Despite little bouts back and forth, one has been going on for some time sit still all along the front where neither side is able to really make progress. According to Osinga, this is partly because it takes time to train the Ukrainian military to operate Western military systems.
Wait
Until then, it’s about keeping the Russians at bay. “But yeah, that costs units too, so that’s why it’s now predicted that if a Ukrainian counter-offensive comes, it might not take place until the summer.” According to Osinga, Kiev therefore hopes for a mobile offensive in which Leopard tanks and hundreds of armored vehicles will also play an important role. “But at the same time, in the background, they are also very afraid of Russia’s air offensive.”
“Ukraine is also very afraid of Russia’s air offensive”
The leaked Pentagon documents clearly show how much Ukraine is struggling with shortages of munitions for its anti-aircraft defenses. ‘This explains why we have been observing a fairly stagnant front for weeks. A lot of things happen, but nothing really significant. Now we have to wait for the long-announced offensive from Ukraine.’
Deep state
Meanwhile, Wagner Group mercenary army leader Yevgeny Prigozhin makes sarcastic remarks about the war and complains that he is being systematically opposed by Moscow’s Deep State and that he is low on ammunition. “He says there are several elements in that regime that are actually trying to undermine this war. And he sees it above all as an attack on himself ».
Progozhin then calls for drastic measures such as a huge offensive to defeat Ukraine. And if that fails, he thinks it’s time to get everyone on the same nationalist side so that Russia can actually go to war. The Wagnerian leader underlines how dearly the Russian advance has bogged down. And of course he’s right. Russia has gained a territory of 70 square kilometers in the face of thousands of dead.’
Osinga points out that just like Ukraine, Russia is also suffering from shortcomings. ‘Very old tanks are taken out of service, tanks that may have been operational in the 1950s or 1960s, but are no longer operational. Russia also really suffers from shortages in the field of ammunition, modern weapons.
Follow developments in Ukraine here on our live blog