“This will be accompanied by a lot of violence and I fear a lot of casualties, because this is very intense ground combat,” says Zandee.
The Ukrainian army has liberated several villages in recent days, Kiev reports that it has reconquered no less than 90 square kilometers of territory from the Russians in a week. A trifle, given the huge piece of land that Russia still occupies. Zandee therefore qualifies the ongoing actions as pinpricks, intended to probe where the weak spots are in the Russian lines.
“The next few weeks will be quite decisive as to where Ukraine will find weaknesses on that front”
Zandee stresses that the initiative undeniably belongs to the Ukrainians, the last Russian offensive dates back to August last year. He then speaks of a ‘breakthrough in the battle’.
Lots of violence
Russia reports the destruction of about 16 Ukrainian armored vehicles, according to Zandee, an indication that the battle is fierce at the front. “I think things will be much worse, because the next few weeks will be quite decisive in understanding where Ukraine finds weaknesses on that front.” Kiev will then direct military forces there to force a breakthrough. “And that will be accompanied by a lot of violence and I fear a lot of casualties, because this is very intense ground fighting.”
stall
Zandee does not rule out the possibility that the counter-offensive will stall again after the summer, but he also believes it is possible that Ukraine will break through at some point. The development of the situation therefore depends on the Russian response: will the front collapse or will the Russians give ground and stabilize their line? According to Zandee, the situation remains unpredictable, he also underlines the immense length of the front and the relative lack of Ukrainian manpower and resources to go on the offensive along the entire front.
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