According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the Russians have started their spring offensive. Defense specialist Peter Wijninga, from the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague, also sees that the battle has escalated: “It started hesitantly, but not every offensive is like a Blitzkrieg.”
Battle intensified
The battle has intensified at three points along the front, sees Wijninga. «First of all around Bachmut, where the Russian network is slowly closing down around the city. I expect the Ukrainians who are still there will leave the city soon. In addition, there is also an intensification of the battle in Luhansk. The Russians are trying to occupy the last piece that is still in the hands of the Ukrainians.”
«The Russians also tried to mount a major operation in the south around Donetsk. But it failed,” says the defense specialist. ‘As many tanks and armored vehicles have been lost in recent months, things seem to be moving slowly. But now the battle is largely being fought on foot.”
More ammo
Secretary General Stoltenberg warns that more munitions must be produced rapidly by Ukraine’s allies. According to the head of NATO, the consumption of ammunition is several times higher than the production rate. However, Wijninga does not expect the NATO summit to be held tomorrow to discuss an intensification of support for Ukraine: ‘NATO formally remains at a distance, but the countries can consult each other’.
Also, NATO can look into countries’ stocks, because they are declining rapidly, Wijnga also sees. “NATO can tell countries supporting Ukraine what to do to restore those supplies and then play a coordinating role in that,” the defense expert says.
Source: BNR
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