Ukrainian forces in Bachmut are in danger of being surrounded. So says defense specialist Peter Wijninga of the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague. According to him, the access routes, and therefore the supply lines of the Ukrainians, are increasingly coming within the range of Russian artillery.
According to Wijninga, Ukraine appears to be waging “some kind of delayed battle” to inflict as many losses on the Russians as possible in terms of men and equipment. This means that they can no longer be used in another Russian offensive at a later stage or, conversely, they cannot be used to defend certain territories.
“It appears that Ukraine is fighting some kind of delayed struggle to inflict as many losses on the Russians as possible”
Russian waves
The fighting takes place in Bachmoet in an almost medieval manner. “The Russians throw a lot of troops at us. They are large human waves, the fight is mainly on foot and therefore slow. The Russians suffer from long supply lines.” And they are so long that they are not within the range of Ukrainian HIMAR missiles.
“The Russians throw a lot of troops at us. They are great human waves’
Prestige
Bachmoet has increasingly become a prestige project for Russians. According to Wijninga, apart from Mariupol, they do not hold any major cities of strategic importance and taking Bachmut would therefore be a great psychological boost for this reason alone.
F-16
Meanwhile, more and more voices are being heard in the United States not to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. For example, Congresswoman Felicia Schwartz yesterday said it was a mistake to send F-16s to Ukraine because Ukrainian fighter pilots would not be ready for the planes in time. Wijninga finds this condescending, he warns against looking too much at Ukraine through Western glasses. ‘We must be held in this.’
Wijninga notes, however, that sending F-16 fighter jets comes with a few hitches. ‘It’s not going to be done quickly and that has to do with preparation, logistical support, technician training, infrastructure readiness. It’s a long process.’ A faster option is for Poland to obtain F-16s and supply its MiGs to Ukraine.
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Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
