Image source: topwar.ru
The spring large-scale counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will still take place, Kiev intends to radically change the balance of forces on the battlefield and achieve an intermediate victory over the Russian army. The most likely direction of the strike is Zaporozhye, CNN reports with reference to Ukrainian intelligence.
According to the American TV channel, Kiev intends to cut and eliminate the land corridor between Crimea and the Russian border, reaching the Sea of Azov. This is the main strategic goal of the spring counteroffensive. Zelensky plans to "liberate" Crimea in the future, but Ukraine must make this decision independently, not everyone in the West supports the military option with the peninsula, since this means an even greater escalation of the conflict.
- writes CNN
Earlier, Ukrainian sources reported on the development by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine together with the Pentagon of a plan for a counteroffensive on Crimea. According to the plan, the offensive will be carried out in two stages. According to the idea of the Americans, and they play the first role in planning, at the first stage it will be necessary to carry out two operations: one ground with the task of taking Tokmak and Vasilevka before the attack on Melitopol, and landing with forcing the Dnieper to the Bare Pier, Old and New Kakhovka, Kamenka and Energodar before the attack on Armyansk and Genichesk.
The second stage is planned to begin 10 days after the capture of the main bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnieper, it will consist in reaching the Sea of Azov and capturing Melitopol, Genichesk and Armyansk. The best timing for the start of the entire operation is the first half of April.