Ukrainian soldiers move south from Donbass towards Melitopol. There a few kilometers would be won. “But this is the first phase of the fighting in and around the trenches,” says De Kruif. “A defense is always deeper than a few miles. And we don’t know if this is the center of gravity of the offensive». This can only happen if a large concentration of units and a large part of the Ukrainian anti-aircraft guns gather there.
air Force
According to De Kruif, the Russian Air Force will do everything possible to prevent a breakthrough by the Ukrainian army. Until the units are held up by the Russian Air Force, this is just one of many attacks across the front.” With that, Ukraine leaves the Russians in uncertainty as to when the main blow will come.
“Each line consists of trenches, minefields and anti-tank ditches”
According to De Kruif, there are two main lines, between ten and twenty kilometers apart. “Each line consists of trenches, minefields and anti-tank ditches that a tank cannot cross.” This means that if the first row breaks through, there is a second row ready to be taken. “It’s really too early to tell how the offensive is going now.”
De Kruif speaks of a “very intense, intensive phase of the war”, with many losses on both sides. “Not just missiles and guns shooting at each other, but also tanks and people in the trenches,” the former commander points out.
moral
The question is how high the price for success should be. It depends on the morale of the Ukrainian army. “We often think that a war is won by the number of tanks and planes, but in the end this is decided by leadership and the motivation to fight,” says De Kruif. It has been higher by Ukraine so far, but past performance is no guarantee for the future. It is precisely in the coming days and weeks, with those difficult battles, that we will see how important morale and leadership are.’
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