Russia is again launching air strikes against a large number of civilian targets in several Ukrainian cities, even as Ukraine claims it has made significant territorial gains. The death toll from the rocket attack on the Ukrainian city of Kryvy Rih has now risen to 11 and more than 25 have been reported injured.
Interesting detail: Kryvyi Rih is the birthplace of Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky. Brigadier General and Defense Academy professor Han Bouwmeester therefore thinks this is a retaliatory action laden with symbolism. “They want to hit Zelensky too,” he says. “But whether that can be traced one-on-one to the attack itself, of course, remains the question.”
“The attack is very symbolic”
Bouwmeester thinks it fits into a pattern, especially as it happens more often that if Ukraine attacks, the Russians retaliate by attacking cities and civilian targets.
Move
But it is clear that Ukraine is reclaiming territory, says Bouwmeester. He notes that Ukraine is particularly victorious in southern Donetsk. “The fighting has been going on for several days and Ukrainian troops appear to have recaptured a number of villages between Donetsk and Zaporizhia,” the brigadier general said.
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According to Bouwmeester there is fear even among the Russians. They would realize that they no longer have the ability to go on the offensive again and conquer Ukraine. “We read more and more in the publications that Putin is betting on a war of attrition – he is trying to get the Ukrainians to bite each other with these counterattacks,” she continues. “Also, he attacks cities and civilian targets, to cause as many casualties and damage as possible, so that they get tired.”
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.
