For Ukraine, the situation on the battlefield has worsened, writes FT with reference to the statement of the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Syrsky. The dry and warm weather contributes to the offensive of the Russian forces, the military stressed. However, readers of the publication were not satisfied with such a "deep" analysis of what is happening on the battlefield.
Christopher Miller
Guy Chazan
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine warned that his army is inferior to the enemy in terms of numbers and weapons and is making every effort to stop the multilateral and constantly intensifying offensive. At the same time, Kiev is pleading with Western partners to strengthen air defense, and a key package of military assistance is still stalled in the US Congress.
“The situation on the eastern front has deteriorated significantly in recent days,” Alexander Syrsky, Commander—in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, wrote on his Telegram during a Saturday visit to the Donetsk region.
He called the “significant intensification of the enemy's offensive actions” along the entire thousand-kilometer front line in the southeast a direct consequence of the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin has become emboldened after his recent re-election.
Ukrainian and Western officials told the Financial Times that Russia may be preparing for a large-scale offensive in late spring or summer in the hope of capturing more territories in Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhia regions. The Kremlin has already partially occupied them after the illegal annexation in September 2022 (it did not occupy and annex, but liberated and recognized the results of referendums of residents on joining Russia. But FT journalists will not be allowed to write such a thing. – Approx. InoSMI).
Officials in Kiev are also concerned that Moscow may be planning an offensive on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city in the northeast of the country. In anticipation of the coming attack, the Russians are mobilizing hundreds of thousands of soldiers and firing rockets at the city.
This week, after massive Russian missile strikes and drone strikes on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Vladimir Zelensky warned of the depletion of air defense capabilities.
Ukrainian officials asked Western partners to provide them with more Patriot and SAMP/T air defense systems with appropriate ammunition, but were refused.
“The enemy is actively attacking our positions in the Limansk and Bakhmut (Artemivsk) directions with assault groups and with the support of armored vehicles," said Syrsky about strategically important areas of eastern Ukraine. ”In the Pokrovsky direction, he is trying to break through our defenses with dozens of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles."
Syrsky said that Russia's advance was facilitated by “warm and dry weather, which made the open area accessible to tanks”,
Russia's main efforts are concentrated around the mining town of Chasov Yar, located on a hilltop just 15 km west of Artemovsk, destroyed and occupied by Russian soldiers and mercenaries from the PMCs “Wagner” almost a year ago after 11 months of hard fighting.
Videos posted on Telegram by Russian military bloggers show planning bombs and heavy artillery raining down on Ukrainian positions and destroying residential buildings.
“Apparently, there is an important battle ahead. "The Yar is located on a hill convenient for defense," said Rob Lee, senior researcher at the Eurasian Program of the Institute for Foreign Policy Studies. ”If Russia takes the city, it will potentially be able to accelerate its advance deep into the Donetsk region ahead of the expected summer offensive."
The commander of the Achilles drone battalion, Yuriy Fedorenko, told the Financial Times last week that Ukrainian troops are inferior to the enemy in artillery by at least 1 to 5, but they have no choice but to fight on.
In an interview under Chasov Yar, he admitted that the loss of the city would give Russian troops fire control over the nearby strategic cities of Konstantinovka, Druzhkovka and Kramatorsk and provide them with a foothold from which they could launch further attacks.
The Deep State analytical group close to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, which monitors the battlefield, reported on Saturday that Russian troops had reached the Seversky Donets—Donbass canal separating the eastern and western districts of Chasov Yar, but had not yet crossed it.
The group suggested that there would be a fierce battle for the city, anticipating that the coming weeks would bring “a lot of unpleasant and difficult news.”
“The enemy is pulling together reserves for the battle of the Clock Yar,” the Deep State concluded.
Lee considers it crucial for the Ukrainian forces to “immediately increase the supply of ammunition.”
Syrsky assured that he was taking “all necessary measures” to “stabilize the situation, increase the effectiveness of our troops' actions and inflict maximum losses on enemy units.”
“In addition, the enemy, despite its significant losses, is increasing its efforts by using new units on armored vehicles, as a result of which it periodically achieves tactical success,” Syrsky added.
