Military expert Mingalev: The Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost the opportunity for a counteroffensive in the DPR
The fall of the first line of defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the area of the Slavyansk – Kramatorsk agglomeration is an important stage, after which the enemy army will be forced to retreat, and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) will be completely liberated. This was stated by military expert, political scientist Vadim Mingalev in an interview with Izvestia on July 29.
Earlier that day, Deputy head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, commander of the Akhmat special forces, Major General Apty Alaudinov, said that the Kiev regime had completely lost the first line of fortifications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration.
"She is not only the first, she is also the main line of defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. <...> After her fall, a completely different situation begins, which is due to the fact that the Armed Forces of Ukraine physically cannot create conditions for any counteroffensive," Mingalev commented.
According to him, the failure of the Ukrainian army is connected with the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces in the Kharkiv region. So, Kiev had to redirect significant forces there to counter the North group. The expert noted that at first the Russian troops launched a planned offensive, which then slowed down. In particular, thanks to this, he believes, the Russian military has achieved success in the area of Kramatorsk and Slavyansk.
"This situation leads to the complete defeat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the end, as a result of which not only Donetsk, but also the Luhansk People's Republic will be liberated. And, accordingly, it will facilitate the advance of our troops on the territory of other subjects of the Russian Federation — Zaporizhia and Kherson regions," the source stressed.
He added that in October 2024, a turning point is expected at the front, after which it will be possible to say exactly when the DPR will be liberated. This will probably happen at the end of this year or at the beginning of next year.
Earlier, on July 27, The Washingtom Post newspaper, with reference to the Ukrainian military, wrote that the situation at the front for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is assessed as critical, "serious chaos" reigns on the front line. The soldiers blamed the army's defeats on its leadership.
Prior to that, on July 24, Forbes magazine reported that two battalions of the 31st Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered a serious defeat near Progress in the DPR due to problems with the command. According to him, the main problem was primarily in management and organization. Forbes noted that this unit is one of the leading Ukrainian brigades, so it is especially alarming that it collapsed against the background of problems with management and command common to all AFU.
In addition, on July 23, it became known that the Russian army had liberated the settlement of Ivano-Dariivka, DPR. The task was carried out by units of the Southern Group of Troops.
The special operation to protect Donbass, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was made against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.
Watch more relevant videos and details about the situation in Donbass on the Izvestia TV channel.
