The Russian air strikes on Ukraine are mainly aimed at depleting the Ukrainian air defenses. So says strategy analyst Patrick Bolder of The Hague Center for Strategic Studies.
Several Ukrainian cities were again bombed by Russian rocket attacks last night. In the city of Pavlohrad dozens of injured, including five children. Kherson has also been bombarded by rocket attacks, which killed one person, according to the Ukrainian military. According to the Kyiv city government, the Ukrainian army managed to suppress all attacks on the capital.
According to Bolder, the missiles that Ukraine uses to repel air strikes are “necessary to keep the airspace safe”. According to the defense specialist, Russia is preparing for a possible spring offensive with these attacks.
“Russia is trying to deplete those Ukrainian air defenses so that if a Ukrainian offensive starts on the ground, the Russian air force can act and not get hit.” According to Bolder, recently leaked documents from the Pentagon show that Ukraine is also suffering from equipment shortages.
Sabotage
According to Bolder, the air strikes could also be retaliatory strikes against Ukrainian actions. An explosion derailed a Russian freight train in the Russian border region of Bryansk this morning.
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It is still unclear who was behind the attack. Kiev never claims responsibility for actions outside the borders of Ukraine. Russia has experienced more frequent sabotage on railway lines in recent months. Russian authorities have already arrested at least 66 Russians for it.
Counteroffensive
According to Bolder, this is no longer significant these days. “Nowadays you don’t know who are Russians and who are not, because Russians distribute Russian passports to Ukrainians.” He also underlines the fact that there is resistance to war in Russia too.
According to Bolder, the attack on this railway could indicate an imminent Ukrainian counter-offensive. “Ukraine is clearly cutting Russian supply lines to ensure troops cannot get fresh supplies, fuel or food. This makes its counter-offensive more effective.”
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.
