do offensive operations,” Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, recently“It takes a lot more courage and unit cohesion, [and] it takes better leadership and command and control,” he said.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russian troops fear imminent Bakhmut counter offensive—ISWThe Russian information space has expressed concern at Moscow's ability to handle Kyiv's moves around Bakhmut.
Read more »
Ukraine sees holding Bakhmut as ‘necessary’ to spring offensiveKyiv has no plans to pull out of Bakhmut. Ukrainian officials say it’s not just a matter of what the loss would mean for the public’s morale. The city’s defense, they say, is linked to a planned spring offensive that could commence within weeks as the weather warms.
Read more »
Russia gains ground in 'defendable key terrain' south of Bakhmut: U.K.A city occupied by Russian separatists nearly a decade ago is serving renewed interest in eastern Ukraine.
Read more »
Trouble in paradise as Bali loses patience with Russians, Ukrainians fleeing war | CNNSince Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Indonesia’s most famous holiday island has become a magnet for thousands of Russians and Ukrainians seeking to escape the horrors of war.
Read more »
How Russians reacted to warrant for Putin's arrest'We will protect him—the people of Russia,' a Moscow resident said.
Read more »