Ukraine is far from deploying all of its brigades in last week’s raids. So says defense specialist Peter Wijninga of the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague. “I suspect that these operations are a prelude to a major offensive. At the moment there is nothing to say about profit or loss.’ BNR has listed this week’s top international news for you.
Both Kiev and Moscow are already sharing reports on their battlefield gains. However, we know very little about the actual course of the fiercely raging battle in eastern Ukraine, says Wijninga. According to the defense specialist, three main operations are currently underway: near Bachmut, in the Donetsk province and in the western part of Zaporizhia.
Earnings on the ground
The penny may therefore still go both ways for both Ukraine and Russia, but it appears that Ukraine is gaining more and more grip on the conflict. Russia correspondent Joost Bosman says the Russian military is currently unable to prevail. This is mainly due to shortages of precision-guided munitions, communications equipment, aircraft and drones. “Russian President Vladimir Putin said this to Russian bloggers and he has never spoken so loudly and doubtfully before,” Bosman says.
Wijninga also sees that meanwhile the Ukrainians are steadily advancing. The defense specialist says that it is not possible to say with certainty how many territorial gains the Ukrainians have made, but that it is estimated to be around one hundred square kilometers. “It’s not much, but photos of Ukrainians with Russian artillery emplacements have surfaced. This means that they have penetrated deeper than initially thought,’ explains the defense specialist.
Lots of violence
The war will therefore continue to rage for the time being and this is also noticeable at the front in Ukraine. There is fierce fighting, and Clingendael Institute defense specialist Dick Zandee’s expectation is that it will get much worse. Zandee says the next few weeks will be decisive. For Ukraine, as time goes by, it becomes clear where the Achilles heel of the Russians is and once that is clear, they can send their troops into the Russian lines. “It will be accompanied by a lot of violence and I fear a lot of casualties,” Zandee said.
In Europe, this week has not only been restless due to the fierce battle at the front in Ukraine, but also due to Hungary. That country is at odds with Sweden’s NATO membership. Previously, Turkey was the country that wanted to end this. Nonetheless, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks of progress in the process. With Hungary blocking Sweden’s entry into NATO, the United States has suspended a $735 million arms deal. “It hit the opposition like a bomb,” says Hungary correspondent Stefan Bos.
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.
