Ukraine is bracing for a fresh Russian offensive this spring that the besieged country’s defence establishment believes could prove pivotal to the outcome of the war.
The recent announcement that Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, was taking direct command of the invasion is seen by Ukrainian officials as a harbinger of a renewed Russian attempt to seize ground in Ukraine. The new assault is expected to focus on the south and southeast of the country – territories that Russian President Vladimir Putin claims to have annexed to the Russian Federation – although a renewed effort to capture Kyiv could also be part of the plan.
Poster Comment:
1) Ukraine admitted to losing 25,000 soldiers (dead) in the past 2 months at Bakhmut and Soledar
2) The Ukraine did not send up alarms over air raids this morning. There were 3 waves. They attacked the Uke air defense systems. No response. If they are that low on S-300 missiles, the Russians might let their Air Force start dropping bombs.
3) The weather turned warm for a few days. Weather becomes ideal for tank weather after the 20th.
4) Gerasimov is a tank commander. That is the next phase.
5) Donbass frontline is collapsing.
6) The 20,000 Chechens went on a much deserved holiday. They will turn up in the next few days at the center of the action.
7) The Russians have 20,000 air mobile troops who can be used to strike a forward position. Odessa from the sea? Pokrovsk, the supply center 80 miles from the frontlines.
8) The Russians have sufficient forces to break supply lines by 1) striking from Belarus towards Kiev 2) by bypassing Kharkov and going for Kramatorsk which is the north end of the string of towns supporting the Donbass.