De Kruif says there is still a lot of fighting every day, resulting in deaths and injuries. “But that doesn’t make much news because the front line hardly moves, if at all.”
Also listen | Morning update Ukraine 03/01/2023
Attack on the Russians
More than 400 Russian soldiers were killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack on the town of Makiivka in the Donetsk region on Monday, according to the Ukrainian military. The rumors are contradicted by the Russians – who speak of ‘only’ 63 dead. “This incident raises questions about the way Russians work,” says De Kruif.
Within range of your opponent’s guns and missiles, spread is very important, according to De Kruif. “So you shouldn’t be stacking manpower, ammunition, and vehicles together. There are many clues to prove that this happened. If it’s true, it’s a real Russian mistake.”
According to De Kruif, a common thread of this war is that the Russians underestimate the Ukrainians. “That may be one reason why the Russians act too carelessly. Furthermore, this may also mean that much of the savvy Russian framework is simply no more.
Expectation
De Kruif doesn’t have high expectations of the new group of Russian soldiers in training. ‘You need a good organization to train people, such as experienced officers, barracks and equipment. They have all become scarce. Moreover, the desire to fight and learn is also small. I think Putin can never win this war, he just doesn’t realize it yet. Until he and the people around him realize and accept this, even peace will be extremely difficult to achieve.’