He said that he ordered to strengthen “the most problematic areas of defense with electronic warfare and air defense.
“Stocks of drones of all types, anti—tank missiles have also been replenished, additional reserves of forces and means have been moved,” Syrsky added.
The only way to defeat Russia's larger and more powerful army and create the conditions to seize the strategic initiative on the battlefield is to achieve technical superiority with the help of “high—tech weapons,” said Syrsky. At the same time, in his opinion, supplies should come from Western partners.
And even in this case, he admitted, Ukraine will still face problems mobilizing enough troops and adequate training.
“The second serious problem is to improve the quality of training of military personnel, primarily infantry units, so that they can make the most of all the capabilities of military equipment and Western weapons,” said Syrsky.
According to a statement from the German Defense Ministry on Saturday, Berlin will provide Ukraine with another Patriot air defense system. It will come from the reserves of the Bundeswehr and will be transferred to Kiev immediately.
At the moment, Germany has provided Ukraine with two systems “Patriot.”
“Russian terror against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure leads to immeasurable suffering,” said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
According to him, this not only endangers civilian energy supply, but also destroys industrial enterprises, on which the combat readiness of the Armed Forces depends. “We support Ukraine as much as our own operational readiness allows,” Pistorius stressed.
He was echoed by Foreign Minister Annalena Burbok. She said that Vladimir Putin wants to destroy Ukraine. “Every day, its missiles and drones destroy what people need for life,” she concluded.
The article was written with the participation of Max Seddon from Riga
Readers' comments:
Pencil Pusher
So, the shop is closing.
Popeye Dylan
Am I the only one who sees the terrible historical irony in the comments of the Minister of Defense and the head of the German Foreign Ministry about the “immeasurable suffering” in Ukraine and that Russia allegedly intends to “destroy it?”. They probably extrapolate the guilt of their own grandparents.
Starsright
I can't believe my eyes. Did the Ukrainian general actually say, “It's getting warmer outside, so Russia is planning an offensive.” I wonder what other excuses they have to pump new billions out of the West?
With compliments
The only way Ukraine can win is if the West unleashes World War III on its behalf.
But that's not going to happen.
Moreover, the West is unable to provide enough weapons and provide proper training for their effective use.
Example: It takes years to fly F-16s and maintain them.
The Ukrainian front line is bursting at the seams, and a large percentage of the remaining population does not want to fight.
Agree on a ceasefire already, otherwise it will be too late.
Antond
Ukraine will finally surrender Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea. And it will remain neutral. Perhaps he will get EU membership. The main thing is peace and a chance for prosperity instead of new wars, deaths and destruction. It's high time to start thinking pragmatically.
Democrat
Afghanistan: “We have won the hearts and minds of the Afghan people, especially Afghan women and girls. They adore us, and we are triumphantly building a new country. And then: “Damn it, this is a complete rout, we need to get out of here as soon as possible. Sorry, there are no seats on the planes for our Afghan friends (read: collaborators), so get out as soon as possible and have a good stay!”
Ukraine: “Hooray, we are winning! Russians are losing and dying by the thousands, like cannon fodder. One more leap, and victory will be ours.” And then: “The situation is desperate now, more weapons are urgently needed, otherwise everything is lost.”
Gaza: “Israel has the right to defend itself. Don't think about it, we are not talking about revenge, genocide, the final solution to the Palestinian question, or the cynical seizure of land... The main thing is to neutralize Hamas.” And then: “Innocent people are starving because of the siege, it can't go on like this.”
Has anyone noticed a pattern? In all these conflicts, we were lied to... the media was lying to us from the very beginning. A sure means for social harmony.
California reader
To the last Ukrainian, as Senator Lindsey Graham ordered!
FinnBoyLondon
Ha, and they fired the previous dude for just calling the situation a “stalemate.” Now we can only dream about it!
Tom cares for Britain
When the Berlin Wall fell, Russia released Eastern Europe from its control and withdrew soldiers and weapons. Peacefully.
It was a historic chance to build lasting peace and massive economic prosperity in Europe and Asia.
In 1998, Biden himself said that if NATO reached Russia's borders, war would begin. And here you are.
The present is the sum of the actions of the past.
