There is hardly any movement in most parts of the front in Ukraine. The Russian troops are making tiny advances south of the town of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. During the night, the Ukrainian General Staff also reported advances against Soledar, a little to the north. The Russian troops are said to have conquered four villages, but numerous attacks were repelled.
It is rather unlikely that the Russian offensives will intensify again in the coming days and weeks. According to information from the British Defense Ministry, Moscow has moved thousands of troops from northern Donbas to the front in southern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, there are increasing indications that the Ukrainians could soon strike there. Leaflets from the Ukrainian government in Kherson inform citizens how to stock up on supplies for the time of fighting. The number of refugees from the provincial capital also seems to be increasing. Videos on social media show long lines of cars on the roads leading out of the city. At least one car was fired upon by Russian troops, two people died.
The crucial questions in the coming days and weeks: When exactly will the Ukrainian troops start the offensive? Or will they instead choose to take it slow with incremental territory conquests, as they are currently doing? And where will the focus be? In Kherson, i.e. on the western side of the Dnieper River (that’s what most observers expect) – or is an even more ambitious project planned? Namely, a major offensive also from Zaporizhia in the direction of the Crimea. Then the goal could be to recapture all of southern Ukraine in one go.
Wagenknecht condemns “insane war against Russia”: Wagenknecht once again puts the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine into perspective. Other politicians have harshly criticized their latest tweet. More here.
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