Article author:
Reuters
Tom Balm Force and Max Hander
KYIV — Russian troops next in eastern Ukraine Donetsk Oblast after President Vladimir Putin insisted on victory in neighboring Luhansk Oblast I turned my attention to the goal of. The five-month war has entered a new stage. The occupation of Lysychans'k city on Sunday completes the Russian conquest of Luhansk, one of the two regions of Donbas, the industrialized eastern region of Ukraine, which has become Europe's largest battleground for generations. Did.
Both sides suffered great casualties in the battle over Luhansk, especially when the two cities of Lysychans'k and Sievierodonetsk were besieged. Both cities were abandoned by a relentless Russian bombing.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian troops took a new defense line in Donetsk, and Putin told his troops to "absolutely rest and regain military readiness." Other areas continue to fight.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Russia has demanded that Ukraine pass both Luhansk and Donetsk to pro-Moscow separatists who have declared an independent state.
"This is Russia's last victory on Ukrainian territory," said Oleksiy Aresevich, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video posted online.
"These were medium-sized cities, and this took from April 4th to July 4th — it's 90 days. So many losses ..."
Arrestvic said that in addition to the fight against Donetsk, Ukraine wanted to launch a counterattack in the southern part of the country.
"Occupying the eastern city means that 60% of the Russian army is now concentrated in the east and difficult to turn south. "He said.
"And there is no more power to bring from Russia. They paid a lot of money for Sieviero Donetsk and Lysychans'k."
Some military experts said , Believing that the victory of the fierce battle brought little strategic benefit to the Russian army, and the result of what is called the "Battle of Donbas" was balanced.
"I think it's a tactical victory for Russia, but it costs a lot," said Neil Melvin, a RUSI think tank in London. He compared the battle to the huge battle for the small territory that characterizes World War I.
"It took 60 days to make very slow progress," he said. "I think the Russians may declare some kind of victory, but the important war battles haven't come yet."
Melvin is the decisive of Ukraine. The battle will recapture the territory that Russia said is likely to take place in the south, where Russia has launched a counterattack, rather than in the east, where Russia has launched its main attack.
"This is where the Ukrainians are making progress around Kherson. From there the counterattack has begun, and the momentum against Ukraine to launch a large-scale counterattack to push the Russians back. I think you're most likely to see it sway, "he said.
"SUPER HUAMNEFFORT"
Zelensky said on Monday that his army continued to fight despite Ukraine's withdrawal from Lysychans'k on Sunday.
"We need to break them. It's a difficult task. It takes time and superhuman effort. But there is no other choice."
The Battle of Luhansk is the closest to achieving one of its stated objectives since Moscow was defeated in March in an attempt to occupy Kyiv. Since occupying Mariupol's shipping in late May, it has won Russia's biggest victory.
Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine on February 24, a "special military operation" to demilitarize his southern neighbors and protect the Russian language from what it calls a "fascist" nationalist. I called it. Ukraine and the West say this is an unfounded excuse for a violent attack to occupy the territory.
Serhiy Gaidai, Governor of the Luhansk Oblast of Ukraine, admitted that his entire state was virtually in the hands of Russia, but told Reuters: I'm not losing the war.
Guydai has withdrawn from Lysychansik Ukrainian troops are now maintaining the border between Bakmut and Slovyansk, preparing to fend off further Russian progress. Said.
Reuters could not verify your battlefield account.
Ukraine's hopes for a sustained counterattack are to receive additional weapons from the West, such as rockets that can neutralize Russia's huge firepower dominance by attacking deep in the front lines. It depends on a part.
"It's a matter of how quickly supplies come," Arrest Bitch said.
"In the West, we don't have enough weapons to supply. This is, after all, the biggest conflict since 1945 ... so we need to produce more weapons, and that production is ongoing. Medium. And at a pace where there are so many sets of weapons by the fall. "
(reported by Reuters bureux, written by Michael Perry, edited by Simon Cameron-Moore)
