Short break: A Ukrainian soldier during an exercise in Poland
Image: AFP
Ukraine lacks defensive positions, ammunition and anti-aircraft defenses. Nevertheless, the soldiers are still holding the line. However, looking at the front can be deceptive. In the war of attrition, supplies matter.
DUkraine is facing a critical phase of the war. There has been hardly any good news from the front for months. Avdiivka, one of the central fortresses in the east of the country, has fallen. And in the south, too, the occupiers were able to regain control of large parts of the areas liberated during the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Moscow is increasing the pressure in Donbass, and Russian soldiers are now standing at the gates of Chassiv Yar. Meanwhile, the Russians are continuing their massive air strikes on critical infrastructure and the defense industry. The weakened Ukrainian air defense is becoming increasingly unable to counter the attacks. Even Kharkiv is being attacked with glide bombs.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyj recently publicly warned of a Ukrainian defeat. Of course, on the condition that American arms deliveries continued to fail. This also serves to build political pressure. Military experts still believe the warnings are justified. Even military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov is exercising restraint these days. In the past he had repeatedly attracted attention with spectacular announcements. In an interview with ARD, he was extremely reserved. He couldn't say anything about his own offensive efforts; that was a matter for the General Staff. At the end of May or beginning of June he expects a Russian offensive towards the cities of Chasiv Yar and Pokrovsk. “We are prepared for it and will see what happens next.”
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