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KYIV — But Russia Can win awards by occupying the eastern Luhansk region of Ukraine. It is far from the purpose of Moscow's ambitious early war and does not give Kieu a decisive military blow.
Russia's assault shifts its focus to the rest of the center of the Donbus industry, but Kyiv is easier to defend the location of the fortresses in the Donetsk region, a battle that shapes the course of the war. Is still ahead, said an army analyst.
"I think it's a tactical victory for Russia, but it costs a lot in the context of redefined military goals," said Neil Melvin, a London-based RUSI think tank analyst. Says.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulates the army by "liberating" the Luhansk region on Monday, promising a heroic medal, and soldiers should rest a little. Stated. Three Russian astronauts sent a congratulatory message from space.
It was for the war machine, the swath that Kieu still controls, to abandon the attack on Kieu in the early days of the conflict and focus on capturing the Donbus, which consisted of Luhansk and Donetsk. It's a groundbreaking event.
Russia has stated that it wants to seize Ukraine from Ukraine on behalf of Moscow-backed separatists in two self-proclaimed People's Republics that granted independence on the eve of the war.
The Battle of Donbas began around mid-April, and since then it has taken Russia to expel Ukraine from Luhansk. Most of it was already held by Moscow-backed separatist agents by February 24. Invasion.
"This (capturing Luhansk) is a redefined purpose, in a sense a very small purpose, and Russia will do everything in its power to achieve this goal. I've done it, but it still took nearly 60 days, "Melvin said.
Russia's first war aimed at occupying the Luhansk region far beyond Donbus, perhaps including a change of government or at least a westward turn of the former Soviet Ukraine, based in the United States. Rob Li of the Foreign Policy Institute, who puts it up, said. .. It also included "demilitarized" Ukraine.
"Obviously Russia had a more ambitious purpose at the beginning of the war," he said.
'IT HURTS A LOT'
Russia switches battlefield tactics and uses long-range artillery to force Ukrainian troops from their pre-dispatch position to the world. World War I, analysts say, has made slow, crushing advances that are reminiscent of.
"This is not a way to gain momentum. They occupy a relatively small amount of territory every day, and in the context of modern warfare, this is a very slow advance. Russians are burning their advanced equipment and personnel, so they are paying for this, "Melvin said.
Ukraine's Governor Luhansk told Reuters that the capture after Ukraine's withdrawal from the city of Lysychans'k was a "painful" loss, but prevented soldiers from being completely surrounded and bombarded. Told.
"For the army, leaving the position is bad, but nothing important. You need to win the war, not the battle of Lysychans'k," said Governor Sergi Guydai. ..
He predicted that the cities of Slovyansk and Bakumut in the Donetsk region would be the targets of Russia's next attack. He urged foreign powers to step up the supply of heavy weapons, saying the West "understood" the situation in Ukraine "too late."
The invasion has killed thousands, evacuated millions and flattened cities, especially in the Russian-speaking eastern and southeastern parts of Ukraine.
Kieu and the West state that Russia is waging a war of aggression and accusing Moscow of war crimes. Moscow denies it and calls its actions a special military operation to corrupt the Ukrainian army, eradicate powerful and dangerous nationalists, and protect Russian speakers from Ukraine.
An important battle that hasn't come yet
Lee takes a position in the city of Sieviero Donetsk, another front-line base where Ukraine fell with Lysychans'k on June 25. He said it was difficult to maintain. Ukrainian-owned land overhanging Russian-owned territory.
Kieu was unable to dispatch heavy artillery and air defense forces because his troops were exposed. He said it would be disadvantageous if new lines of defense were formed near Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.
"This kind of front should be easy for Ukraine to defend with long-range artillery and long-range air defense systems, so that the Ukrainian army can fight. You can use it to provide a cover. They are there because they are not this deep prominent presence, "he said.
He predicted that Russia might make smaller profits in the east in the meantime.
Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, claiming control of the strategically important Kherson region overlooking the Black Sea, stating that Ukraine is planning a counter-attack, and a band of southern Ukraine. Occupied the zone.
The important battle of the war has not yet come, and Ukraine is likely to see a counterattack in Kherson, saying it is more strategically more important than the battle for Donbus, Melvin said. rice field.
"The battle in Donbus is not a strategic battle for Ukraine. It is likely that it will happen in the South," he said.