The Ukrainian offensive is still in the preparatory stage. this is what Brigadier General and Defense Academy professor Han Bouwmeester says in BNR’s De Wereld. According to Bouwmeester, the Ukrainian Armed Forces now has 230 Western tanks and 1,550 armored vehicles spread across nine brigades that can carry out an attack. “This is serious buildup.”
Incidentally, according to Bouwmeester, speculation remains and it could just be that the Ukrainian counterattack will take several weeks. Why? ‘On paper you can have nine combat brigades, good tanks and good armored vehicles, but it also has to be well structured and the units have to know each other. You have to be able to go through that fight together.’ In this context, Bouwmeester underlines the importance of the concept of struggle “of allied weapons”.
“Personally, I don’t think it will be Crimea”
When asked where the offensive will take place, Bouwmeester says it is again speculation. It’s true that all eyes are on Crimea, but it’s relatively easy to defend, says Bouwmeester. ‘Personally, I don’t think Crimea will be like this. It is very difficult to enter Crimea from the north side, because the area between Ukraine and Crimea is very watery and only two main roads pass through it. And they are easy to defend.’
partisans
Another option is Zaporizhia, but Bouwmeester thinks that too is difficult. Although the Ukrainians crossed the Dnipro last week in boats, it won’t be easy with heavy equipment. “It’s going to be a massacre, so you want to prevent it.” Another option is the area around Melitopol, south of Zaporizhia. That area is not yet under full Russian control because a partisan battle is still being fought there.
Distraction
European journalist and Ukraine expert Geert Jan Hahn thinks that all current Ukrainian maneuvers are diversionary maneuvers so that the Russians do not know where to expect what. Hahn calls a plausible scenario that the Ukrainians break through near the city of Tokmak, before Melitopol. “A plausible scenario is that if the Ukrainians launch an offensive all at once and execute it well, they will need a week to reach Tokmak. Then it’s just offensive out in the open AND.’
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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.
