Ivan Sichen, an expert of the Independent Analytical Center for Geopolitical Studies “Borysfen Intel”, for Gazeta.ua
The occupiers threw all their forces into the Donbas. The Ukrainian military are trying to distract the invaders in Kherson region. The Russians begin to talk about an offensive in northern Ukraine so that the Ukrainian Army could not send reinforcements to the Donetsk direction. This was stated in a comment to Gazeta.ua by military expert Ivan Sichen.
“The situation is very difficult. But we must look strategically — Russia has made all efforts to capture Sievierodonetsk. This city has political significance for them. They need to show that they have some success. On all other directions, the occupiers are regrouping forces, strengthening defense and preparing for the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine”, said Sichen.
In Kherson region, Ukrainian troops counterattacked and moved the enemy 10 km away, the analyst said.
“This success allowed to distract Russian troops from the Donetsk direction. In Kherson region, the initiative now belongs to our troops. We impose our will on Russians and force them to retreat in certain areas. The Russians in Kherson region keep old equipment — T-62 tanks, which are about 60–50 years old, have recently deployed there. In the Donbas they still have more modern equipment, more or less powerful troops. On secondary directions, there is equipment that has been taken from warehouses”, says Sichen.
In order to distract Ukrainian troops, the occupiers began trainings in Belarus, the analyst added.
“So that we pay attention to the defense of the northern border. For the same purpose, trainings are conducted in Kursk and Bryansk regions. They are shelling our settlements. Russian fighter jets are based in Kursk, shelling Ukrainian territory every day. Everything is being done so that our troops do not go to the Donbas”, explains Sichen.
The Russians cannot start the offensive on Kyiv now, says the analyst.
“Neither on Sumy nor on Chernihiv. The Russians do not have the troops there. Reports that Russia may attack from the north are being made in order to restrain our forces and prevent them from being deployed to the Donbas. This information is now playing into the hands of the Kremlin”, Sichen said.
The shelling of Odesa and Kharkiv has intensified recently, as Russia is trying to intimidate Ukrainians, the analyst explains.
“It was Putin’s idea from the beginning that Ukrainians would want to surrender so that they would stop being fired upon. That’s why they fired at residential areas, stores. They are just trying to intimidate us with purpose to get concessions. For the same purpose, the Kremlin can use chemical weapons or fire at a chemical plant, for example, in Sumy region”, Sichen added.
Author: Anastasiia Prokaieva
Source: Gazeta.ua
The article is available in Russian
